NG2S807 - Concepts of Analogue and Digital Communication 01 Sep 2020 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 3

Associated Module Information

Module Code: NG2S807
Module Title: Concepts of Analogue and Digital Communication
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Information and Electronics
Faculty Sub Group: Electronics
Module Leader: Jurgen Richter
Module Team:
First Intended Intake: SEP 2016 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100163 - electrical and electronic engineering
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 3
Valid From 01 Sep 2020
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the concepts and fundamentals in Communications Engineering using a non-mathematical approach.

Content Summary

Sinusoidal Signals:

Time and Frequency Representation of Sinusoidal and Periodic Signals: Addition and multiplication of sinusoids; Power calculations; the decibel; introduction to the concept of Fourier Transform

Analogue Carrier Modulation:

Concepts of modulation and demodulation; Amplitude Modulation and frequency modulation in time and frequency; Single Sideband and Double Sideband Modulation concepts; Power and bandwidths trade off and comparison of the modulation methods; Detection using the envelope detector and frequency discriminator. Superheterodyne Receivers

Baseband Transmission Schemes:
Sampling theorem. PAM. Analogue-to-digital conversion. Quantisation noise. Signal to quantisation noise ratio. Pulse code modulation. Time Division Multiplexing.

Transmission Lines:
Characteristic impedance, reflection coefficient. Pulses and dc build up on lines. Sinusoidal transmission. VSWR. Power transfer.

Noise:
Sources of noise. SNR. Introduction to equivalent noise temperature, noise figure, noise bandwidth. Noise temperature in cascaded systems. Calculations of input and output SNR.

Digital Carrier Modulation Schemes:
Representation of ASK, FSK, BPSK ,M-ary PSK and QAM in time and frequency. Modulation and coherent detection. Comparisons of BER's for different systems.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 48
Practical classes and workshops 25
Independent Study 77
Directed Study 50
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 To develop knowledge and application of the fundamental principles and concepts of an appropriate range of analogue and digital modulation techniques
LO2 To develop the ability to design well understood communications engineering systems

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Written Examination Written Examination - Open Book (Unseen) 1 An open book examination covering all taught material. The student will be required to answer 5 from 8 questions 120 N/A 50 No 40
Practical _Practical Assessment 1 The student will be required to undertake a practical assignment covering learning outcomes 1 and 2 and to produce a written report 0 1500 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Written Examination - Open Book (Unseen) 1
_Practical Assessment 1

Reading List

Read, Richard (1999), The Essence of Communications Theory, Prentice Hall; ISBN 0135210224

Ibbotson, Lem (1998), The Fundamentals of Signal Transmission, Newness; ISBN 0340705760

Paul Young (2003),Electronic Commucation Techniques, 5th edition, Prentice-Hall, ISBN 0-13-122885-4