Program Overview

Modern Communication Systems

Course Description

The Modern Communication Systems course explores and compares different modern communication systems and how to design them, from both a theoretical and practical point of view.

Course Details

• Course Code: EC ENGR X 422.14
• Availability: Typically available in Fall
• Course Overview: This course covers modern communication systems, including satellite, fiber optic, mobile cellular phone, microwave systems, and Internet communications, as well as cable TV, AM and FM radio, VHF, UHF, HDTV, shortwave, fire, police, telephone, fax, voice, TV, local government, and computer networking systems.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn to compare various modern communication systems
• Design communication systems from both a theoretical and practical point of view
• Understand contemporary modulation, coding, and communication theory

Course Content

The course instruction covers:

• Contemporary modulation, coding, and communication theory, including LDPC, turbo coding, and convolutional coding
• M-ary APSK, PSK, ASK, and FSK modulation
• Spread spectrum systems, such as GPS
• The IP protocol and the IOS model
• 2G, 3G, and 4G wireless systems
• iPhone and iPad devices
• Various communications standards, such as DVB-S2
• Practical and analytical topics in the design and understanding of communication systems, including:
  • Fourier series and integrals
  • Time and frequency domain representation of communication signals
  • Convolution, linear systems, transfer functions, sampling theorem
  • Probability and statistical theory as applied to communication problems

Additional Information

• The instructor will demonstrate the use of Matlab and other software tools for analysis, simulation, and problem-solving.
• These tools are provided as part of the course fee as an option for student use and will not be part of the course grading criteria.
• Students will also learn about job opportunities and business trends in the communications field.