Transmission modes

Transmission mode refers to the method through which data is sent from one device to another. The communication mode is often referred to as the transmission mode. Each communication channel has a certain direction, which is determined by the transmission material. As a result, the directional mode is also known as the transmission mode. The physical layer specifies the transmission mode.

There are three different types of transmission modes:

  1. Simplex mode
  2. Half-duplex mode
  3. Full-duplex mode

Simplex mode

The communication in Simplex mode is unidirectional, meaning that data only flows in one direction. A gadget can only send data and not receive data, or it can receive data but not send data. This technique of transmission is not widely used because most connections require two-way data exchange. The simplex mode is utilized in the business world for things like sales that don’t require a response. The radio station is a simplex channel since it broadcasts to listeners but never permits them to broadcast back. Simplex mode is represented by the keyboard and monitor, as a keyboard can only accept data from the user and a monitor can only display data on the screen. The fundamental advantage of the simplex mode is that the communication channel’s entire capacity can be used during transmission.

Half-Duplex mode

The direction of a half-duplex channel can be reversed, allowing the station to both send and receive data. Messages go in both ways, but not simultaneously. The communication channel’s entire bandwidth is used in one direction at a time. In half-duplex mode, error detection is available, and if an error occurs, the receiver demands that the sender retransmit the data. Half-duplex mode is exemplified by a walkie-talkie. One party speaks while the other listens on a walkie-talkie. The other talks after a little pause, while the first party listens. Speaking at the same time produces a distorted sound that is difficult to understand.

Full-duplex mode

The transmission is bi-directional in Full-duplex mode, meaning data flows in both ways. Both stations can send and receive messages at the same time. Two simplex channels are used in full-duplex mode. The traffic on one channel is traveling in one way, while the traffic on the other channel is moving in the other direction. The fastest way of communication between devices is full-duplex mode. A telephone network is the most common example of full-duplex mode. Both persons can talk and listen at the same time when using a telephone line to communicate with one other.