xcvxcvvc said:what the heck is pam and what class is this for? (is it for applied electromagnetics with an intro to transmission line theory?)
PAM, or pulse amplitude modulation, is not very good for long-distance transmission because it is a baseband signaling technique that is highly affected by noise and attenuation. This means that as the signal travels over longer distances, it becomes weaker and more susceptible to interference, resulting in a higher error rate.
The main disadvantage of using PAM for long-distance transmission is that it has a limited transmission distance. As the signal travels further, the amplitude of the pulse decreases, making it more difficult to distinguish from noise. This results in a lower signal-to-noise ratio and a higher bit error rate.
PAM is not as effective as other modulation techniques, such as phase shift keying (PSK) or frequency shift keying (FSK), for long-distance transmission. This is because PAM relies on amplitude changes to encode information, which is highly affected by noise and attenuation. PSK and FSK, on the other hand, use phase and frequency changes, respectively, which are less prone to these transmission issues.
While PAM is not ideal for long-distance transmission, it can still be used in certain cases. For example, it is commonly used for digital subscriber line (DSL) connections, where the distance between the user and the central office is relatively short. However, for longer distances, other modulation techniques are typically preferred.
One advantage of using PAM for long-distance transmission is its simplicity. PAM only requires a simple transmitter and receiver, making it a cost-effective option for short-distance applications. Additionally, PAM can achieve higher data rates compared to other modulation techniques, which can be beneficial in certain scenarios.