Addis Ababa Science and Technology University

College of Engineering
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Introduction to Communication Systems (EEEg-3152)

Chapter One
Overview of Communication Systems
Overview of Communication Systems

Outline:
 Introduction

 Elements of Communication Systems

 Types of Communication Systems

 Modulation and Multiplexing

 Radio Wave Propagation Modes

 The Electromagnetic Spectrum

 Applications of Communication Systems

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 Introduction
Communication:-
 process of exchanging (sending, receiving &
processing) information between two or more
individuals (devices).
 Its process is inherent to all human life and
includes verbal, nonverbal (body language), print,
and electronic processes (target of this
course).
Two main barriers to human communication are
 language and
distance.
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 Introduction ….

(i). Language barriers :- b/n persons of different

cultures or nationalities.
(ii). Distance barriers :-
long distances is another problem.
Long-distance communication was first
accomplished by
sending simple signals such as drumbeats, horn
blasts, and smoke signals and later by waving signal
flags (semaphores).
The long distance communication was extended by
the written word. For many years, long-distance
Human communication leaped forward when
electricity was discovered and its many applications
were explored.
The telegraph was invented in 1844 & the telephone
in 1876.
Radio was discovered in 1887 and demonstrated in
1895.
Well-known forms of electronic communication, such
as the telephone, radio, TV, and the Internet, have
increased our ability to share information

Communication system :-
Introduction……
 Two or more people communicating with each other by
using sound signals is an example of a communication
system.

Fig. A practical flow of information in an

electronic communication system
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Elements of Communication Systems

 The basic components/elements of a communication

system are 1)information source, 2)input
transducer, 3)transmitter, 4)communication
channel, 5)receiver, 6)output transducer,
and 7)destination.

Fig. A general block diagram of a communication system

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 Elements of Communication Systems……

1)Information Source:
 The information generated by the source may be in
the form of sound (human speech), picture (image
source) , video or plain text in computers.

2)Input Transducer
 A transducer is a device which converts one form of
energy or signal into another form of energy or signal.
 The input transducer converts the non-electrical
signal (sound signal or light signal) into an
electrical signal
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Chapter 1- Overview of Communication Systems 8
 Elements of Communication Systems……
For voice messages, a microphone is used to translate the
sound
into an electronic audio signal.
For TV, a camera converts the light information in the scene
to
a video signal.
In computer systems, the message is typed on a keyboard
and converted to binary codes that can be stored in memory or
transmitted serially
3)Transmitter:

A device which converts the signal produced by the

source into a form that is suitable for transmission
over a given channel
made up of oscillators, amplifiers, tuned circuits, filters,
modulators, frequency
Prepared by: Welelaw Y. mixers, frequency
Chapter 1- Overview synthesizers,
of Communication Systems etc 9
Elements of Communication Systems……

4)Communication Channel/medium/bridge:
 It is a medium through which the signal travels.

 They are divided into two categories:

Wired (eg;- wire conductors, fiber-optic cable )and
wireless (free space.)

Noise:
 Noise is an unwanted signal that enters the
communication system via the communication
channel and interferes with the transmitted
signal.
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Elements of Communication Systems……

5)Receiver:
a collection of electronic components and circuits that
accepts the
transmitted message from the channel and converts it
back to a form understandable by humans.
Receivers contain amplifiers, oscillators, mixers, tuned
circuits and filters, and a demodulator or detector that
recovers the original intelligence signal from the
modulated carrier.
6)Output Transducer:
 The output transducer converts the electrical
signal (in the form of V or I) into a non-electrical
signal (sound signal, light signal,.....)
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 Types of Communication
Systems communication systems can be classified
 Electronic
based on:

I. Direction of communication (whether the

system is unidirectional or bidirectional)
II. Nature of information signal (whether the
system uses
analog or digital signals for communication)

III. Technique of transmission (whether the

system uses baseband transmission or uses
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Welelaw Y.
Types of Communication Systems……

Fig. Classification of electronic communication system

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Types of Communication Systems……

i. Classification based on direction of communication

 Based on whether the system communicates only in one
direction or otherwise, the communication systems are
classified as:
 Simplex System

 Half duplex System

 Full duplex System

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Types of Communication Systems……

Simplex System:
 In these systems, the information is communicated in only
one direction.
Examples: Radio and TV broadcasting system
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Types of Communication Systems……

Half duplex System:

 These systems are bidirectional (they can transmit as well
as receive) but not simultaneously. At a time, these
systems can either transmit or receive.
Examples: Walkie-talkies and CB (citizens band) radios
Full duplex System:
 These systems allow communication to take place in both
directions simultaneously .
Example: Telephone systems

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Types of Communication Systems……

ii. Classification based on nature of information signal

 Based the nature of information signal, communication
systems are classified into two broad categories as:
 Analog communication system

 Digital communication system

Analog Communication System:

 Uses analog signals for communication

 Analog signals are continuous and take continuous values.

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Types of Communication Systems……

Digital Communication System:

 Uses digital signals for communication

 digital signals have discrete states and take discrete values.

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Types of Communication Systems……

PAM:- Pulse Amlitude Modulation.

PWM:- Pulse Width Modulation.
PPM:- Pulse Position Modulation.
PCM:- Pulse Code Modulation.
DM:- Delta Modulation.
ADM:- Adaptive Delta
Modulation.

Fig. Classification based on nature of information signal

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Analog or Digital
Analog Message: continuous in amplitude
and over time
AM, FM for voice sound
Traditional TV for analog video
First generation cellular phone (analog mode)
Record player
Digital message: 0 or 1, or discrete value
VCD, DVD
2G/3G cellular phone
Data on your disk
Your grade
Digital age: why digital communication will
prevail
Types of Communication Systems……

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Types of Communication Systems……

iii. Classification based on technique of transmission

 Based on the technique used for the signal transmission,
we can categorize the electronic communication system as
under :
 Baseband transmission system
 Bandpass transmission system using modulation

Baseband transmission:
 In baseband transmission systems, the baseband signals
(original information signals) are directly transmitted .

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Types of Communication Systems……
 The baseband transmission can not be used with certain
mediums e.g., it can not be used for signal transmission
where the medium is free space. This is because the voice
signal can not travel long distance in air. It gets suppressed
after a short distance .
Bandpass transmission system using modulation:
 In the modulation process, some parameter of the carrier
wave (such as amplitude, frequency or phase ) is varied in
accordance with the modulating signal .

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Types of Communication Systems……

 Communication systems can also be classified based on

the media used for information transmission.
 In communication systems, transmission media can be
divided into two broad categories: guided (wired) and
unguided (wireless).

Guided Media:
 A signal traveling along a guided media is directed and
contained by the physical limits of the media.

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Types of Communication Systems……

Unguided Media:
 Unguided (wireless) media transport electromagnetic
waves without using a physical conductor.
 This type of communication is often referred to as wireless
communication.
 Signals are normally broadcast through free space and
thus are available to anyone who has a device capable of
receiving them.

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Types of Communication Systems……

Fig. Classes of transmission media

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Modulation and Multiplexing

 Modulation and multiplexing are electronic techniques for

transmitting information efficiently from one place to
another.
 Modulation makes the information signal more compatible
with the medium, and multiplexing allows more than one
signal to be transmitted concurrently over a single medium.
 Modulation and multiplexing techniques are basic to
electronic communication.

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Modulation and Multiplexing……

 Modulation is the process of transforming a baseband

voice, video, or digital signal into another higher-frequency
signal using the carrier signal.

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Modulation and Multiplexing……

 Multiplexing is the process of allowing two or more signals

to share the same medium or channel.

Fig. Multiplexing at the transmitter

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Modulation and Multiplexing……

 There are three basic types of multiplexing: frequency

division, time division, and code division.

Fig. Demultiplexing at the receiver

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Radio Wave Propagation Modes

 Unguided signals can travel from the source to destination

in several ways: ground wave propagation, sky wave
propagation, and line-of-sight propagation.

Ground Wave Propagation:

 Follows contour of the earth

 Can propagate considerable distances

 Frequencies up to 2 MHz

Example: AM radio

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Radio Wave Propagation Modes……

Sky Wave Propagation:

 Signal reflected from ionized layer of atmosphere and can
travel a number of hops, back and forth.
 Frequencies: 2 to 30 MHz

Example: SW radio

Line-of-Sight Propagation:
 Transmitting and receiving antennas must be within line of
sight with frequencies above 30 MHz.

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Radio Wave Propagation Modes……

Fig. Modes of radio wave propagation

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The Electromagnetic Spectrum

 The range of electromagnetic signals encompassing all

frequencies is referred to as the electromagnetic spectrum.
 All electrical and electronic signals that radiate into free
space fall into the electromagnetic spectrum.

Fig. Main blocks of the electromagnetic spectrum

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The Electromagnetic Spectrum……

Fig. The general electromagnetic spectrum

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The Electromagnetic Spectrum……

Fig. Electromagnetic spectrum bands and some application areas

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Applications of Communication Systems

 The various major applications of electronic communication

systems include:
1. AM and FM radio broadcasting
 Stations broadcast music, news, weather reports, and
programs for entertainment and information. It includes
digital radio.
2. TV broadcasting
 Stations broadcast entertainment, informational, and
educational programs. It includes digital television (DTV) and
cable television (CATV).

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Applications of Communication Systems……
3. Telephones
 One-to-one verbal communication is transmitted over the
vast worldwide telephone networks employing wire, fiber
optics, radio, and satellites. It includes cordless
telephones, cellular phones, VoIP phones and satellite
phones.
4. The Internet
 Worldwide interconnections mainly via fiber optic networks. It
includes Wide-Area Networks (WANs), Metropolitan-area
Networks (MANs) and Local-area Networks (LANs)

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Applications of Communication Systems……
5. Wireless remote control
 This category includes a device that controls any remote
item by radio or infrared. Examples are missiles, satellites,
robots, vehicles, remote plants, garage door opener, and the
remote control on your TV set.
6. Internet of Things (IoT).
 The monitoring or control of remote devices, appliances, and
other items in a home, office or other facility is usually
accomplished by a combination of wireless and Internet
connectivity.

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Applications of Communication Systems……
7. Navigation and direction-finding services
 Used for identifying exact location, direction and/or distance
from a station. Such systems employ both land-based and
satellite stations. The Global Positioning System (GPS)
which uses 24 satellites is the most widely used.
8. Telemetry
 Measurements are transmitted over a long distance.

 Telemetry systems use sensors to determine physical

conditions (temperature, pressure, low rate, voltages,
frequency, etc.) at a remote location.

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Applications of Communication Systems……
9. Radar
 This special form of communication makes use of reflected
microwave signals for the purpose of detecting ships,
planes, and missiles and for determining their range,
direction, and speed.
10. Sonar
 In underwater communication, audible baseband signals use
water as the transmission medium. Submarines and ships
use sonar to detect the presence of enemy submarines.

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