What is the main disadvantage of using half duplex communication?

Half duplex communication allows data to be transmitted in both directions, but not simultaneously. This means that while one device is sending data, the other must wait until the transmission is complete before responding. The main disadvantage of this method is the potential for data collisions. In a half duplex setup, if two devices attempt to send data at the same time, the signals can interfere with each other, leading to packet loss and the need for retransmission. This can adversely affect network efficiency, especially in environments where multiple devices frequently communicate with one another.

In contrast, full duplex communication, which allows simultaneous sending and receiving of data, mitigates this issue entirely, eliminating the risk of collisions and thereby enhancing overall network performance.

While increased latency can be a concern in communication systems that need to wait for the channel to become available, the critical issue at hand with half duplex systems is primarily the risk of collision during data transfer. The potential need for more complex hardware usually pertains to accommodating full duplex systems rather than being an inherent disadvantage of half duplex itself. Similarly, higher data throughput is typically a benefit of full duplex rather than a characteristic of half duplex communication.