Capacity or Bandwidth
Capacity is the maximum data rate at which signals can be transmitted ==>
Wider Bandwidth means faster transmission speeds
This means we have greater Throughput: more data can be transmitted in the same amount of time
“More bandwidth” = increasing the number of bits per second transmitted =
Bandwidth is measured in Hertz (number of cycles per second)
Compare:
- Bit = unit of information
- Baud = unit of signaling speed (e.g. 4 bits per signal)
- Actual baud rate = maximum signaling rate reduced by noise
- Maximum baud rate may be = bandwidth (or as little as 50 % of the bandwidth) (compare :56 Kbps modems)