2019/20 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 2019/20

This module is not approved as a discovery 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
Example Class	10	1.00	10.00
Laboratory	6	2.00	12.00
Lecture	10	2.00	20.00
Private study hours			58.00
Total Contact hours			42.00
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 Report	30.00
In-course Assessment	In-Semester Test	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

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Exams

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

Re-sits for ELEC modules are subject to the rules in the School’s Code of Practice on Assessment. Students should be aware that, for some modules, a re-sit may only be conducted on an internal basis (with tuition) in the next academic session.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 30/04/2019

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