Transmission Impairments

 Transmission Impairments in Communication Mediums

Transmission Impairments is a condition that causes information to be lost. If the

transmission media were perfect, the receiver could receive exactly the same signal

that the transmitter sent. But communication lines are usually not perfect, so the

receive signal is not the same as the transmitted signal. What is sent is not what is

received. The causes of impairment are:

1, Attenuation

2, Distortion

3, Noise

     o Cross Talk

Fig 4.12 shows causes of impairments.

Fig 4.11 Causes of Impairments

a. Attenuation

Attenuation is the loss of signal strength that occurs as a signal travels through a medium. It is caused by factors such as the distance the signal travels, the type of medium, and the frequency of the signal.

Attenuation is typically expressed in decibels (dB), which is a logarithmic unit of measurement. The higher the attenuation, the weaker the signal becomes. For example, a signal with an attenuation of 10 dB is 10 times weaker than the original signal.

Attenuation can be a problem in communication systems because it can cause the signal to become too weak to be detected or interpreted correctly. It can also cause the signal to become distorted, making it difficult to recover the original data.

To reduce the effects of attenuation, communication systems often use repeaters, which are devices that amplify the signal as it travels through the medium. This helps to maintain the strength of the signal and improve the reliability of the communication.

b. Distortion

Attenuation is the loss of signal strength that occurs as a signal travels through a medium. It is caused by factors such as the distance the signal travels, the type of medium, and the frequency of the signal.

Attenuation is typically expressed in decibels (dB), which is a logarithmic unit of measurement. The higher the attenuation, the weaker the signal becomes. For example, a signal with an attenuation of 10 dB is 10 times weaker than the original signal.

Attenuation can be a problem in communication systems because it can cause the signal to become too weak to be detected or interpreted correctly. It can also cause the signal to become distorted, making it difficult to recover the original data.

To reduce the effects of attenuation, communication systems often use repeaters, which are devices that amplify the signal as it travels through the medium. This helps to maintain the strength of the signal and improve the reliability of the communication.

C. Noise

Noise can refer to any unwanted or undesired sound or signal. It can be a physical or electrical disturbance that interferes with the normal functioning of a device or system, or it can be a unwanted sound in the environment. Noise can also refer to random fluctuations in a signal or data, which can make it difficult to accurately measure or interpret the signal. In general, noise is a type of interference that can degrade the quality or clarity of a signal or message. Is there anything specific about noise that you would like to know?

  Cross talk:

Cross talk is a type of noise that occurs when a signal from one circuit or channel interferes with the signal in another circuit or channel. This can happen in both electrical and acoustic systems. In electrical systems, cross talk can occur when signals in one wire or circuit leak into another wire or circuit, causing interference. This can be a problem in systems with multiple wires or circuits that are close together, such as in twisted pair cables or printed circuit boards. In acoustic systems, cross talk can occur when sound from one speaker or microphone interferes with the sound from another speaker or microphone. This can be a problem in sound systems with multiple speakers or microphones that are close together, such as in conference rooms or auditoriums. Cross talk can be reduced by increasing the distance between the affected wires or circuits, or by using shielding or isolation techniques to prevent the signals from interfering with each other.

 Fig 4.13 show's the effect of noise on a signal.

Fig 4.12 Effect of noise on a signal