Data Transmission Modes

The way in which data is transmitted from one location to another is called data transmission mode. There are three types of data transmission modes.

1. Simplex mode

  • In Simplex mode, the communication is unidirectional. Unidirectional means the flow of data is in one direction.
  • A device can only send the data but cannot receive it, as an Antenna sends the signals to TV but cannot receive signals from TV.
  • Another example is Keyboard and Monitor. The keyboard is used to send values to the monitor, but the monitor can’t send them back.

Advantages of Simplex Mode

  • It utilizes the entire bandwidth so that maximum data can be transmitted at a time.

Disadvantage of Simplex Mode

  • As Communication is unidirectional, there is no inter-communication between devices.

3. Half duplex

  • In Half-duplex mode, the communication is bi-directional. Messages can flow in both directions but not at the same time.
  • In half-duplex mode, the data can be retransmitted because if any error occurs, then the receiver requests the sender to retransmit it.
  • For example, a Walkie-talkie. In a Walkie-talkie, one person speaks, and another listens. After a pause, the other person speaks and first listens. Another example of half-duplex is Internet surfing.

Advantage of Half-duplex Mode

  • It also utilizes the entire bandwidth so that the maximum amount of data can be transmitted at a time.

Disadvantage of Half-Duplex Mode

  • As one device sends and another has to wait, so there may be some delay in sending the data at the right time.

3. Full duplex

  • In Full duplex mode, the data can flow in both directions simultaneously.
  • We can say, Full-duplex mode has two simplex channels but opposite in directions. 
  • The full duplex mode is the fastest mode compared to other modes (simplex, half).
  • A telephone network is an example of the full-duplex mode. Two people can listen and talk at the same time. The two-lane road where the traffic moves in both directions at a time is another example of Full-duplex mode.

Advantage Of Full-Duplex Mode

  • Both stations can send and receive the data at the same time.

Disadvantage Of Full-Duplex Mode

  • Bandwidth is divided into two parts.