MULTIPLEXING

ENGR. JANZMAH KAVINSKY

MULTIPLEXING – a method used in communication that is simultaneously
transmitting two or more individual information signals over a single channel.
BRIEF HISTORY

1910 – George O. Squier invented the principle of multiplexing using a carrier

frequency to combine multiple telephone signals on one telephone line.
In that invention, multiple telephone signals requires multiple transmission
facilities like transmission lines and radio channels.
In multiplexing, there are several domains in which that process can be accomplished,
including space, phase, time, frequency and wavelength.

SPACE-DIVISION MULTIPLEXING – is an unsophisticated form of multiplexing that

simply constitutes propagation signals from different sources on different cables
that are contained within the same trench (transmission medium)

PHASE-DIVISION MULTIPLEXING (PDM) – is a form of multiplexing wherein two

data channels modulate the same frequency that has been shifted 90˚ in phase
(e.g. Quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK)).
The two common methods of multiplexing signals:

1. FREQUENCY-DIVISION MULTIPLEXING

2. TIME-DIVISION MULTIPLEXING
FREQUENCY-DIVISION MULTIPLEXING (FDM) – this method deals with analog
information where the frequency spectrum can be divided up and parts of it
allocated to different users on a full-time basis
In FDM, multiple sources that originally occupied the same frequency spectrum are
each converted to a different frequency band transmitted simultaneously over a
single transmission medium. It is an analog multiplexing scheme where the information
entering FDM system is analog and remains analog throughout transmission. It is used
in AM, FM and television broadcasting; and long-distance telephone calls using
microwave transmission for over 60 or more conversations are carried by a single
microwave beam.
FDM IN AM COMMERCIAL BROADCAST
To allow multiple AM stations to broadcast in the AM band which has a range of 535 to
1605 kHz, the entire band is subdivided into narrower 10kHz channels so a total of 107.

 
( 1605 −535 ) 𝑘𝐻𝑧
𝑛= =107 𝑐h𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑠
10 𝑘𝐻𝑧
One channel can be assigned to one station with a specific and distinct carrier frequency
and that is by the used of single carrier per channel (SCPC)
For FDM in commercial FM broadcast, it just like in AM broadcasting, to allow several FM
stations to broadcast in the FM band which has a range of 88 to 108 MHz. The FM band
is subdivided into narrower 200 kHz channel where they could a total of 100 channels of
200 kHz each given band.

NOTE: Without multiplexing, only one station can broadcast at one time in the AM/FM band
in one area since interference will result if several stations of same frequency will
broadcast all together. The key of FDM is carrier frequency to be assigned to individual
channels.

10 kHz – international standard bandwidth per AM channel

200 kHz – international standard bandwidth per FM channel
 AT&T FDM HIERARCHY

In the figure above, it shows the AT&T’s (American Telephone & Telegraph Company)
long haul(long distance) FDM hierarchy. As the figure shows, voice channels are combined
to form groups, groups are combined to supergroups, supergroups to mastergroups and
mastergroups to jumbogroups.
MESSAGE CHANNEL – is the basic block of the FDM hierarchy. It is originally intended for
analog voice transmission. The voice frequency of a message channel is actually
bandlimited to 300 Hz to 3kHz, although for practical design it is considered a 4kHz
channel. Basic 3002 channel is a basic voice-band(VB) that can be subdivided and
frequency-division multiplexed into 24 narrower-band 3001 (telegraph) channels.

BASIC GROUP – is the next higher level in the FDM hierarchy above the basic message
channel. It is the first multiplexing step for the message channel comprised of 12
VB channels stacked on top of each other in the frequency domain. 12 4-kHz VB
channel occupy a combined bandwidth of 48 kHz. The 12-channel modulating block
is called A-type(analog) channel bank where it is a standard block for most long-haul
broadband telecommunications systems.
BASIC SUPERGROUP – the next higher level in the FDM hierarchy above the basic
group which is formed by FDM 5 groups containing 12 channels each for a
combined bandwidth of 240 kHz.

BASIC MASTERGROUP – the next highest level in the FDM hierarchy above the basic
supergroup which is formed by FDM 10 supergroups together for a combined
capacity of 600 VB message channels occupying in a bandwidth of 2.4 MHz.
Typically, 3 mastergroups are frequency-division multiplexed together and placed
on a single microwave/satellite radio channel. The capacity is 1800 VB channels
utilizing a combined bandwidth of 7.2 MHz.
FORMATION OF GROUPS:

 
𝑓 𝑐𝑔 =112 −4 𝑛
FORMATION OF SUPERGROUPS:

 
𝑓 𝑐𝑠𝑔=372+ 48 𝑛
  WHERE:
- group carrier frequency (kHz)
- supergroup carrier frequency (kHz)
n - group number
THE TWO TYPES OF MASTERGROUP:

1. U600 MASTERGROUP – is a type of mastergroup that may be further multiplexed

and used for higher-capacity microwave radio. The capacity is multiple of 600 VB
channels.

2. L600 MASTERGROUP – is a type of mastergroup that is not anymore multiplexed

and is used for low-capacity microwave radio. The capacity is only 600 VB channels.
THE LARGER GROUPINGS

Mastergroups can be futher multiplexed in mastergroups banks to form the following:

1. JUMBOGROUPS – consists of 6 mastergroups/3600 VB

2. MULTIJUMBOGROUPS – consists of 12 mastergroups/7200 VB

3. SUPERJUMBOGROUPS – consists of 3 jumbogroups/10800 VB

Conmiteé Consultatif International Téléphonique et Télégraphique (CCITT) FDM
(European) Hierarchy Standards
WAVELENGTH-DIVISION MULTIPLEXING
WAVELENGTH-DIVISION MULTIPLEXING (WDM) – this method is same principle as
FDM where it deals with wavelength spectrum. This method is use for optical
communication (e.g. optical fiber)
In WDM, the wavelength spectrum used is in the region of 1300 nm or 1500 nm, which
are the two wavelength bands at which optical fibers have the least amount of signal
loss. Current technology allows 100 optical channels to be multiplexed into a single
optical fiber. Different wavelengths in a light pulse travel through an optical fiber at
different speeds. In standard optical fiber systems, wavelength dispersion creates
problems, imposing limitations on the system’s performance. Since each wavelength takes
a different transmission path, they each arrive at the receiver end at slightly different
times. The result is a series of rainbows made of different colors(wavelengths) each about
20 billionths of a second long, simultaneously propagating down the cable.
WDM is generally accomplished at approximately wavelengths of 1550 nm with
successive frequencies spaced in multiples of 100 GHz(100 GHz, 200GHz,…). At
1550 nm and 100 GHz frequency separation, the wavelength separation is
approximately 0.8 nm (e.g. The adjacent wavelengths 1550 nm, 1549.2 nm, and
1548.4 nm). WDM is a process in which different sources of information(channels)
are propagated down an optical fiber on different wavelengths where the different
wavelengths do not interfere with each other. In essence, each wavelength adds an
optical fiber lane to the transmission superhighway, and the more lanes there are,
the more traffic (voice, data, video or what we call the triple play) can be carried
on a single optical fiber cable. WDM can extend the information-carrying capacity
of fiber to hundreds of gigabytes per second or higher.
DENSE-WAVELENGTH-DIVISION MULTIPLEXING (D-WDM) – is an optical technolog
used to increased bandwidth over existing fiber optic backbones. It works by
combining and transmitting multiple signals simultaneously at different wavelength
on the same fiber.

PRO’S AND CON’S OF WDM

PRO’S:
• It has enhanced capacity and full-duplex transmission is possible w/ a single fiber
• It is inherently easier to reconfigure (adding/removing channels)

CON’S:
• Signal cannot be placed so close in the wavelength spectrum that they interfere
with each other
• The signal strength is affected by fiber attenuation characteristics and the
degree of amplification, both of which are wavelength dependent.
 WDM CIRCUIT COMPONENTS
1. MUX AND DEMUX - both are the terminal ends of optical fiber communications
system.

2. ADD/DROP MUX/DEMUX – same as MUX AND DEMUX but they are located at
intermediate points of the system and it is used to reconfigure optical fiber cables.

3. WDM ROUTERS – can be used to direct/redirect a particular wavelength/s in a

different direction from that followed by the other wavelengths on the fiber.

4. WDM COUPLERS – it enables more efficient utilization of the transmission

capabilities of optic fibers by permitting different wavelengths to combined and
separated. Three basic types of WDM couplers: diffraction grating, prims, and
dichroic filter.

5. SONET – The synchronous optical network(SONET) is a multiplexing system similar

to a conventional TDM except it was developed to be used with optical fibers
 TIME-DIVISION MULTIPLEXING

TIME-DIVISION MULTIPLEXING (TDM) – is the transmission of multiple signals on a

signal on a single transmission facility but not at the same time. Transmissions are
interleaved in the time domain.
 BASIC PRINCIPLE
As shown in figure of the previous slide, if there are three channels that will use one
transmission medium, they will take turn transmitting. In the transmitting section, the
multiplexer is acting as a switch assigning the transmission medium to the particular
channel normally from channel 1 to 3 and then back to 1 and so on. One frame to
transmit has three channels or the three channels will become one frame and can be
transmitted by one medium(multiplexing function). In receiving section, the demultiplexer
has a the same function but with reverse process. The one frame will be back to three
individual channels(DEMUX function).

NOTE: MUX and DEMUX are perfectly synchronized so that when channel 1 receives
or channel 1 is to be sent to channel 1 receiver. Since synchronizing pulses are required,
This system is suited only to digital transmission (signals transmitted are digital signals
where the clocking information can be easily recovered). Clock signals cannot be
recovered from a continuous-type analog signal.
PCM-TDM
With a Pulse Code Modulation – Time-Division Multiplexing(PCM-TDM) system, two or
more voice channels are sampled, converted to PCM codes, and then time-division
multiplexed onto a single metallic or optic fiber cable. The fundamental building
block for most TDM systems in US begins with a Digital Signal level 0(DS-0). As shown
in the previous slide, the Channel 1 is the block diagram for a DS-0 single-channel
PCM system. Then it shows that the DS-0 channels use an 8-kHz sample rate and an 8-bit
PCM code, which produces a 64-kbps PCM line speed. It shows also the simplified block
diagram for a PCM carrier system comprised of two DS-0 channels that have been time-
division multiplexed. One 8-channel PCM code from each channel (16 total bits as the
figure shown) is called a TDM frame, and the time to transmit one TDM frame is called
frame time. Frame time is equal to the reciprocal of the of the sample rate which is 125µs.
The PCM code for each channel occupies a fixed time slot (epoch) within the total TDM
frame. With a two-channel system, one sample is taken from each channel during each
frame, and the time allocated to transmit the PCM bits from each channel is equal to one-
half the total frame time. Thus, 8 bits of each channel must be transmitted during each
frame (that is 16 bits per frame) and the line speed of the output of MUX is 128kbps
T DIGITAL CARRIER SYSTEMS
A digital carrier system is a communication system that uses digital pulse rather than
analog signals to encode information. Transmission carriers (T carriers) are used for the
transmission of PCM-TDM. It is also utilized special line-encoded signals and metallic
cables that have been conditioned to meet the relatively high BWs required for high-
speed digital transmission.

THE TYPES OF T CARRIERS:

1. T1 DIGITAL CARRIER
2. T1C DIGITAL CARRIER
3. T2 DIGITAL CARRIER
4. T3 DIGITAL CARRIER
5. T4M DIGITAL CARRIER
6. T5 DIGITAL CARRIER
T1 DIGITAL CARRIER
As shows in the previous slide, the block diagram for AT&T’s T1 digital carrier system,
which has been the North American digital multiplexing standard since 1963 and
recognized by the ITU-T as Recommendation G.733. This digital carrier system
multiplexes PCM-encoded samples from 24 voice-band channels for transmission over
a single the medium. Each VB has a bandwidth of approximately 300 Hz to 3kHz. The
output of the multiplexer is simply a multiplexed first-level digital signal (DS-1). The
system uses line encoding. Each channel contains an 8-bit PCM code and is sampled 8000
times a second. Each channel’s sample is offset from the previous channel’s sample by
1/24 of the total frame time. Thus, one 64-kbps PCM encoded sampled is transmitted for
each VB channel during each frame (1/8000 = 125µs). The line speed line has 192
bits/frame so, in bits per second is 1.536 Mbps. An additional bit (framing bit) is added
to each frame. The framing bit occurs once per frame (8000-bps rate) and is recovered
in the receiver, where it is used to maintain frame and sample synchronizing between TDM
transreceiver. As a result, each frame contains 193 bits and the line speed for T1 digital
carrier system is 1.544 Mbps