Practical Fundamentals of Telecommunications

and Wireless Communications

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Practical Fundamentals of Telecommunications

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 Contents

1 Introduction to Telecommunications 1
1.1 Telecommunications 1
1.2 Principles of Telecommunication Services 2
1.3 Telecommunication Standards 2

2 Telecommunications Basics 5
2.1 Concepts 5
2.2 Simplex, Half-Duplex and Full-Duplex Transmission 8
2.3 Modulation Techniques 9
2.4 Baseband Vs Broadband 11
2.5 Narrowband Vs Wideband 12
2.6 Analog Vs Digital Transmission 13
2.7 Dial-Up Vs Leased Access 14
2.8 Multiplexing Techniques 15
2.9 Connection-Oriented Vs Connectionless Communication 18
2.10 Local Vs Wide Area Networks 21
2.11 The PSTN Vs the Internet 23
2.12 The Open Systems Interconnection Model 23

3 Transmission Media 31
3.1 Basic Cable Parameters 31
3.2 Conducted Transmission Media 34
3.3 Coaxial Cable 43
3.4 Fiber Optic Cable 48

4 Terrestrial Microwave and Satellites 55

4.1 Terrestrial Microwave 55
4.2 Satellites 62

5 The Public Switched Telephone Network 71

5.1 Introduction 71
5.2 Local Network 72
5.3 Subscriber Plant 73
5.4 Telephone Switching Infrastructure 76
5.5 Local Switches 83
5.6 Subscriber Line Circuit 83
5.7 Truck Switching 87
5.8 CCI Signaling System No. 7 92
6 Private Switched Telephone Network 97
6.1 Private Branch Exchange (PBX) 97
6.2 Centrex 100
6.3 Key Systems 101
6.4 DECT 102
6.5 Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) 102
6.6 Other Services 107

7 Public Network Transport Technologies 113

7.1 Switched Analog Services 113
7.2 Leased Analog Data Services 121
7.3 Digital Transmission Hierarchies 123
7.4 Switched Digital Services 127
7.5 Switched 56 127
7.6 Integrated Services Data Network (ISDN-BRI) 129
7.7 Frame Relay 136
7.8 Switched Multi-Megabit Data Services (SMDS) 140
7.9 ATM 142
7.10 Digital Dedicated Circuit (Leased) Alternatives 145
7.11 Integrated Services Data Network – Primary Rate Interface
(ISDN-PRI) 146
7.12 Broadband ISDN (B-ISDN) 149
7.13 Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH/SONET) 151

8 Customer Access Technologies (Broadband) 155

8.1 DSL Technologies 155
8.2 Full Rate ADSL 156
8.3 ADSL2/ADSL2+ 159
8.4 HDSL 160
8.5 SDSL/SHDSL 160
8.6 Very-High Speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) 160
8.7 Etherloop 162
8.8 Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) 163
8.9 Fiber to the Curb (FTTC) 167
8.10 Fiber to the Home (FTTH) 169
8.11 Multi-Channel Multipoint Distribution System (MMDS) 171
8.12 Local Multipoint Distribution System (LMDS) 171
8.13 Wimax 172
8.14 Power System Carrier 176
8.15 VSAT 177

9 Networking Basics 181

9.1 Introduction 181
9.2 LAN Topologies 183
9.3 Media Access Control 189
 9.4 LAN Standards 192
9.5 LAN Extension and Interconnecting Devices 195

10 Converged Networks 203

10.1 Applications 203
10.2 Protocols 204
10.3 Summary 235
10.4 H.323 236
10.5 Implementation Considerations: Qos 246

11 Cellular Services 249

11.1 Cellular Transmission Concepts 249
11.2 First Generation (1G) Cellular Systems 255
11.3 Second Generation (2G) Cellular Systems 257
11.4 Third Generation (3G) Cellular Systems 260
11.5 Cordless Phone Systems 263
11.6 Mobile Data Transmission 264
11.7 WAP 265
11.8 Private Mobile Radio (PMR) Systems 266

12 Wireless LANS 269

12.1 Introduction 269
12.2 Architecture 271
12.3 Specifications 275
12.4 Medium Access Control 281
12.5 Frame Structure 287

Appendix A – Practical Session Data 295

Appendix B - Glossary 309

Appendix C – Questions & Answers 327

 1
Introduction to Telecommunications

Learning objectives
After studying this chapter you will:

• Understand the basic principles of Telecommunications

• Be familiar with some of the better-known Telecommunication standards
bodies

1.1 Telecommunications

The word telecommunication is derived from the Greek ‘tele’, meaning ‘at a distance’.
‘Communications’ refers to the science and practice of transmitting information.
A more relevant definition is given in the Dictionary of Communications Technology,
which defines it as ‘a term encompassing the transmission or reception of signals, images,
sounds, or information by wire, radio, optic, or infrared media’.
Telecommunications play a vital role in international commerce, and in industrialized
nations it is an accepted necessity. The telecommunications networks in all countries are
interlinked to form a global telecommunications network for carrying information of all
kinds. The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) was originally developed solely
for carrying voice communications, but today carries an ever-increasing amount of data
communications traffic.
The Internet uses the PSTN circuits to carry some of its data and the phenomenal
growth of the Internet has stimulated the growth of data circuit usage in the PSTN. In
some countries, Internet traffic accounts for more than half the total PSTN traffic.
Cellular radio services are having an enormous impact on the growth of
telecommunications networks. In industrialized countries they are used increasingly for
mobile business communications. However, in developing countries, they enable many
2 Practical Fundamentals of Telecommunications and Wireless Communications

customers in the main population centers to obtain affordable telecommunications

services.
With cellular services the telecommunications provider does not have to invest in the
very high costs of a fixed subscriber distribution plant for individual customers and can
serve thousands of customers from one transmitter site. Service can be supplied almost
immediately.

1.2 Principles of telecommunication services

Telecommunications services follow the following principles:

• The telecommunications networks are used to provide services to the users

• A service requires the execution of a series of programs by the originating and
destination entities
• The services are decomposed into different layers by the initiating entity, where
each layer undertakes a specified portion of the overall service. This makes the
services more manageable and allows interoperability between vendors. Most
modern systems adhere to the 7-layer OSI reference model
• The telecommunications services include information transfer, signaling, and
billing
• Information is transferred over the network in the form of bits. These bits have
different forms depending on the type of the transmission media; electrical
signals on copper cables, pulses of light in fiber optic cables and electromagnetic
waves traveling through space
• Signals can be corrupted during transmission, due to interference
• Protocols incorporate error correction and detection mechanisms to overcome
errors

1.3 Telecommunication standards

Telecommunications standards are essential in allowing the global PSTN to function. It is
clear that when a telephone call or data message originates in one country and terminates
in another, both sender and recipient need to understand each other's messages. This is
achieved by using standardized message formats. This enables a message to be
successfully passed through a number of countries, as necessary, along the way.
Standardization is provided by two international organizations; the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO). These are supplemented by many national standardization agencies.
The ITU produce recommendations that serve as world-wide standards, although they
are not legally binding. Prior to January 1993 the ITU’s telecommunication
recommendations were promulgated by the CCITT, the International Consultative
Committee for Telephone and Telegraph, which has now been reorganized into the
Telecommunication Standardization sector of the ITU. Their recommendations are
denoted ITU-T. In similar fashion the International Consultative Committee for Radio
(CCIR) handled the standardization of radio communications. This has now become the
ITU Radio communication Sector and produces ITU-R recommendations.
 Introduction to Telecommunications 3

The ISO has issued many important data communications standards. One of the most
important is the Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model, which we will discuss
later. Many national standards organizations are affiliated to ISO, including the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Some of the other important telecommunication standards organizations are:

• Electronics Industries Association (EIA)

• Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA)
• European Telecommunication Standardization Institute (ETSI)
• Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
• International Electro-technical Commission (IEC)

Telecommunications standards are also developed by groups of manufacturers that

formulate standards. These often become ad hoc industry standards and may subsequently
be incorporated in the recommendations of the International standards organizations.
Some examples of these groups are the Frame Relay Forum, the ADSL Forum and the
ATM Forum.
4 Practical Fundamentals of Telecommunications and Wireless Communications