The signal gradually degrades until it is no longer useful. The limits depend on which factor?

The signal gradually degrades until it is no longer useful. The limits depend on which factor?

• A. Encoding
• B. The signal power
• C. The Transmission Medium
• D. Noise level

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that how far and how reliably a signal can travel is determined by the path it takes—the transmission medium. The medium sets how quickly the signal loses strength (attenuation) and how its different frequency components may spread or distort (dispersion), as well as how much noise or interference is picked up along the way. These physical properties accumulate as the signal moves, eventually making it indistinguishable at the receiver. While encoding schemes, and the ability to increase power, can help mitigate some issues, they cannot overcome the fundamental limits imposed by the channel itself. That’s why the usable degradation limits are governed by the transmission medium.

The main idea is that how far and how reliably a signal can travel is determined by the path it takes—the transmission medium. The medium sets how quickly the signal loses strength (attenuation) and how its different frequency components may spread or distort (dispersion), as well as how much noise or interference is picked up along the way. These physical properties accumulate as the signal moves, eventually making it indistinguishable at the receiver. While encoding schemes, and the ability to increase power, can help mitigate some issues, they cannot overcome the fundamental limits imposed by the channel itself. That’s why the usable degradation limits are governed by the transmission medium.