Alphanumeric data are entered into a computer from a remote terminal through a voice-grade telephone channel. The channel has a bandwidth of 3.4 kHz and output signal-to-noise ratio of 20 dB. The terminal has a total of 128 symbols. Assume that the symbols are equiprobable and the successive transmissions are statistically independent.
a. Calculate the information capacity of the channel.
b. Calculate the maximum symbol rate for which error-free transmission over the channel is possible.