Download Overview The function of the physical layer is to transmit data by

Overview
The function of the physical layer is to transmit data by defining the electrical specifications
between the source and destination. Once it reaches a building, electricity is carried to
workstations, servers, and network devices via wires concealed in walls, floors, and ceilings.
Data, which can consist of such things as text, pictures, audio, or video, travels through the
wires and is represented by the presence of either electrical pulses on copper conducting
wires or light pulses in optical fibers.
In this chapter, you will learn about the basic theory of electricity. This will provide a foundation
upon which networking at the physical layer of the OSI model can be understood. You will also
learn how data is transmitted through physical media, such as cables and connectors. Lastly,
you will learn about the different factors that affect data transmission such as, alternating
current (AC) power line noise.
4.1 Basics of Electricity
4.1.1 A helium atom
All matter is composed of atoms. "The Periodic Table of Elements"
, lists all known types of atoms and their properties. The names of the parts of the atom are:

nucleus - the center part of the atom, formed by protons and neutrons

protons - particles have a positive charge , and along with neutrons, form the nucleus

neutrons - particles have no charge (neutral), and along with protons, form the nucleus

electrons - particles have a negative charge, and orbit the nucleus
To help you understand the electrical properties of elements/materials, locate "helium" on the
periodic chart. It has an atomic number of 2, which means that it has 2 protons and 2 electrons.
It has an atomic weight of 4. By subtracting the atomic number (2) from the atomic weight (4)
you learn that helium also has 2 neutrons
.
The Danish physicist, Niels Bohr, developed a simplified model to illustrate atoms. This
illustration shows the model for a helium atom. Notice the scale of the parts. If the protons and
neutrons of this atom were the size of a soccer ball, in the middle of a soccer field, the only
thing smaller than the ball would be the electrons. They would be the size of cherries, and
would be orbiting near the outer-most seats of the stadium. The only thing larger would be the
space inside the atom, which would be the size of the soccer field.
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Helium
4.1.2 Creating stable atoms
One of the laws of nature, called Coulomb's Electric Force Law, states that opposite charges
react to each other with a force that causes them to be attracted to each other. Like charges
react to each other with a force that causes them to repel each other. A force is a pushing or
pulling motion. In the case of opposite and like charges, the force increases as the charges
move closer to each other.
Examine Bohr's model of the helium atom. If Coulomb's law is true, and if Bohr's model
describes helium atoms as stable, then there must be other laws of nature at work. How can
they both be true?
1. Coulomb's Law - Opposite charges attract.
2. Bohr's model - Protons are positive charges, and electrons are negative charges.
Question 1: Why don't the electrons fly in towards the protons?
1. Coulomb's Law - Like charges repel.
2. Bohr's model - Protons are positive charges. There is more than 1 proton in the
nucleus.
Question 2: Why don't the protons fly away from each other?
The answers to these questions is that there are other laws of nature that must be considered.
Following are the answers to each of the above questions.
Answer 1: The electrons stay in orbit, even though they are attracted by the protons. They
have just enough velocity to keep orbiting, just like the moon around the Earth, and to not let
themselves be pulled into the nucleus.
Answer 2: The protons do not fly apart from each other because of a nuclear force that is
associated with neutrons. The nuclear force is an incredibly strong force that acts as a kind of
glue to hold the protons together.
The protons and neutrons are bound together by a very powerful force; however, the electrons
are bound to their orbit around the nucleus by a weaker force. Electrons in certain atoms can
be pulled free from the atom, and made to flow. This is electricity - a "free flow of electrons".
4.1.3 Static electricity
Loosened electrons that stay in one place, without moving and with a negative charge, are
called static electricity. If these static electrons have an opportunity to jump to a conductor, this
can lead to electrostatic discharge (ESD). Electrostatic discharge, though usually harmless to
people, can create serious problems for sensitive electronic equipment, unless dealt with
properly.
If you should walk across a carpet, in a cool and dry room, a spark could jump from your
fingertips to the next object that you touch. This would cause you to feel a small electric shock.
You know from experience that an electrostatic discharge can be uncomfortable, but is quite
harmless. However, when a computer experiences an ESD, the result can be disastrous. A
static discharge can randomly damage computer chips and/or data.
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"Static Electricity" means "High Voltage"
4.1.4 Electrical current including insulators, conductors, and semiconductors
Atoms, or groups of atoms called molecules, can be referred to as materials. Materials are
classified as belonging to one of three groups, depending on how easily electricity, or free
electrons, flows through them.
Electrical Insulators
Electrical insulators, or insulators, are materials that allow electrons to flow through them with
great difficulty, or not at all. Examples of electrical insulators include plastic, glass, air, dry
wood, paper, rubber, and helium gas. These materials have very stable chemical structures,
with orbiting electrons tightly bound within the atoms.
Electrical Conductors
Electrical conductors, or conductors, are materials that allow electrons to flow through them
with great ease. They flow easily because the outermost electrons are bound very loosely to
the nucleus, and are easily freed. At room temperature, these materials have a large number
of free electrons that can provide conduction. The introduction of voltage causes the free
electrons to move, causing a current to flow.
The periodic table categorizes some groups of atoms by listing them in the form of columns.
The atoms in each column belong to particular chemical families. Although they may have
different numbers of protons, neutrons, and electrons, their outermost electrons have similar
orbits and behave similarly, when interacting with other atoms and molecules. The best
conductors are metals, such as copper (Cu), silver (Ag), and gold (Au). All of these metals are
located in one column of the periodic chart, and have electrons that are easily freed, making
them excellent materials for carrying a current.
Other conductors include solder (a mixture of lead (Pb) and tin (Sn), and water with ions. An
ion is an atom that has more electrons, or fewer electrons, than a neutral atom. The human
body is made of approximately 70% water with ions, which means that it, too, is a conductor.
Electrical Semiconductors
Semiconductors are materials where the amount of electricity they conduct can be precisely
controlled. These materials are listed together in one column of the periodic chart. Examples
include carbon (C), germanium (Ge), and the alloy, gallium arsenide (GaAs). The most
important semiconductor, the one that makes the best microscopic-sized electronic circuits, is
silicon (Si).
Silicon is very common and can be found in sand, glass, and many types of rocks. The region
around San Jose, California is known as Silicon Valley because the computer industry, which
depends on silicon microchips, started in that area.
Whether materials are classified as insulators, conductors, or semiconductors, it is the
knowledge of how each one controls the flow of electrons, and of how they work together in
various combinations, that is the basis for all electronic devices.
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Forms of Energy
4.1.5 Electrical measurement terms
These are the terms that describe networking media.
Voltage
Voltage, sometimes referred to as electromotive force (EMF), is an electrical force, or pressure,
that occurs when electrons and protons are separated. The force that is created pushes
toward the opposite charge and away from the like charge. This process occurs in a battery,
where chemical action causes electrons to be freed from the battery's negative terminal, and
to travel to the opposite, or positive, terminal, through an EXTERNAL circuit -- not through the
battery itself. The separation of charges results in voltage. Voltage can also be created by
friction (static electricity), by magnetism (electric generator), or by light (solar cell).
Voltage is represented by the letter "V", and sometimes by the letter "E", for electromotive
force. The unit of measurement for voltage is volt (V), and is defined as the amount of work,
per unit charge, needed to separate the charges.
Current
Electrical current, or current, is the flow of charges that is created when electrons move. In
electrical circuits, current is caused by a flow of free electrons. When voltage (electrical
pressure) is applied, and there is a path for the current, electrons move from the negative
terminal (which repels them), along the path, to the positive terminal (which attracts them).
Current is represented by the letter "I". The unit of measurement for current is Ampere (Amp),
and is defined as the number of charges per second that pass by a point along a path.
Resistance
Materials through which current flows, offer varying amounts of opposition, or resistance, to
the movement of the electrons. Materials that offer very little, or no, resistance, are called
conductors. Those that do not allow the current to flow, or severely restrict its flow, are called
insulators. The amount of resistance depends on the chemical composition of the materials.
Resistance is represented by the letter "R". The unit of measurement for resistance is the ohm
(Ω). The symbol comes from the Greek capital letter "Ω" - omega.
Alternating Current (AC)
This is one of the two ways in which current flows. Alternating current (AC) and voltages vary
with time, by changing their polarity, or direction. AC flows in one direction, then reverses its
direction, and repeats the process. AC voltage is positive at one terminal, and negative at the
other, then it reverses its polarity, so that the positive terminal becomes negative, and the
negative terminal becomes positive. This process repeats itself continuously.
Direct Current (DC)
This is the other one, of the two ways, in which current flows. Direct current (DC) always flows
in the same direction, and DC voltages always have the same polarity. One terminal is always
positive, and the other is always negative. They do not change or reverse.
Impedance
Impedance is the total opposition to current flow (due to AC and DC voltages). The term
resistance is generally used when referring to DC voltages. Impedance is the general term,
and is the measure of how the flow of electrons is resisted, or impeded.
Impedance is represented by the letter "Z". Its unit of measurement, like that for resistance, is
the ohm (Ω).
Voltage, Current, Resistance Relationship
Currents only flow in closed loops called circuits. These circuits must be composed of
conducting materials, and must have sources of voltage. Voltage causes current to flow, while
resistance and impedance oppose it. Knowing these facts allows people to control a flow of
current.
Ground
The term ground can be difficult concept to understand, completely, because people use the
term for many different purposes.

Ground can refer to the place on the earth that touches your house (probably via the
buried water pipes), eventually making an indirect connection to your electric outlets.
When you use an electric appliance that has a plug with three prongs, the third prong
is the ground. It gives the electrons an extra conducting path to flow to the earth,
rather than through your body.

Ground can also mean the reference point, or the 0 volts level, when making electrical
measurements. Voltage is created by the separation of charges, which means that
voltage measurements must be made between two points. A multimeter (which
measures voltage, current, and resistance) has two wires for that reason. The black
wire is referred to as the ground, or reference ground. A negative terminal on a battery
is also referred to as 0 volts, or reference ground.
Note: A multimeter is test equipment used for measuring voltage, current, resistance, and
possibly other electrical quantities and displaying the value in numeric form.
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Electricity Fundamentals
4.1.6 Analogy for voltage, resistance, and current
The water analogy helps to explain concepts of electricity. The higher the water, and the
greater the pressure, the more the water will flow. The water current depends on how much the
tap (valve) has been opened. Similarly, the higher the voltage, and the greater the electrical
pressure, the more current will be produced. The electric current then encounters resistance
which like the water tap reduces the flow. If it is on an AC circuit, then the amount of current will
depend on how much impedance (resistance) is present. The pump is like a battery. It provides
pressure to keep the flow moving.
4.1.7 Graphing AC and DC voltage
An oscilloscope is an important, and sophisticated electronic device used to study electrical
signals. Because it is possible to control electricity precisely, deliberate electrical patterns
called waves can be created. An oscilloscope graphs the electrical waves, pulses, and
patterns. It has an x-axis that represents time, and a y-axis that represents voltage. There are
usually two y-axis voltage inputs so that two waves can be observed and measured at the
same time.
Electricity is brought to your home, school, and office by power lines. The power lines carry
electricity in the form of alternating current (AC). Another type of current, called direct current
(DC) can be found in flashlight batteries, car batteries, and as power for the microchips on the
motherboard of a computer. It is important to understand the difference between these two
types of current.
4.1.8 Constructing a simple series electrical current
Electrons flow only in circuits that are closed, or complete, loops. The diagram in the main
graphic shows a simple circuit, typical of a lantern-style flashlight. The chemical processes in
the battery cause charges to be separated, which provides a voltage, or electrical pressure,
enabling electrons to flow through various devices. The lines represent a conductor, usually,
copper wire.
You can think of a switch as two ends of a single wire that can be opened (or broken), and then
closed (also known as fixed or shorted), to prevent or to allow, electrons to flow. Finally, the
bulb provides resistance to the flow of electrons, causing the electrons to release energy in the
form of light. The circuits involved in networking use the same concepts as this very simple
circuit, but are much more complex.
4.1.9 Purpose of grounding networking equipment
For AC and DC electrical systems, the flow of electrons is always from a negatively charged
source to a positively charged source. However, for the controlled flow of electrons to occur, a
complete circuit is required. Generally speaking, electrical current follows the path of least
resistance. Because metals such as copper provide little resistance, they are frequently used
as conductors for electrical current. Conversely, materials such as glass, rubber, and plastic
provide more resistance. Therefore, they do not make good electrical conductors. Instead,
these materials are frequently used as insulators. They are used on conductors to prevent
shock, fires, and short circuits.
Electrical power is usually delivered to a pole-mounted transformer. The transformer reduces
the high voltages, used in the transmission, to the 120 or 240 volts used by typical consumer
electrical appliances.
Figure
shows a familiar object, electricity as supplied through wall outlets in the US (other nations
have different wall outlet configurations). The top two connectors supply power. The round
connector on the bottom protects people and equipment from shocks and short circuits. This
connector is called the safety ground connection. In electrical equipment where this is used,
the safety ground wire is connected to any exposed metal part of the equipment. The
motherboards and computing circuits in computing equipment are electrically connected to the
chassis. This also connects them to the safety grounding wire, which is used to dissipate static
electricity.
The purpose of connecting the safety ground to exposed metal parts of the computing
equipment is to prevent such metal parts from becoming energized with a hazardous voltage
resulting from a wiring fault inside the device.
An accidental connection between the hot wire and the chassis is an example of a wiring fault
that could occur in a network device. If such a fault were to occur, the safety ground wire
connected to the device would serve as a low resistance path to the earth ground. The safety
ground connection provides a lower resistance path than your body.
When properly installed, the low resistance path, provided by the safety ground wire, offers
sufficiently low resistance and current carrying capacity to prevent the build up of hazardously
high voltages. The circuit links directly to the hot connection to the earth.
4.2 Basics of Digital Multimeters
4.2.1 Safe handling and use of the multimeter
In this lab you will learn how to use a multimeter. The multimeter can perform voltage,
resistance, and continuity measurements, which are important in networking. You can learn
about the multimeter from two different sources - the hard copy (paper) manual, and the online
(manufacturer's Web site) version of the manual.
Lab Activity
In this lab, you will learn how to use or handle a multimeter correctly.
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Using a Multimeter
4.2.2 Using a multimeter to make resistance measurements
In this lab you will use a multimeter to measure the resistance and continuity of objects. The
unit of measurement for both, is the ohm (Ω). Continuity refers to the level of resistance of a
path. If a path is intentionally made into a low-resistance path, for use by two connected
electrical devices, then the path has what is called continuity. If a path is unintentionally made
into a low-resistance path, then it is called a short circuit.
With either measurement, the multimeter emits a high-pitched sound when it detects a
low-resistance path. You will perform measurements on the following:

CAT 5 cable

terminated CAT 5 cable

terminated coaxial cable

telephone wire

CAT 5 jacks

switches

wall outlets
Lab Activity
In this lab, you will demonstrate your ability to measure resistance and continuity with
the multimeter.
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Using a Multimeter
4.2.3 Using a multimeter to make voltage measurements
In this lab you will use the multimeter to measure voltage. There are two types of voltage
measurements. For your personal safety, and to protect the meter, it is important that you
understand the difference. The two types are DC and AC.
DC Voltage
The meter must be set to DC when measuring DC voltages. This includes the following:

batteries

outputs of computer power supplies

solar cells

DC generators
AC Voltage
The meter must be set to AC when measuring AC voltages. If you are measuring a wall socket,
you must assume that line voltage is present. Line voltage is 120 V AC in the US, and 220 V
AC in most other places around the world. Line voltage can kill you! You must remember to
be very careful to use the correct setting on the multimeter.
Lab Activity
In this lab, you will demonstrate your ability to measure voltage SAFELY with the
multimeter.
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Using a Multimeter
4.2.4 Measuring simple series circuit
In this lab you will build a simple series circuit, and perform measurements on it.
Lab Activity
In this lab, you will build series circuits and explore their basic properties.
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Using a Multimeter
4.2.5 Constructing a simple electrical communication system
The diagram shows part of the circuits that allow Ethernet NICs to communicate with each
other. This should give you a hint on how to approach your challenge in this lab, which is to
design, build, and demonstrate, a simple electrical communication system.
Lab Activity
In this lab, you will design, build, and test a simple, complete, fast, and reliable
communication system, using common materials.
4.3 Basics of Signals and Noise in Communications Systems
4.3.1 Comparing analog and digital signals
Signal refers to a desired electrical voltage, light pattern, or modulated electromagnetic wave.
All of these can carry networking data.
One type of signal is analog.
An analog signal has the following characteristics:

is wavy

has a continuously varying voltage-versus-time graph

is typical of things in nature

has been widely used in telecommunications for over 100 years
The main graphic shows a pure sine wave. The two important characteristics of a sine wave
are its amplitude (A) - its height and depth - and its period (T) - length of time to complete 1
cycle. You can calculate the frequency (f) - wiggleyness - of the wave with the formula f = 1/T.
Another type of signal is digital.
A digital signal has the following characteristics:

has discrete, or jumpy, voltage-versus-time graphs

is typical of technology, rather than nature
The graphic shows a digital networking signal. Digital signals have a fixed amplitude but their
pulsewidth and frequency can be changed. Digital Signals have a fixed amplitude but their
pulsewidth and frequency can be changed. While this is an approximation, it is a reasonable
one, and will be used in all future diagrams.
4.3.3 Representing one bit on a physical medium
Data networks have become increasingly dependent on digital (binary, two-state) systems.
The basic building block of information is 1 binary digit, known as the bit or pulse. One bit, on
an electrical medium, is the electrical signal corresponding to binary 0 or binary 1. This may be
as simple as 0 volts for binary 0, and +5 volts for binary 1, or a more complex encoding. Signal
reference ground is an important concept relating to all networking media that use voltages to
carry messages.
In order to function correctly, a signal reference ground must be close to a computer's digital
circuits. Engineers have accomplished this by designing ground planes into circuit boards. The
computer cabinets are used as the common point of connection for the circuit board ground
planes to establish the signal reference ground. Signal reference ground establishes the 0
volts line in the signal graphics.
With optical signals, binary 0 would be encoded as a low-light, or no-light, intensity (darkness).
Binary 1 would be encoded as a higher-light intensity (brightness), or other more complex
patterns.
With wireless signals, binary 0 might be a short burst of waves; binary 1 might be a longer
burst of waves, or another more complex pattern.
You will examine six things that can happen to 1 bit:

propagation

attenuation

reflection

noise

timing problem

collisions
4.3.4 Network signal propagation
Propagation means travel. When a NIC puts out a voltage or light pulse onto a physical
medium, that square pulse made up of waves travels along the medium (propagates).
Propagation means that a lump of energy, representing 1 bit, travels from one place to another.
The speed at which it propagates depends on the actual material used in the medium, the
geometry (structure) of the medium, and the frequency of the pulses. The time it takes the bit
to travel from one end of the medium and back again is referred to as the round trip time,
(RTT). Assuming no other delays, the time it takes the bit to travel down the medium to the far
end is RTT/2.
The fact that the bit takes a small amount of time to travel along the medium does not normally
cause network problems. However, with the ever-increasing data transmission rates of today's
networks sometimes you must account for the amount of time it takes the signal to travel.
There are two extreme situations to consider. Either the bit takes "0" time to travel, meaning it
travels instantaneously, or it takes "forever" to travel. The first case is wrong according to
Albert Einstein, whose "Theory of Relativity" says no information can travel faster than the
speed of light in a vacuum. This means that the bit takes at least a small amount of time to
travel. The second case is also wrong, because with the right equipment, you can actually time
the pulse. Lack of knowledge of propagation time is a problem, because you might assume the
bit arrives at some destination either too soon, or too late. If the propagation time is too long,
you should re-evaluate how the rest of the network will deal with this delay. If the propagation
delay is too short, you may have to slow down the bits, or save them temporarily (known as
buffering), so that the rest of the networking equipment can catch up with the bit.
4.3.5 Network attenuation
Attenuation is the loss of signal strength, for example, when cables exceed a maximum length.
This means that a 1 bit voltage signal loses amplitude as energy passes from the signal to the
cable. While choosing materials carefully, (e.g. using copper instead of carbon), and geometry
(the shape and positioning of the wires) can reduce electrical attenuation. Some loss is always
unavoidable when electrical resistance is present. Attenuation also happens to optical signals;
the optical fiber absorbs and scatters some of the light energy as the light pulse, 1 bit, travels
down the fiber. This can be minimized by the wavelength, or color, of the light that you choose.
This can also be minimized by whether or not you use single mode or multi-mode fiber, and by
the actual glass that is used for the fiber. Even with these choices, some signal loss is
unavoidable.
Attenuation also happens to radio waves and microwaves, as they are absorbed and scattered
by specific molecules in the atmosphere. Attenuation can affect a network since it limits the
length of network cabling over which you can send a message. If the cable is too long or too
attenuating, 1 bit sent from the source can look like a 0 bit by the time it gets to the destination.
You can resolve this problem through the networking media that you choose, and by choosing
structures that are designed to have low amounts of attenuation. One way to fix the problem is
to change the medium. A second way is to use a repeater after a certain distance. There are
repeaters for electrical, optical, and wireless bits.
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Connection Denied
4.3.6 Network reflection
To understand reflection, imagine having a slinky or a jump rope stretched out with a friend
holding the other end. Now, imagine sending them a pulse or a 1 bit message. If you watch
carefully, you will see that a small wave (pulse) returns (reflects) to you.
Reflection occurs in electrical signals. When voltage pulses, or bits, hit a discontinuity some
energy can be reflected. If not carefully controlled, this energy can interfere with later bits.
Remember, while you are focused on only 1 bit at a time right now, in real networks you will
want to send millions and billions of bits every second, thus requiring you to keep track of this
reflected pulse energy. Depending on the cabling and connections that the network uses,
reflections may or may not be a problem.
Reflection also occurs with optical signals. Optical signals reflect whenever they hit a
discontinuity in the glass fiber, such as when a connector is plugged into a device. You can
see this effect at night if you look out a window. You can see your reflection in the window
even though the window is not a mirror. Some of the light that is reflected off your body reflects
in the window. This also happens with radio waves and microwaves as they encounter
different layers in the atmosphere.
This may cause problems on your network. For optimal network performance, it is important
that the network media have a specific impedance in order to match the electrical components
in the NICs. Unless the network media have the correct impedance, the signal will suffer some
reflection and interference will be created. Then multiple reflecting pulses can occur. Whether
the system is electrical, optical, or wireless, impedance mismatches cause reflections. If
enough energy is reflected, the binary, two-state system can become confused by all the extra
energy bouncing around. You can resolve this by ensuring that all networking components are
carefully impedance matched.
4.3.7 Noise
Noise is unwanted additions to voltage, optical, or electromagnetic signals. No electrical signal
is without noise, however, it is important to keep the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio as high as
possible. The S/N ratio is an engineering calculation and measurement which involves dividing
the signal strength by the noise strength; it gives a measure of how easy it will be to decipher
the desired, intended signal from the unwanted, but unavoidable, noise. In other words, each
bit receives additional unwanted signals from various sources. Too much noise can corrupt a
bit turning a binary 1 into a binary 0, or a 0 into a 1, destroying the message. Figure
shows five sources of noise that can affect a bit on a wire.
NEXT-A and NEXT-B
When electrical noise on the cable originates from signals on other wires in the cable, this is
known as crosstalk. NEXT stands for near-end crosstalk. When two wires are near each other
and untwisted, energy from one wire can wind up in an adjacent wire and vice versa. This can
cause noise at both ends of a terminated cable. There are actually many forms of cross-talk
which must be considered when building networks.
NEXT can be addressed by termination technology, strict adherence to standard termination
procedures, and use of quality twisted pair cables.
NEXT-A is Near End Crosstalk at computer A and NEXT-B is Near End Crosstalk at computer
B.
Thermal Noise
Thermal noise, due to the random motion of electrons, is unavoidable but usually relatively
small compared to our signals.
AC Power/Reference Ground Noise
AC Power and reference ground noises are crucial problems in networking. AC line noise
creates problems in our homes, schools, and offices. Electricity is carried to appliances and
machines by wires concealed in walls, floors, and ceilings. Consequently, inside these
buildings AC power line noise is all around us. If not properly prevented, power line noise can
cause problems for a network.
Ideally the signal reference ground should be completely isolated from the electrical ground.
Isolation would keep AC power leakage and voltage spikes off the signal reference ground.
But the chassis of a computing device serves as the signal reference ground, and as the AC
power line ground. Since there is a link between the signal reference ground and the power
ground, problems with the power ground can lead to interference with the data system. Such
interference can be difficult to detect and trace. Usually, it stems from the fact that electrical
contractors and installers don't care about the length of the neutral and ground wires that lead
to each electrical outlet. Unfortunately, when these wires are long, they can act as an antenna
for electrical noise. It is this noise that interferes with the digital signals (bits) a computer must
be able to recognize and process.
You will discover that AC line noise coming from a nearby video monitor or hard disk drive can
be enough to create errors in a computer system. It does this by interfering (changing the
shape and voltage level) with the desired signals and preventing a computer's logic gates from
detecting the leading and trailing edges of the square waves. This problem can be further
compounded when a computer has a poor ground connection.
EMI/RFI
External sources of electrical impulses that can attack the quality of electrical signals on the
cable include lighting, electrical motors, and radio systems. These types of interference are
referred to as electromagnetic interference (EMI), and radio frequency interference (RFI).
Each wire in a cable can act like an antenna. When this happens, the wire actually absorbs
electrical signals from other wires in the cable and from electrical sources outside the cable. If
the resulting electrical noise reaches a high enough level, it can become difficult for NICs to
discriminate the noise from the data signal. This is particularly a problem because most LANs
use frequencies in the 1-100 megahertz (MHz) frequency region, which happens to be where
FM Radio signals, TV signals, and lots of appliances have their operating frequencies as well.
Let's take a look at how electrical noise, regardless of the source, impacts digital signals.
Imagine that you want to send data, represented by the binary number 1011001001101, over
the network. Your computer converts the binary number to a digital signal. Figure
shows what the digital signal for 1011001001101 looks like. The digital signal travels through
the networking media to the destination. The destination happens to be near an electrical
outlet that is fed by both long neutral and long ground wires. These wires act as possible
antennas for electrical noise. Figure
shows what electrical noise looks like.
Because the destination computer's chassis is used for both the earth ground and the signal
reference ground, the noise generated interferes with the digital signal that the computer
receives. Figure
shows what happens to the signal when it is combined with this electrical noise. Instead of
reading the signal as 1011001001101, the computer reads the signal as 1011000101101,
making the data unreliable (corrupted).
Unlike Copper wire, optical and wireless systems experience some of these forms of noise but
are immune to others. For example, optical fiber is immune to NEXT and AC power/reference
ground noise, and wireless systems are particularly prone to EMI/RFI. The focus here has
been on noise in copper-based wiring systems. The problem of NEXT can be addressed by
termination technology, strict adherence to standard termination procedures, and the use of
quality twisted pair cables.
There is nothing that can be done about thermal noise, other than to give the signals a large
enough amplitude so that it doesn't matter. In order to avoid the problem of AC/reference
ground as described above, it is important to work closely with your electrical contractor and
power company. This will enable you to get the best and shortest electrical ground. One way to
do this is to investigate the cost of installing a single power transformer, dedicated to your LAN
installation area. If you can afford this option, you can control the attachment of other devices
to your power circuit. Restricting how and where devices, such as motors or high-current
electrical heaters, are attached can eliminate much of the electrical noise generated by them.
When working with your electrical contractor, you should ask that separate power distribution
panels, known as breaker boxes, be installed for each office area. Since the neutral wires and
ground wires from each outlet come together in the breaker box, taking this step will increase
your chances of shortening the length of the signal ground. While installing individual power
distribution panels for every cluster of computers can increase the up-front cost of the power
wiring, it reduces the length of the ground wires, and limits several kinds of signal-burying
electrical noise.
There are a number of ways to limit EMI and RFI. One way is to increase the size of the
conductor wires. Another way is to improve the type of insulating material used. However,
such changes increase the size and cost of the cable faster than they improve its quality.
Therefore, it is more typical for network designers to specify a cable of good quality, and to
provide specifications for the maximum recommended cable length between nodes.
Two techniques that cable designers have used successfully in dealing with EMI and RFI are
shielding and cancellation. In cable that employs shielding, a metal braid or foil surrounds each
wire pair or group of wire pairs. This shielding acts as a barrier to any interfering signals.
However, as with increasing the size of the conductors, using braid or foil covering increases
the diameter of the cable and the cost as well. Therefore, cancellation is the more commonly
used technique to protect the wire from undesirable interference.
When electrical current flows through a wire, it creates a small, circular magnetic field around
the wire.
The direction of these magnetic lines of force is determined by the direction in which the
current flows along the wire. If two wires are part of the same electrical circuit, electrons flow
from the negative voltage source to the destination along one wire. Then the electrons flow
from the destination to the positive voltage source along the other wire. When two wires in an
electrical circuit are placed close together, their magnetic fields are the exact opposite of each
other. Thus, the two magnetic fields will cancel each other out. They also will cancel out any
outside magnetic fields as well. Twisting the wires can enhance this cancellation effect. By
using cancellation in combination with twisting of wires, cable designers can provide an
effective method of providing self-shielding for wire pairs within the network media.
Web Links
Tests on Conducted Electrical Noise
4.3.8 Dispersion, jitter, and latency
Dispersion, jitter, and latency are actually three different things that can happen to a bit. They
are grouped together because each affect the same thing - the timing of a bit. Since you are
trying to understand what problems might occur as millions and billions of bits travel on a
medium in one second, timing matters a lot.
Dispersion is when the signal broadens in time. It is caused by the type of media involved. If
serious enough, 1 bit can start to interfere with the next bit and confuse it with the bits before
and after it. Since you want to send billions of bits per second, you must be careful not to allow
the signals to spread out . Dispersion can be fixed by proper cable design, limiting cable
lengths, and finding the proper impedance. In optical fibers, dispersion can be controlled by
using laser light of a very specific wavelength. For wireless communications, dispersion can be
minimized by the frequencies used to transmit.
All digital systems are clocked, meaning clock pulses cause everything to happen. Clock
pulses cause a CPU to calculate, data to store in memory, and the NIC to send bits. If the
clock on the source host is not synchronized with the destination, which is quite likely, you will
get timing jitter. This means that bits will arrive a little earlier and later than expected. Jitter can
be fixed by a series of complicated clock synchronizations, including hardware and software,
or protocol synchronizations.
Latency, also known as delay, has two main causes. First, Einstein’s theory of relativity states,
"nothing can travel faster than the speed of light in a vacuum (3.0 x 108 meters/second)."
Wireless networking signals travel at slightly less than the speed of light in vacuum.
Networking signals on copper media they travel in the range of 1.9x10 8 m/s to 2.4x108 m/s.
Networking signals on optical fiber travel at approximately 2.0x10 8 m/s. So to travel a distance,
a bit takes at least a small amount of time to get to where it’s going. Second, if the bit goes
through any devices, the transistors and electronics introduce more latency. The solution to
the problem of latency is the careful use of internetworking devices, different encoding
strategies, and various layer protocols.
Modern networks typically operate at speeds of 1 Mbps to 1000 Mbps (1Gbps -- 1 billion bits
per second!). If bits are broadened by dispersion, then 1s can be mistaken for 0s and 0s for 1s.
If groups of bits get routed differently and there is no attention paid to timing, the jitter can
cause errors as the receiving computer tries to reassemble packets into a message. If groups
of bits are late, the networking devices and other destination computers might get hopelessly
lost and overwhelmed by a billion bits per second.
4.3.9 Collision
A collision occurs when two bits from two different communicating computers are on a
shared-medium at the same time. In the case of copper media, the voltages of the two binary
signals are added, and cause a third voltage level. This voltage variation is not allowed in a
binary system, which only understands two voltage levels. The bits are corrupted "destroyed".
Some technologies, such as Ethernet, deal with a certain quantity of collisions to negotiate
whose turn it is to transmit on the shared media when communicating between hosts. In some
instances collisions are a natural part of the functioning of a network. However, excessive
collisions can slow the network down or bring it to a halt. Therefore, a lot of network design
goes into minimizing and localizing collisions.
There are many ways to deal with collisions. One way is to detect them and simply have a set
of rules for dealing with them when they occur, as in Ethernet. Another way is to try to prevent
collisions by only allowing one computer on a shared media environment to transmit at a time.
This requires that a computer have a special bit pattern called a token to transmit, as in token
-ring and FDDI.
4.3.10 Messages in terms of bits
After a bit reaches a medium, it propagates, and may experience attenuation, reflection, noise,
dispersion, or collision. You want to transmit far more than 1 bit. In fact, you want to transmit
billions of bits in one second. All of the effects, so far described, that can occur to 1 bit, apply to
the various protocol data units (PDUs) of the OSI model. Eight bits equal 1 byte. Multiple bytes
equal 1 frame. Frames contain packets. Packets carry the message you wish to communicate.
Networking professionals often talk about attenuated, reflected, noisy, dispersed, and collided
frames and packets.
4.4 Basics of Encoding Networking Signals
4.4.1 Historical examples of encoding
Whenever you want to send a message over a long distance, there are two problems you must
solve. First, how to express the message (encoding or modulation) and second, which method
to use to transport the message (carrier).
Throughout history there have been a variety of ways in which the problem of carrying a long
distance communication has been solved: runners, riders, horses, optical telescopes, carrier
pigeons, and smoke signals. Each method of delivery required a form of encoding. For
example, smoke signals announcing that good hunting had just been found might be three
short puffs of smoke. A carrier pigeon message that someone had reached a destination
safely might be a picture of a smiling face. In more modern times, the creation of Morse code
revolutionized communications. Two symbols, the dot and the dash, were used to encode the
alphabet. For instance, × × × - - - × × × means SOS, the universal distress signal. Modern
telephones, FAX, AM, FM, short wave radio, and TV all encode their signals electronically.
Typically the modulation of waves from different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum are
used.
Encoding means converting binary data into a form that can travel on a physical
communications link; modulation means using the binary data to manipulate a
wave. Computers use three particular technologies, all of which have their counterparts in
history. These technologies are: encoding messages as voltages on various forms of copper
wire; encoding messages as pulses of guided light on optical fibers; and encoding messages
as modulated, radiated electromagnetic waves.
4.4.2 Modulation and encoding
Encoding means converting 1s and 0s into something real and physical, such as:

an electrical pulse on a wire

a light pulse on an optical fiber

a pulse of electromagnetic waves into space
Two methods of accomplishing this are TTL encoding and Manchester encoding.
TTL (transistor-transistor logic) encoding is the simplest. It is characterized by a high signal
and a low signal (often +5 or +3.3 V for binary 1 and 0 V for binary 0). In optical fibers, binary 1
might be a bright LED or laser light, and binary 0 dark or no light. In wireless networks, binary 1
might mean a carrier wave is present, and binary 0 no carrier at all.
Manchester encoding is more complex, but is more immune to noise and is better at remaining
synchronized. In Manchester encoding, the voltage on copper wire, the brightness of LED or
laser light in optical fiber, or the power of an EM wave in wireless has the bits encoded as
transitions. Observe that the Manchester encoding results in 1 being encoded as a low-to-high
transition and 0 being encoded as a high-to-low transition. Because both 0s and 1s result in a
transition to the signal, the clock can be effectively recovered at the receiver.
Closely related to encoding is modulation, which specifically means taking a wave and
changing, or modulating it so that it carries information. To give you an idea of what modulation
is, examine three forms of modifying, or modulating, a carrier wave to encode bits:

AM (amplitude modulation) - the modulation, or height, of a carrier sine wave is varied
to carry the message

FM (frequency modulation) - the frequency, or wiggly-ness, of the carrier wave is
varied to carry the message

PM (phase modulation) - the phase, or beginning and ending points of a given cycle,
of the wave is varied to carry the message
Other more complex forms of modulation also exist. The Figure
shows three ways binary data can be encoded onto a carrier wave by the process of
modulation. Binary 11 (Note: read as one one, not eleven!) can be communicated on a wave
by either AM (wave on/wave off), FM (wave wiggles a lot for 1s, a little for 0s), or PM (one type
of phase change for 0s, another for 1s).
Messages can be encoded in a variety of ways:
1. As voltages on copper; Manchester and NRZI encoding are popular on copper-based
networks.
2. As guided light; Manchester and 4B/5B encoding are popular on fiber based networks.
3. As radiated EM waves; a wide variety of encoding schemes (variations on AM, FM,
and PM) are used on wireless networks.
Web Links
Digital Encoding
Summary
This chapter provided you the basic theory of electricity and the factors which affect data
transmission. More specifically, you learned that:

electricity is based on the ability of electrons of certain types of atoms to separate, or
flow, from the confines of these atoms

opposite charges attract and like charges repel. Electricity flows from negative to
positive within electrical circuits

materials can be classified as either insulators, conductors, or semiconductors,
depending on their ability to allow electrons to flow

the concepts of voltage, current, resistance, and impedance provide a means of
measuring electricity which is required to be able to design and manufacture electronic
devices

alternating current and direct current are the two types of current. AC is used to
provide power to our homes, schools, and work places. DC is used with electrical
devices that depend on a battery to function

electrical grounds provide a baseline from which to measure voltage. They also are
used as a safety mechanism to prevent hazardous shocks

all electronic equipment is composed of electrical circuits that regulate the flow of
electricity via switches
The next chapter discusses the different types of networking media that are used at the
physical layer. In addition, it describes how network devices, cable specifications, network
topologies, collisions and collision domains can help determine such things as how much data
can travel across the network and how fast.