In this course, the student will be introduced to the basic principles of spectral analysis and shown how this relates to a communication system, generation and detection techniques. The student will gain an overview of analogue and basic digital communication system modulation.

2 one hour teaching session per week (lectures/tutorials)

3 three hour laboratory sessions

None.

None.

70% Degree Examination

15% Laboratory

10% Numerical Simulations

5% in-class tests

The aims of this course are to:

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

■ gain an understanding of linear systems and signal filtering;

■ gain an overview of analogue and basic digital communication system modulation, generation and detection techniques;

■ provide practical illustrations of the behaviour of electronic signals under filtering and modulation.

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 simple filters (e.g. RLC circuits) to determine the time domain and frequency domain response of linear systems;

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

■ Determine the bandwidth requirements and limitations of common modulation techniques;

■ Use an oscilloscope and spectral analyser to analyse time and frequency domain waveforms.

■ Numerical simulation of communication systems and performance analysis in noisy channels.