Accessibility statement

Digital Communication Systems - ELE00050H

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  • Department: Electronic Engineering
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Ruwan Gajaweera
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
    • See module specification for other years: 2022-23

Module summary

This module extends the theories and concepts covered in the Communication Systems module in the autumn term. The Digital Communication Systems module will have a deeper look at the main concepts of wired and wireless communication systems, architectures of transmitters and receivers that solves the general issues in such communication systems including DSP implementations and the tools to analyse the performance of them.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2021-22 to Summer Term 2021-22

Module aims

Subject content aims:

  • To provide an understanding of the principal issues and techniques involved in baseband data transmission
  • To introduce the most common forms of passband modulation, both linear and exponential, their characteristics and error rates
  • To introduce the student to radio modem principles and architectures, and provide the tools to analyse weak and strong signal handling performance
  • To show how key receiver building blocks can be implemented in both hardware and DSP implementations

Graduate skills aims:

  • To develop skills in the selection and application of appropriate numeric and algebraic techniques

Module learning outcomes

Subject content learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will:

  • Be able to calculate the power spectrum of a random passband data waveform
  • Be able to calculate the bandwidths of Nyquist filtered signals
  • Be able to calculate the bit error rate of several common passband modulation schemes in the presence of Gaussian noise
  • Be able to compare and contrast several common modulation schemes
  • Be able to describe the most important RF receiver topologies and calculate noise and intermodulation performance
  • Understand the modulation and demodulation processes of common wireless modems
  • Be able to specify and evaluate the performance of wireless modems
  • Appreciate the advantages of using DSP techniques
  • Have a working knowledge of common DSP receiver technologies

Graduate skills learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, students will:

  • Be able to explain and evaluate advanced technical concepts concisely and accurately
  • Be able to select, adapt and apply a range of mathematical techniques to solve advanced problems
  • Have developed skills in problem solving, critical analysis and applied mathematics

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Digital Communication Systems		 8 hours 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Digital Communication Systems		 8 hours 100

Module feedback

'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme.  We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments.

A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback.  This can be found at https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/assessment-and-examination/guide-to-assessment/

The Department of Electronic Engineering aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme.  In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work.  Students are provided with their examination results within 20 working days of the end of any given examination period.  The Department will also endeavour to return all coursework feedback within 20 working days of the submission deadline.  The Department would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback.  The Department will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum.  Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate.  Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date. 

Indicative reading

Glover, IA, & Grant, PM, ‘Digital Communications’, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall, 2003. ISBN 0-130-89399-4
Vizmuller, P, 'RF Design Guide', Artech House. ISBN 0-890-06754-6
Wireless Modems + Rohde, U. and Whitaker, J., "Communications Receivers: DSP, Software Radios and Design", Third Edition, McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-136121-9


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.