PART I: DIGITAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS Chapter 3: Transmission Media

Weekly Paper

Questions  List the different transmission media and their applications  List the frequency bands radio spectrum and the application in each frequency band.  What are the issues involved in radio spectrum management?  Some frequency band as for ham radio and industrial, scientific and medical band are not regulated, and anyone can use those band. Debate the pros and cons of such unregulated bands.

Exercises  A terrestrial radio link is 30 kilometers long. Find out the propagation delay, assuming that the speed of light is 3 x 10 8 meters/second.  The coaxial cable laid between two telephone switches is 40 kilometers long. Find out the propagation delay if the speed of transmission in the coaxial is 2.3 x 10 8 meters/second.  Calculate the propagation delay in an optical fiber of 100 kilometers. The speed is 2 x 10 8 meters/second.  Compile the list of frequency bands used for satellites for the following applications: (a) broadcasting, (b) telephone communication, (c) weathering monitoring, (d) military applications.  Calculate the propagation delay from one earth station to another earth station in a satellite communication network for (a) mesh configuration and (b) star configuration.

Project  Develop a database of frequency bands used for different applications. Develop a graphical user interface to facilitate the display of the frequency bands for a given application. (use Access and Java)  Study the frequency bands of operation for Inmarsat Satellites. Inmarsat operates a worldwide mobile satellite network.