Digital Signals Mean Less Noise

Analog and digital signals are both subject to impairments or “noise”.  In an analog signal this noise is heard as static on the other end of the call.  But on a digital signal this noise is eliminated when the signal is repaired en route.

Both analog and digital signals reduce their strength when traveling long distances (regardless of the transmission media).  They decrease in volume, fade and are more susceptible to interference such as static and other electromagnetic energy.  However, digital signals can be “repaired” better than analog signals.

When a digital signal loses strength and fades over distance, there is equipment on the line to regenerate the signal.  This equipment knows that each bit is either a one or a zero and it recreates it.  Any noise (or static) is discarded during the repair process.

In an analog signal, the process of strengthening the signal is to amplify all of the waves in the transmission.  This includes the noise or static that was picked up along the way.

People who first used digital wireless telephones rather than their analog wireless counterparts commented on the improvement in voice clarity.