Written Assignment unit 2
Bachelor of Computer Science
University of the People
CS 2204-01: Communication and Networking
Dr. William Sexton
November 24, 2024
Crosstalk and Its Mitigation in Twisted Pair Wires
What is Crosstalk?
Crosstalk is the unwanted transfer of signals between communication channels. It occurs when
the signal from one channel interferes with the signal in another channel, resulting in noise and
degradation of data quality. This phenomenon is particularly common in multi-wire systems such
as telephone lines and data networks. Crosstalk can lead to errors in data transmission, reduced
signal integrity, and overall poor communication performance (Kurose & Ross,
2017).Minimizing Crosstalk in Twisted Pair Wires
Twisted pair cables are specifically designed to minimize crosstalk through several techniques:
1. Twisting of Wires: Each pair of wires is twisted together at a specific pitch. This design
helps cancel out electromagnetic interference (EMI) from external sources and reduces
crosstalk between adjacent pairs. The twisting ensures that the wires are equidistant from
each other, maintaining a balanced signal (Tanenbaum & Austin, 2013).
2. Shielding: In some twisted pair cables, particularly those used for high-speed data
transmission (like Shielded Twisted Pair - STP), an additional shielding layer is added
around the wires. This shield, made of foil or braided copper, blocks external
electromagnetic fields that could induce crosstalk.
3. Proper Installation: Proper installation practices, such as avoiding sharp bends and
keeping cables away from sources of interference (like power lines), can further reduce
crosstalk.
Frequency Separation in Satellite Communication
In satellite communication, two separate frequencies are used for uplink (transmitting signals
from the ground to the satellite) and downlink (transmitting signals from the satellite back to the
ground). This separation serves several important purposes:
1. Avoiding Interference: Different frequencies help prevent interference between uplink
and downlink signals. If both transmissions occurred on the same frequency, it would be
challenging to distinguish between incoming and outgoing signals.
2. Improved Bandwidth Utilization: Different frequency bands can be optimized for
specific types of communication. For instance, higher frequencies may be used for
uplinks to take advantage of their greater bandwidth capacity.
3. Regulatory Compliance: Regulatory bodies allocate specific frequency bands for
various types of communication to minimize interference between services. Adhering to
these regulations ensures compliance and efficient use of the radio spectrum (Stallings,
2015).
Differences Between Circuit Switching and Packet Switching
Circuit switching and packet switching are two fundamental techniques used in
telecommunications for transmitting data. Here are four key differences:
Feature Circuit Switching Packet Switching
Connection Requires a dedicated communication No dedicated path: data is divided into
Establishment path established before data transfer packets sent independently over shared
Feature Circuit Switching Packet Switching
begins (e.g., traditional telephone calls). networks.
Resources are reserved for the entire Resources are dynamically allocated;
Resource duration of the call, even if no data is packets can take different paths based on
Allocation transmitted (inefficient use). network conditions, improving efficiency.
Data is transmitted as a continuous Data is sent in discrete packets that may
stream over a fixed path, ensuring low arrive out of order; this can lead to variable
Data latency but potentially wasting latency but allows for better bandwidth
Transmission bandwidth during idle periods. utilization.
More resilient to network failures; if a
More reliable for real-time applications packet fails to reach its destination, it can be
due to consistent connection quality; retransmitted without affecting other
Reliability however, it can be less flexible. packets (Kurose & Ross, 2017).
Exercise 2.7 Adjustment
Regarding Exercise 2.7 from Section 2 of the textbook, "B sends to D" does not occur, we need
to analyze how this change affects the overall transmission scenario described in that exercise.
The absence of a transmission from B to D could lead to delays in communication if D
were relying on information from B.
Other nodes might need to compensate for this missing transmission by either
retransmitting previous messages or adjusting their communication paths.
The overall efficiency may decrease as D may have incomplete information or might
need to wait longer for necessary data.
References
Kurose, J., & Ross, K. (2017). Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (7th ed.). Pearson.
Stallings, W. (2015). Data and Computer Communications (10th ed.). Pearson.
Tanenbaum, A., & Austin, T. (2013). Structured Computer Organization (6th ed.). Pearson.
