Unit Outline

This unit introduces the fundamental concepts of modern communication systems for engineering students specialised in electronics and communication engineering and other electrical engineering streams. Analog communication system concepts are briefly discussed to set the scene for digital communication techniques. Concepts in digital communication include: - Baseband and passband concepts - Digital modulation - Channel equalisation for the AWGN and multipath fading channels - Noise whitening - Error detection and correction This unit is the discipline knowledge required for design and application of basic communication system or study of more advanced communication topics.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Explain major components and technologies in modern communication systems including analog modulation and digital modulation techniques, communication channels, communication errors and communication system performance measures.
2	Explain the design objectives of transmitters and receivers, and impairments that can impact complex communication channels.
3	Apply frequency domain and time domain methods to model typical analog and digital communication systems and analyse system function and efficiency.
4	Design components in transmitter and receiver to achieve effective communication.
5	Assess the performance of basic communication systems by simulation.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	ENG741 Analog Electronics ENG746 Digital Electronics

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Laboratory 1	Week 5	10 %	LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Laboratory 2	Week 7	10 %	LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	In-semester test	Week 10	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 4:	Oral examination	Week 12	10 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 5:	Simulation project	Week 12	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 6:	Exam	Exam Period	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Laboratory 1

Task Description:

The laboratory will require the construction of an analog communication system. The student will investigate various concepts regarding reliable communication. Students will be individually questioned during the laboratory session to assess their understanding of the practical session.

Task Length:

3-hour laboratory session and submission of 7 page report.

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explore and explain design objective and justify system design	LO2
2	Construct a transmitter and receiver to achieve reliable communication.	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Laboratory 2

Task Description:

The laboratory will require the construction of various pulse shaping filters to investigate the effects on a communication system. Students will be individually questioned during the laboratory session to assess their understanding of the practical session.

Task Length:

3-hour laboratory session and submission of 7 page report.

Due Date:

Week 7

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explore and explain design of pulse shaping filters	LO2
2	Measure communication system's performance using pulse shaping filters	LO4

Assessment Task 3: In-semester test

Task Description:

Two-hour written invigilated closed-book test covering the first nine weeks of the unit. This includes information theory, large-scale path loss, line coding, AWGN and multipath channel models, digital modulation, detection and demodulation in AWGN channels, detection and demodulation in multipath fading channels, introduction to OFDM, block error correction coding.

Task Length:

2-hour written test

Due Date:

Week 10

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain fundamental concepts relating to communication systems.	LO1
2	Apply frequency and time domain methods to analyse problem for solution.	LO3
3	Analyse and design communication systems while considering channel impairments.	LO2

Assessment Task 4: Oral examination

Task Description:

An oral examination to assess the understanding and depth of investigation undertaken during the simulation project. A demonstration of the communication system will be required as part of the examination.

Task Length:

20 minutes

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Discuss measured communication system performance.	LO1
2	Explain how an appropriate communication system meets specifications.	LO2
3	Explain how a system function and how efficiency was optimised.	LO3
4	Explain engineering principles applied in designing a digital communication system.	LO4
5	Communicate how to evaluate the performance of the system.	LO5

Assessment Task 5: Simulation project

Task Description:

An investigation and design project to model a multipath fading communication channel with coloured noise and measure the performance of the communication system as a whole. The project definition is broad and includes several sub-problems that require both a theoretical and simulation analysis to complete.

Task Length:

15 page report

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Discuss measured communication system performance.	LO1
2	Design an appropriate communication systems to meet specifications.	LO2
3	Analyse system function and efficiency using time and frequency domain methods.	LO3
4	Design a digital communication system.	LO4
5	Simulate the system and evaluate the performance.	LO5

Assessment Task 6: Exam

Task Description:

The final exam is conducted in the formal examination period. See the Examinations and Results page: http://www.utas.edu.au/exams/ on the University's website, or access your personal exams timetable by logging into the eStudent Centre - Personal Exams Timetable for specific date, time and location closer to the examination period.

Task Length:

3 hour written exam

Due Date:

Exam Period

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain how modern communication system transmits through a communication channel with known impairments.	LO1
2	Design a communication system to mitigate the effects of a communication channel.	LO2
3	Apply frequency and time domain methods to analyse problem for solution.	LO3
4	Analyse and solve problems raised from practical system design issues.	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.