How do Telephone Loading Coils Improve High-Frequency Transmission?

  • Thread starter Thread starter garytse86
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Coils
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Telephone loading coils were introduced around 1925 to optimize transmission line characteristics for speech by lowering distortion, as determined by Sir Oliver Heaviside's formula R/L = G/C. However, these coils acted as low-pass filters, which attenuated high-frequency response, leading to their removal around 1940. The primary function of loading coils was to improve the transmission line for voice frequencies, not high-frequency signals.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of transmission line theory
  • Familiarity with the concepts of resistance, inductance, conductance, and capacitance
  • Knowledge of low-pass filter characteristics
  • Historical context of telecommunications technology
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the historical development of telephone loading coils
  • Study Sir Oliver Heaviside's contributions to transmission line theory
  • Explore the impact of low-pass filters on signal transmission
  • Learn about modern alternatives to loading coils in telecommunications
USEFUL FOR

Telecommunications engineers, electrical engineers, and anyone interested in the historical evolution of transmission line technology and its impact on signal quality.

garytse86
Messages
311
Reaction score
0
how do they improve high-frequency transmission (and not low-frequency?) ?

I'm a biologist...

Thanks
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
I have a Robert Chipman book on transmission lines that mentioned this issue. As I recall, the loading coils did not improve high frequency transmission, but rather, just the opposite. The loading coils were removed for that reason.

I'll check my reference when I get home tonight, but I seem to remember that the reason for adding the loading coils was to lower distortion. Sir Oliver Heaviside determined in the 19th century that distortionles transmission takes place when R/L = G/C, where R, L, G, & C are the transmission line series resistance, inductance, shunt conductance, & capacitance per unit length resp.

The loading coils make it easy to optimize the ratio to get low distortion. They were added around 1925. But they acted as a low pass filter, attenuating hf response. They were removed around 1940. From memory, that is what I recall. At home I'll check the reference material and post a correction if needed. BR.

Claude
 
What's a telephone loading coil?
 
thanks cabraham.

berkeman, it beats me - this is why I asked :S
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loading_coil

Used to improve the transmission line for speech.

Apparently.

I wonder if they were those little bobbin things I used to see in telephone lines in my dim & distant youth... I always wondered what they were for...
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
766
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 61 ·
3
Replies
61
Views
10K
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
26
Views
4K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
Replies
10
Views
3K