2016/17 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ELEC1420 Communications Systems

10 creditsClass Size: 100

Module manager: Dr Des McLernon
Email: d.c.mclernon@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2016/17

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

In order to pass this module, students must obtain a mark of at least 30% in the final examination, as well as obtaining an overall mark of at least 40% for the module.

Objectives

This module gives students an introduction to the basic building blocks of modern communications systems. It introduces familiarity with the technical concepts of both wired and wireless communication networks and prepares them for more advanced studies in the coming years.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- describe the basic building blocks of a digital communication system;
- understand the principles of the operation and application of a representative range of communications and broadcasting systems;
- demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of communication principles, including analogue and digital signals, the radio spectrum, modulation and coding techniques;
- apply a systems approach to the analysis and design of communication systems;
- show confidence with the use of measurement equipment such as signal generators and oscilloscopes;

Syllabus

Review of communications signals
RC Low-pass filters; concepts of low-pass, high-pass, and band-pass filters
Concept of bandwidth/spectrum
Analogue versus digital signals
Sampling theorem (non-mathematical)
A-to-D & D-to-A converters; quantisation
Overview of the basic building blocks of communications systems
Concepts of bits and symbols
The concept of modulation, e.g., line codes and RF modulation
Introduction to digital modulation, e.g., BPSK and QPSK
Introduction to data compression (e.g., in HDTV, Cellular mobile)
Introduction to error correction and detection (e.g., repetition codes, parity bits)
Communication case studies taken from satellite communications, cellular mobile, and digital TV
Concepts of basic digital signal processing (DSP)

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Class tests, exams and assessment	1	2.00	2.00
Lecture	20	1.00	20.00
Practical	6	3.00	18.00
Tutorial	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			50.00
Total Contact hours			50.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

20 hours working on problem sheets
10 hours preparing the lab report
20 hours revision for the exam

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored at tutorials and in lab classes

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	Laboratory Log Book Report	30.00
In-course Assessment	Problem Sheets	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 08/09/2016

Disclaimer

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