Unit Outline
ENG743
Communication Systems
Semester 1, 2025
Brian Salmon
School of Engineering
College of Sciences and Engineering
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Brian Salmon
Email: Brian.Salmon@utas.edu.au
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
 
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
Analyse function and efficiency of analogue and digital systems.
4
Design transmitter and receiver components to achieve effective communication.
5
Assess the performance of basic communication systems by simulation and practical demonstration.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
ENG741 Analog Electronics
ENG746 Digital Electronics
Alterations as a result of student feedback
Minor adjustments made to assessment weighting based on student feedback regarding workload.
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Lecture (On Campus)
Weekly lectures covering unit content
39
Weekly
Practical
Practical laboratory
6
Study Period 2 times
Tutorial
Weekly tutorials
13
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
 
 
 
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:
Practical laboratory
Week 7
20 %
LO2, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 2:
Communication system design
Week 8
15 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:
Simulation project
Week 13
25 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 4:
Exam
Exam Period
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Practical laboratory
Task Description:
Students will form groups and conduct a series of experiments during 2x 3-hour practical laboratory sessions on campus to illustrate various concepts regarding analogue communication systems. In the first session students will investigate proper modulation of signals onto carrier waves. In the second session students will investigate various pulse shaping filters to illustrate the effects of conversion to digital communication system. The groups will be assessed via a record of their measurements and calculations completed during the sessions and follow-up individual verbal responses to questions.
Task Length:
Completion of proforma and response to questions during 2x 3-hour laboratory sessions.
Due Date:
Week 7
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Design and evaluate the efficiency of modulation schemes.
LO2
2
Construct a transmitter and receiver to achieve reliable communication.
LO4, LO5
3
Design and evaluate the performance of various pulse shaping filters.
LO2
4
Report findings and specified requirements of pulse shaping implementations.
LO4, LO5
 
Assessment Task 2: Communication system design
Task Description:
In this session students will solve a series of problems regarding the design of a communication system to transmit through an AWGN channel. Optimal detection and demodulation in AWGN channels will be investigated. This session will conclude with the student submitting their work for assessment.
Task Length:
2 hours
Due Date:
Week 8
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 3: 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 13
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 4: 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:
40 %
 
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.
Specifically, to demonstrate attainment of the ILOs, you must achieve
  • an average mark of 40% on test and simulation project parts related to ILO1 to pass ILO1
  • an average mark of 40% on test and exam questions related to ILO2 to pass ILO2
  • an average mark of 40% on exam questions related to ILO3 to pass ILO3
  • an average mark of 40% on simulation project and exam questions related to ILO4 to pass ILO4
  • an average mark of 40% on practical laboratory and simulation project parts related to ILO5 to pass ILO5
Academic progress review
The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.
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.