Introductory Module for Communications

Module Title - Introductory Module for Communications
Number of credits – 20

Module description

There are two parts to this module:

Part 1

An introduction for two MSc programmes (MSc in Electronic and Computer Engineering; MSc in Communications Engineering) is given. Topics covered:

  • Case studies in Professional Engineering covering:
    • professional and ethical conduct in engineering
    • the commercial and social context
    • management and business practices
    • sustainable development
    • regulatory requirements
    • health & safety, environmental and commercial risk
  • Introduction to signal processing
  • Fourier transform
  • Basic probability concepts
  • Introduction to data analysis
  • Programming in Matlab
  • Presentation and report writing skills

Part 2

This provides fundamentals of various aspects relevant to modules in the MSc Communications Engineering programme.

  • Introduction to wired and wireless communication systems
  • Information theory
  • Fourier transforms in communications
  • Analogue and digital modulation schemes
  • Transmitters and receivers
  • Radio wave propagation and link budgets

By the end of the module you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the economic, legal, social, ethical and environmental context associated with their engineering studies.
  • Perform basic analysis of data.
  • Use programming techniques in Matlab.
  • Demonstrate a working knowledge of the issues relevant to disseminating research, including verbal and written communication skills.
  • Gain an appreciation of how modern communication systems (wired and wireless) work.
  • Compare transmission line types (twisted pair, coaxial, fibre optics etc) and recommend the optimal types for particular applications.
  • Understand the concepts of land mobile (handheld radio, cellular) and satellite communications and perform simple calculations.
  • Explain and perform calculations on matched filtering, sampling and quantisation.
  • Explain the relationship between modulated signals and their baseband counterparts, both in the time and frequency domains.
  • Explain the noise model for narrowband signals, and use it in calculations.
  • Explain the operation of and solve simple problems concerned with the design of radio frequency front-ends.
  • Explain the operation of and solve simple problems concerned with the use of Link budgets

Teaching and assessment:

  • Semester 1
  • Assessment is 100% coursework consisting of:
    • 50% Part1: coursework assignment– a group assignment assessed by a presentation and written report.
    • 50% Part2: A 2 hour class test.