How to study Data Communication — Semester III, Pokhara University BECE
What it covers
How data moves across networks: signals and transmission media, analog and digital transmission, modulation, multiplexing, error detection and correction, data link protocols, and switching.
Topics worth extra time
- Signals: analog and digital, bandwidth and channel capacity
- Transmission media and transmission impairments
- Encoding and modulation techniques
- Multiplexing and switching
- Error detection and correction (parity, CRC, Hamming code)
How to study it
Draw waveforms for each encoding scheme from a sample bit stream; it is the fastest way to learn them. Practise the numerical topics, such as Nyquist and Shannon capacity and CRC calculation, until the steps are routine.
In the exam
Waveform and block-diagram questions need neat, labelled drawings. Show the working for CRC and Hamming code questions bit by bit.