431-415 Advanced Communications Systems

Credit Points:

Prerequisite/s:

Timetable:

Contact:

Objectives:

On completion of this subject students should:

• have developed advanced skills in the analysis, design and evaluation of digital communications systems;

• understand state-of-the art and commercially available systems such as spread spectrum, satellite, and cellular mobile radio systems.

Content:

Digital Communications: Review of random variables and stochastic processes, optimum detection of signals in noise, matched filtering, error probability calculations for digital modulation, spectral properties of digital signals, multilevel modulation schemes, signalling through band-limited channels, optimum transmitting and receiving filters, comparison of digital communications systems. Radio signal fading models: Two-path fading, Rayleigh fading model for fading of radio signals. Diversity reception, switching diversity, combination diversity, frequency-selective fading, tropospheric scatter.

Plus a selection of the following topics:

Digital radio systems: Bandwidth efficiency, fading models, receiver structures, synchronisation, radio system signatures for the calculation of system outages.

Spread spectrum techniques: General concepts, direct sequence systems, frequency hopping and time hopping systems, hybrid spread spectrum systems, application of spread spectrum to multiple access systems and to secure communication systems.

Satellite systems: Channel modelling, multiple access techniques, modulation formats and basic link calculations.

Cellular mobile radio systems: Channel modelling (both narrow and wideband channels), concept of frequency reuse, cell splitting, spectrum efficiency, system quality, modulation formats and receiver structures.

Topical areas: To be advised each year.

This subject may not be offered every year.

Assessment: