ISA Interchange

AutoQuiz: What Is the Difference Between a Digital Transmitter and an Analog Transmitter?

Written by Joel Don | Dec 18, 2015 2:00:32 PM

AutoQuiz is edited by Joel Don, ISA's social media community manager.

This automation industry quiz question comes from the ISA Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST) program. Certified Control System Technicians calibrate, document, troubleshoot, and repair/replace instrumentation for systems that measure and control level, temperature, pressure, flow, and other process variables. Click this link for more information about the CCST program.

What is the difference between a digital transmitter and an analog transmitter?

a) a digital transmitter is a microprocessor digital device that can communicate
b) digital transmitters are an enhanced version of an analog transmitter
c) analog transmitters measure more accurately than a digital transmitter
d) there is no difference
e) all of the above

An analog transmitter measures in real time, has a measurement accuracy approximately 1 percent and is very responsive. A digital transmitter is microprocessor-based and measures in sampled time. Its measurement is digitized, it is generally not as responsive as analog transmitter, it can communicate digitally with other devices and can be easily re-ranged. A digital transmitter has a measurement accuracy of approximately 0.1 percent.

The correct answer is A.

About the Editor
Joel Don is the community manager for ISA and is an independent content marketing, social media and public relations consultant. Prior to his work in marketing and PR, Joel served as an editor for regional newspapers and national magazines throughout the U.S. He earned a master's degree from the Medill School at Northwestern University with a focus on science, engineering and biomedical marketing communications, and a bachelor of science degree from UC San Diego.

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