Wired, Wireless, and Optical Systems

This chapter deals with the basic principles of telecommunication transmission systems, which employ wired cabling, wireless or radio signals, and fiber‐optic light transmission, and explains the salient points of each approach. It helps the reader to understand the importance of frequency and bandwidth in relation to a telecommunication system. The chapter also deals with various digital line codes used for synchronization, and also explains their purpose. It discusses the nature of a transmission line and shows how standing waves are produced. The chapter explores the general principles of radio propagation, and then explains the method by which antennas transmit or receive a signal. It also explores the principles of optical communications, including light generation, propagation through optical fiber, reception, and synchronization. The chapter applies knowledge of wireless and light propagation to transmission system loss calculations.