What Is Full Duplex Communication

Half Duplex Explained

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Every day, people communicate. It’s a common knowledge that a communication has these essential parts: the communicator, the transmission system and the receiver. In the realm of telecommunications, there’s this system they call as the communication system. This system consists of specific communication networks, different transmission systems, data terminal equipment (DTE), relay stations and tributary stations.

Although these terms seem to be complicated, it all just lead to the mere things that people do everyday –hear and watch the news, browse social media, journalism – pointing to just communicating. You probably remember the old movies in which people were talking on a phone and had to wait until the other side was finished. Nowadays, you have a more natural conversation. Let us explain the difference between half duplex and full duplex:

Duplex Communication System

1896 telephone SwedenIn terms of technology, telecommunications may be classified as duplex communication system. This type of communication system consists of two connected devices that have the ability to communicate with each other in two directions.

Duplex simply means that there are two parties that are involved in one system. This principle is the core for most telecommunication means.

The transmitter by which the two parties make use of to communicate radiates and/or receive the electromagnetic waves. This device converts the high frequency current it received into electromagnetic waves in which these waves are turned into electrical signals that gets into the input of the receiver.

When used in networking, duplex speaks of two devices or two points to communicate with each other. Unlike the simplex system wherein there’s only one line of communication, duplex can give out and receive information. One concrete example of a duplex system is your telephones.

Simplex system only has one line of communication whereby one transmits and the other one receives. One common example of a simplex system is your infrared remote control wherein its IR transmitter transmits signals to device and doesn’t receive anything in return.

Types of Duplex Communication System

For purposes of discussion, this article will also be talking about the types of duplex communication system so that it will be easy to distinguish one from the other:

  • Half-Duplex Systems

Half Duplex ExplainedIn half-duplex systems, the process of transmitting and receiving information don’t happen    simultaneously, but rather alternately. While the other part is transmitting the other one only meant to receive. Take for example the “walkie-talkie” communication.

The only way the person from the other line can receive the message is when he/she says “over”. Saying the “over” after the message signifies the other line that the person is ready to receive information.

  • Full Duplex Systems

Full Duplex ExplainedOn the other hand, full duplex systems make use of two components allowing the two parties to transmit and receive information simultaneously. One very common example is your telephone wherein two parties can talk with each other without having to wait before the other one is done talking. All quality motorcycle intercoms are full duplex as well which allows your to talk freely without waiting for the “over”…

Full Duplex Communication System

A full duplex communication system, sometimes referred to as double-duplex is a communication system that allows communication for both directions, simultaneously. The common telephone that people use every day is one good example of a full duplex communication system because it allows both parties to talk and listen to each other at the same time. Even your cell phones may also be categorized as full duplex communication system.

To help you further with how the full duplex communication system works, imagine a two-lane road with each lane heading to its opposite direction. That other lane serves as the road for the information headed towards you while the other lane is meant for the information you want the other party to receive.

When it comes to computer data, full duplex systems occur when the data sent has been truly received and acknowledged by the receiver. This way, there’s a reliable transmission that has been held between the two parties.

On Internet Use

Did you know that full duplex communication system also applies to internet connections? Full duplex Ethernet connections use simultaneously two twisted pairs of wires that are packed on the same jacket. This jacket with wires in it is directly connected to the device that provides the internet while the other end of the same jacket is used for sending the data.

On Social Media Marketing

Contrary to what has always been known in social media marketing, it’s not purely a broadcast communication but rather a full duplex communication. Broadcast communication is merely one directional – wherein target audiences don’t have the chance to talk back what advertisements are telling because they have no choice but to read it and listen to it.

On the other hand, Social Media uses two-way communication because both parties – the advertiser and the audience have the option to either send or receive the information. This allows the consumer to be well-informed of the product they are about to buy.

Benefits of Full-Duplex Communication Systems

  1. As compared to half-duplex system, full-duplex communication systems don’t have collisions so there’s really no need to put much time in retransmitting frames.
  2. Because the direction is complete, there’s independence between the receiving and sending component of the communication.
  3. In terms of internet use, the transmitter that is used in the Ethernet which is are its twisted pairs no longer need to wait before other transmissions are done; hence, spontaneity of data flow between the internet provider and the user.
  4. There’s spontaneous interaction between two parties. Consumers are now more information seeking making them more wise buyers.

However, while full duplex communication system is of great value when it comes to internet usage, it can also cause problems especially when used in Wi-Fi connections.

Interference is something that occurs when one party tries to transmit and receive signal (in this case, your router) simultaneously but will be interfered by the transmission it sends. There are even times when the interference is more powerful than the actual signal.

In Full Duplex Communication System, there is a connection between two parties or devices that are capable of sending and receiving data for both directions at the same time. They may be created as a pair of simplex communication systems or use a single channel that is specifically built to allow bidirectional simultaneous transmissions.