Basic Elements of a Communication System

Communication is the act of transmission of information. Every living creature within the world experiences the necessity to impart or receive information, virtually unceasingly, with alternatives in the close world. For communication to be successful, it’s essential that the sender and the receiver perceive a standard language. 

Humans have perpetually created endeavours to enhance the standard of communication with other human beings. Languages and the ways utilised in communication have been unbroken, evolving from prehistoric to fashionable times, to fulfil the growing demands in terms of speed and quality of information.

Modern communication has its roots in the nineteenth and twentieth century works of scientists like J.C. Bose, F.B. Morse, G. electrical engineer, and Alexander Graham Bell. The pace of development appears to have accelerated dramatically since the turn of the 21st century. 

Basics of Communication System

Information can be sent over a communication system from either a person or a machine. A transmitter is positioned at one location and a receiver is located at another location, with the channel serving as a medium between the two locations. It is the message signal that originates from the source, and it is this signal that is fed into the transmitter.

The signals that are conveyed are referred to as transmitted signals. Transducers transform nonelectrical signals into electrical signals when the message signal from the source of information is nonelectrical.

The physical media that links the transmitter and receiver (whether wired or wireless) is the channel. It is possible that the broadcast signal may be warped due to its imperfection, and that some noise will be added to the transmitted signal as it propagates.

Information is the concept or message that is being given. It is also known as knowledge. The message may consist of a single message or a series of messages. The message might take the form of a symbol, a code, a sequence of words, or any other predetermined unit.

A transducer, modulator, amplifier, and transmitting antenna are all transmitter components in radio transmission. Transducers are also known as transmitters.

Note:

• A transducer is an electronic device that transforms sound waves into electric signals.
• An audio modulator is a device that combines an electric audio signal and a high-frequency radio wave.
• The modulated signal is amplified by the amplifier, which increases its power.
• With the help of an antenna, the signal is broadcast into the surrounding space.
• An in-depth examination of the components of the communication system

It is the responsibility of the communication channel to transport the modulated signal from the transmitter to the receiver. 

• Communication channel definition: A communication channel is sometimes referred to as a transmission link or a medium of transmission.
• In radio communications, the phrase “channel” refers to the frequency band that has been assigned to a particular broadcast or service.

Types of Communication Systems

Communication systems are divided into two categories: analog and digital.

Analog

Analog technologies transmit data between people or machines as electronic signals of various frequencies or amplitudes. Telephone and radio transmission are the most common examples of analog technology.

Digital

In digital technology, information is generated and processed in two states: high and low. Digital technology stores and transmits the data in the form of 0s and 1s.

There are two types of communication channel:

1. Wired communication, also known as line communication, is of four types:
   1. Parallel wire communication
   2. Twisted wire communication
   3. Coaxial cable communication
   4. Optical fibre communication
2. Wireless, also known as space communication, is of four types:
   1. Ground wave communication
   2. Skywave communication
   3. Space wave communication
   4. Satellite communication

Communication system examples

1. Internet
2. Public Switched Telephone Network
3. Intranet and Extranet
4. Television

Terms used in a communication system

In the electronic communication system, the electric circuits are used to transmit, process, and receive the data. The transmission occurs through the transmitter. The data processing occurs through the medium and is received by the receiver. The data is transmitted in two forms: digital or analog form.

The basic terminologies used in communication include the following:

Communication medium

The communication medium is the channel that is used to transmit the signal from transmitter to receiver. An example is copper wire and satellite systems.

Signal

The signal is the information or data which is transmitted and received by the receiver. It is transmitted electronically, in digital format. There are two forms of signals: digital and analog. In analog signals, the current and voltage will have continuous variations. An example is a human voice. In the digital signals, the variations will have 0 and 1 discrete values. An example is audio waves. 

Amplitude 

The amplitude is the signal height or strength in transmission. The signals should be strong in both transmission and reception. For this , the weak signal is amplified. This phenomenon is called amplification.

Attenuation

Attenuation is the process in which the amplification of the signal is decreased. It is attenuated when transmitted for long distances. In this electronic communication system, the critical device is the transducer.

Transducers

The transducer is the electrical device that transforms the physical quantity into electrical quantity. It consists of two elements: sensing and transduction. For example, the transducer transforms the non-electrical quantity like light, heat, into the electrical quantity.

Transducers types

• Active and passive transducers
• Analog and digital transducers
• Primary and secondary transducers

Conclusion 

Communication is the act of transmission of information. Every living creature within the world experiences the necessity to impart or receive information virtually unceasingly with alternatives in the close world.Communication pervades all stages of the lifetime of all living creatures. No matter its nature, each communication system has 3 essential elements: transmitter, medium/channel, and receiver.