Analog Signal Multiplexing: In FM broadcasting and other analog radio media, multiplexing is a term commonly given to the process

of adding subcarriers to the audio signal before it enters the transmitter, where modulation occurs. (In fact, the stereo multiplex signal can be generated using time-division multiplexing, by switching between the two (left channel and right channel) input signals at an ultrasonic rate (the subcarrier), and then filtering out the higher harmonics.) Multiplexing in this sense is sometimes known as MPX, which in turn is also an old term for stereophonic FM, seen on stereo systems since the 1960s.

Block Diagram Stereo FM Broadcasting (Figure 1) http://www.valhallatreefarm.com/WB7ELY/stalayout.jpg Space-division multiplexing: In wired communication, space-division multiplexing simply implies different point-to-point wires for different channels. Examples include an analogue stereo audio cable, with one pair of wires for the left channel and another for the right channel, and a multi-pair telephone cable. Another example is a switched star network such as the analog telephone access network (although inside the telephone exchange or between the exchanges, other multiplexing techniques are typically employed) or a switched Ethernet network. A third example is a mesh network. Wired spacedivision multiplexing is typically not considered as multiplexing. In wireless communication, space-division multiplexing is achieved by multiple antenna elements forming a phased array antenna. Examples are multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), single-input and multiple-output (SIMO) and multiple-input and single-output (MISO) multiplexing. For example, an IEEE 802.11n wireless router with k number of antennas makes it in principle possible to communicate with k multiplexed channels, each with a peak bit rate of 54 Mbit/s, thus increasing the total peak bit rate with a factor k. Different antennas would give different multi-path propagation (echo) signatures, making it possible for digital signal processing techniques to separate different signals from each other.

These techniques may also be utilized for space diversity (improved robustness to fading) or beamforming (improved selectivity) rather than multiplexing. Frequency-division multiplexing: Frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) is inherently an analog technology. FDM achieves the combining of several signals into one medium by sending signals in several distinct frequency ranges over a single medium. One of FDM's most common applications is the old traditional radio and television broadcasting from terrestrial, mobile or satellite stations, using the natural atmosphere of Earth, or the cable television. Only one cable reaches a customer's residential area, but the service provider can send multiple television channels or signals simultaneously over that cable to all subscribers without interference. Receivers must tune to the appropriate frequency (channel) to access the desired signal. Digital Signal Multiplexing: Time-Division Multiplexing: Time-division multiplexing is used primarily for digital signals, but may be applied in analog multiplexing in which two or more signals or bit streams are transferred appearing simultaneously as sub-channels in one communication channel, but are physically taking turns on the channel. The time domain is divided into several recurrent time slots of fixed length, one for each subchannel. A sample byte or data block of sub-channel 1 is transmitted during time slot 1, sub-channel 2 during time slot 2, etc. One TDM frame consists of one time slot per sub-channel plus a synchronization channel and sometimes error correction channel before the synchronization. After the last sub-channel, error correction, and synchronization, the cycle starts all over again with a new frame, starting with the second sample, byte or data block from sub-channel 1, etc. There are two ways of implementing TDM:
Synchronous TDM: Synchronous TDM works by the muliplexor giving exactly the same amount of time to each device connected to it. This time slice is allocated even if a device has nothing to transmit. This is wasteful in that there will be many times when allocated time slots are not being used. Therefore, the use of Synchronous TDM does not guarantee maximum line usage and efficiency. Synchronous TDM is used in T1 (North America) and E1 (Europe) connections. Asynchronous TDM: Asynchronous TDM is a more flexible method of TDM. With Asynchronous TDM the length of time allocated is not fixed for each device but time is given to devices that have data to transmit. This version of TDM works by tagging each frame with an identification number to note which device it belongs to. This may require more processing by the multiplexor and take

longer, however, the time saved by efficient and effective bandwidth utilization makes it worthwhile. Asynchronous TDM allows more devices than there is physical bandwidth for. This type of TDM is used in Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks.

Asynchronous vs Synchronous (Figure 2)

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