What is the Difference Between Bandwidth and Spectrum?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The key difference between bandwidth and spectrum lies in their definitions and applications. Here are the main differences:
- Spectrum: The spectrum of a signal refers to the range of frequencies contained in the signal. In wireless communications, spectrum refers to the entire range of frequencies allocated for a specific application, such as FM radio or Wi-Fi. Spectrum is often divided into different bands, such as ISM (Industrial Scientific Medical) band and optical frequency bands.
- Bandwidth: Bandwidth is the difference between the lowest and highest frequency in the spectrum. It is a measure of the information-carrying capacity of a signal and is often used to describe the maximum rate of data transfer within a certain period of time. Bandwidth is regarded as a portion of the entire spectrum and is a sub-section of it.
In summary, bandwidth refers to the capacity of a communication channel to transmit data, while spectrum refers to the range of frequencies used for communication. Spectrum is the entire range of frequencies allocated for a specific application, while bandwidth is a portion of that spectrum used for data transmission.
Comparative Table: Bandwidth vs Spectrum
Here is a table comparing the differences between bandwidth and spectrum:
Parameter | Bandwidth | Spectrum |
---|---|---|
Definition | The maximum rate of data transfer within a certain period of time. | The range of frequencies contained in the signal. |
Measurement Unit | Bits/sec, Hz, kHz, MHz | No unit, but sometimes expressed in Hz, kHz, MHz |
Relation | The difference between the lowest and highest frequency in the spectrum. | Refers to the maximum data transmission capacity of a channel. |
Purpose | Helps to measure the amount of data that a medium can transmit per unit time. | Identifies the wavelengths and frequencies of electromagnetic waves in electromagnetism. |
Application | Used in telecommunications, networking, and electrical engineering. | Used in disciplines such as electromagnetism and telecommunication. |
Bandwidth refers to the maximum amount of data that a medium can transmit in a unit time, and it is typically measured in bits per second (bps), kilobits per second (Kbps), or megabits per second (Mbps). On the other hand, the spectrum is a collection of waves with particular frequencies arranged in order, and it helps to identify the wavelengths and frequencies of electromagnetic waves.
- Bandwidth vs Frequency
- Bandwidth vs Speed
- Bandwidth vs Speed
- Bandwidth vs Data Rate
- Throughput vs Bandwidth
- Continuous Spectrum vs Line Spectrum
- Broadband vs Narrowband
- Continuous vs Discrete Spectrum
- Electromagnetic Radiation vs Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Narrowband vs Wideband
- a Continuous Spectrum vs a Bright Line Spectrum
- Baseband vs Broadband Transmission
- Absorption Spectrum vs Emission Spectrum
- Wavelength vs Frequency
- Bit Rate vs Baud Rate
- DSL vs Broadband
- Action Spectrum vs Absorption Spectrum
- Mbps vs Kbps
- ADSL vs Broadband