Course Catalogue

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In this course, the students will be introduced to the basic principles of signals and systems related to communications principles. The students will gain understanding of basic analogue and digital modulation techniques together with basics in communication theory and communication systems performance characterisation.  

This course will be timetabled in blocks, typically four weekly blocks.

Mandatory Entry Requirements

None

Recommended Entry Requirements

None

None

None

75% Examination

25% Laboratory report

Reassessment

In accordance with the University's Code of Assessment reassessments are normally set for all courses which do not contribute to the honours classifications. For non honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students, and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions are listed below in this box.

Due to the nature of the coursework and sequencing of courses, it is not possible to reassess the coursework laboratory and/or projects.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below.

Due to the nature of the coursework and sequencing of courses, it is not possible to reassess the coursework laboratory report. 

The initial grade on coursework laboratory report will be used when calculating the resit grade.

Reassessment is offered only to meet the special requirement that all courses must be passed for graduation in this programme.

The aims of this course are to:

■ introduce the basic principles of communication signals and systems using spectral analysis;

■ develop an understanding of linear systems, signal processing and filtering for communications;

■ provide the basic principles of communication systems in terms of well-know modulation and demodulation techniques;

■ provide performance analysis and characterisation of realistic communication systems under different operational settings.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ employ the techniques of Fourier Series, Fourier transforms and convolution to translate functions between time and frequency domains;

■ apply the properties of Fourier transforms and convolution to determine the time domain and frequency domain response of communication systems;

■ identify and explain the operation of various modulation and signalling techniques and strategies as they apply to communication systems;

■ compute the bandwidth requirements, limitations and performance analysis of realistic communication systems;

■ use software and/or hardware tools to design, analyze and determine the performance of practical communication systems.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment. In addition students must submit work for assessment for the course laboratory or a grade of credit withheld will be given.

Students must attend the timetabled laboratory classes.

Note that these are minimum requirements: good students will achieve far higher participation/submission rates. Any student who misses an assessment or a significant number of classes because of illness or other good cause should report this by completing a MyCampus absence report.