This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Postgraduate Handbook 2015-2016 (archived)

Module ENGI41915: Radio and Digital Communications

Department: Engineering

ENGI41915: Radio and Digital Communications

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	4	15	Not available in 2015/2016		Durham

Tied To

H1K709: Communications Engineering

Pre-requisites

Communicational Fundamentals (ENGI30215)

Corequisites

Communications Networks (ENGI42015); Engineering Design (ENGI41030); Research and Development Project (ENGI41060)

Excluded Combinations

None

Aims

The course aims to provide the fundamentals of radio channels and digital communications systems.

Content

Propagation effects and sources of multipath components in radio channels;
Propagation models: free space, plane earth, diffraction models, empirical models;
Multipath modeling: Fading with time and fading with frequency;
Statistical Models: Wide Sense Stationary Uncorrelating Scattering model;
Coherent time and coherent bandwidth, Level crossing, Fade rate duration;
Channel Measurement systems: CW, periodic pulse, PRBS, Chirp
Channel parameter and functions: impulse response, Power Delay Profile, Average Delay, Delay Speed, Coherent bandwidth, frequency selective fading, time selective fading, and scattering function;
Small scale and large-scale statistics;
Detection in noise: matched filter and correlation detector;
Bandpass data transmission: ASK, FSK and PSK, DPSK and non-coherent FSK;
Error rate calculation;
Mitigation of Multipath effects: diversity reception techniques, multiple antenna techniques and the RAKE receiver;
Spread spectrum modulation;
Introduction to the cellular concept: Common air interface, frequency reuse, channel assignment strategies, handoff strategies, interference and system capacity;
Overview of mobile radio systems: paging, cordless phone, wireless local area networks;
Multiple access techniques in mobile radio systems.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

An understanding of the basic propagation effects in radio channels;
An appreciation of multipath effects;
An understanding of narrowband and wideband channel models;
To be familiar with channel measurement techniques and the analysis of data for the extraction of the relevant channel parameters;
To understand techniques of combating channel impairments;
To understand the principles of digital modulation and demodulation techniques, and the effect of noise;
To be familiar with the design and operation of current radio communication technologies.

Subject-specific Skills

Key Skills

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Teaching by lectures and tutorials which are supported by a laboratory programme.
Written examinations are appropriate because of the wide range of in-depth, analytical material that is covered.
Theoretical and laboratory-based coursework contribute a formative element to the module and aid the acquisition of subject-specific and key skills.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours
Lectures	20	1 per week	1 hour	20
Tutorials	20	1 per week	1 hour	20
Practical's	3	1 per week for 3 weeks	3 hours	9
Preparation and Reading				101
Total				150

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Examination	80%	Written Examination (May/June 2 hours)	2 hours	100%
Coursework	20%	Coursework		100%

Formative Assessment

One piece of coursework which will be assessed but not included in the final average. Laboratory results and conclusions marked.

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.