Answer to Question #162237 in C++ for Pranay

Question

The purpose of the physical layer is to transport bits from one machine to another. Various guided media can be used for the actual transmission. Each one has its own features in terms of bandwidth, delay, cost, and ease of installation and maintenance. List various types of guided media discuss its features and uses in real world.

Answer 1

The purpose of the physical layer is to transport a raw bitstream from one machine to another. Various physical media can be used for the actual transmission. Each one has its own niche in terms of bandwidth, delay, cost, and ease of installation and maintenance. Media are roughly grouped into guided media, such as copper wire and fiber optics, and unguided media, such as radio and lasers through the air.

The most common type of media is copper cable. The most common types of copper cabling are twisted-pair and coaxial and coaxial cabling.

Another type of LAN connection media is fiber-optic cable. Consisting of a number of glass or high-grade plastic optical strands surrounded by a tough cloth-and-plastic wrap, fiber-optic cables resemble coaxial cables from the outside.

Wireless transmissions use radio waves or infrared light to transmit data

There are two categories of transmission media:

 Guided media

Unguided media

a)Guided Transmission Media uses a "cabling" system that guides the data signals along a specific path. The data signals are bound by the "cabling" system. Guided Media is also known as Bound Media. Cabling is meant in a generic sense in the previous sentences and is not meant to be interpreted as copper wire cabling only.

b)Unguided Transmission Media consists of a means for the data signals to travel but nothing to guide them along a specific path. The data signals are not bound to a cabling media and as such are often called Unbound Media.

c)There are three basic types of Guided Media:

–Twisted pair

–Coaxial cable

–Optical fiber