DTC5038 ANALOG COMMUNICATION SYSTEM Trimester 3 2008-2009

kacau LECTURE NOTES 1

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION

Subtopic:
1-1 Introduction to Communication
1-2 Historical Perspective
1-3 Comparison of Analog and Digital Communication Sources and Systems
1-4 Block Diagram of a Communication System
1-5 Frequency Allocation

1-1 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION

Communications is the process of transmitting meaningful signals from one location to another.
Two types of communication:

(a) Short distance. Ex: speech (face-to-face communications)

(b) Long distance. Ex: smoke signals, light beams, carrier pigeons, letter, telephone, e-mail,
radio, TV, fax.

1-2 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

YEAR EVENT
1844 Telegraph - the first electrical communications system
1876 Telephone - long-distance calls are transmitted
1880s Wireless telegraphy
late 1920s First TV with analog circuit
1948 Invention of transistor
• The growth of IC
1960s
• Satellite communication begins

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1-3 COMPARISON OF ANALOG AND DIGITAL COMUNICATION SOURCES

AND SYSTEMS

Analog communication source produces messages that are defined on continuum. Ex:
Microphone – the output voltage describes the information in the sound and it is distributed
over a continuous range of values.

Digital communication source produces a finite set of possible messages. Ex: Typewriter –
there is a finite number of characters (messages) that can be emitted by this source.

Analog communication system transfer information from an analog source to an intended

receiver (sink). Analog communication signals, such as AM & FM signals, are analog signal.
They are continuous and vary in amplitude, frequency or phase Ex: AM & FM systems. Analog
waveform is a function of time that has a continuous range of values. Ex: sinusoidal waveform.

Digital communication system transfer information from a digital source to an intended

receiver (sink). They are discrete, discontinuous pulses that have one of M distinct waveforms. If
M = 2 , this is a binary digital system. Ex: pager & mobile. Digital waveform is a function of
time that can have only a discrete set of values. Ex: rectangular pulse.

Comparison between analog communication systems and digital communication systems:

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
ANALOG • Smaller bandwidth. • Expensive analog
COMMUNICATION • Synchronization problem is components.
SYSTEM relatively easier. • No privacy.
• Cannot merge data from
different sources.
• No error correction
capability.
DIGITAL • Inexpensive digital • Larger bandwidth
COMMUNICATION circuits. • Synchronization problem
SYSTEM • Privacy preserved (data is relatively difficult.
encryption).

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• Can merge different data

(voice, video and data) and
transmit over a common
digital transmission
system.
• Error correction by coding.

1-4 BLOCK DIAGRAM OF A COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

Transmitter/Source: A component that generates a message and places it on. If the data is
nonelectrical, it must be converted by an input transducer into an electrical waveform known as
message signal.

Transmission medium/Channel: A medium consists of channel (such as wire, coaxial cable,

fiber optic etc).

Receiver/Sink: A component that convert the received message to its original form by a
output transducer and goes to the destination (the unit that the message is communicated).

Input Transmitter Channel Receiver Output

Transducer Transducer

Noise

Figure 1-1: Communication system block diagram

Input transducer: Converts the message into electrical signal.

Transmitter: Converts the electrical signal into transmission signal.
Channel: A medium that bridges the distances from transmitter to receiver. Ex. Wire, coaxial
cable and fiber optic.
Receiver: Converts the transmission signal to electrical signal.
Output Transducer: Converts electrical signal into its original message.
Noise: An unwanted signal that can cause distortion to the message signal.

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1-5 FREQUENCY ALLOCATION (ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM)

WAVELENGTH FREQUENCY WAVES APPLICATIONS

Research into structure
10 − 100 pm 30,000,000THz Gamma Rays
of nucleus
0.1 − 10nm 3,000,000 − 30,000THz X-Rays Medicine

200 − 400nm 750 − 1500THz Ultraviolet (UV) Photo-electric effect

400 − 750nm 750 − 400THz Visible Light What the eye can see
0.750 − 1000 µm 400 − 0.3THz Infrared Remote sensing

Cooking, long distance

1 − 100mm 300 − 3GHz Microwaves
comm.
100mm 3GHz Radio Waves Radio, TV

Table 1-1: Frequency spectrum of EM waves

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Radio Frequency Spectrum:

FREQUENCY CLASSIFICATION APPPLICATION

3 − 30kHz Very Low Frequencies (VLF) Submarine communication

30 − 300kHz Low Frequencies (LF) AM broadcast

300 − 3000kHz Medium Frequencies (MF) Maritime radio

3 − 30 MHz High Frequencies (HF) Communication in mines

Radio navigation (to determine

30 − 300 MHz Very High Frequencies (VHF)
the position of Earth)

300 − 3000 MHz Ultra High Frequencies (UHF) FM radio broadcast

3 − 30GHz Super High Frequencies (SHF) Microwave devices

Radio astronomy and remote

30 − 300GHz Extra High Frequencies (EHF)
sensing

300 − 3000GHz Microwave Frequencies Microwave

Table 1-2: Radio frequency spectrum

Reference:
Leon W. Couch, II, Digital and Analog Communication Systems, 6th Edition, Prentice Hall,
2001

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