Communication Basics

[drax]

Hello,
I'm trying to understand communications in the utility field. The protocols available, transport method, physical media. I'm not sure if I exactly understand the above, But I believe the transport method is either RS 485 or RS 232, the media is air,fiber, bus (PLC) and the protocol is DNP 3, or Modbus. Does anyone know of a tutorial that explains this in simple terms, the differences of protocols ?

thanks

 

[VEBill]

Look up the 'ISO 7-layer model'.

I'll be back with a link in a minute.

 

[VEBill]

Here:

http://www.google.com/search?q="ISO+7-layer+model"

Poke around the first few Google results pages - there are plenty of links to various explanations and tutorials.

 

[VEBill]

Here is the same link uglier but (hopefully) unbroken:

http://www.google.com/search?q="ISO+7-layer+model"