See module specification for other years:
2019-202020-21
Module summary
Please note that the prerequisites are for fourth year MEng students taking this module. The only prerequisite for MSc Communications Engineering students is to achieve entry to the programme.
Module will run
Occurrence
Teaching cycle
A
Autumn Term 2018-19
Module aims
Subject content aims:
To describe and analyse the physical layer techniques used for current and proposed digital communication systems using twisted-pair cable (such as DSL broadband and gigabit Ethernet), wireless (including WiFi, 4G and broadcast systems), and optical communications, especially fibre-optic broadband
To analyse the effects of the channel in wired, wireless and optical systems, then describe the techniques used to overcome these, and the standards that have been defined for current and proposed systems
Graduate skills aims:
To develop critical skills in the selection, adaptation and application of appropriate numeric and algebraic techniques
Module learning outcomes
Subject content learning outcomes
After successful completion of this module, students will:
Understand the propagation of signals along lossy transmission lines, including attenuation, dispersion, and cross-talk
Understand multipath wireless channels, including time dependent fading, dispersion, Doppler spectra and the scattering function, and be able to show appropriate models for these channels
Understand physical layer techniques for operating over wired and wireless channels including OFDM/DMT and MIMO, giving examples from DSL and Ethernet physical layers for wired systems, and 4G mobile, WiFi and digital broadcasting for wireless
Have knowledge of the advantages and limitations of optical communications
Understand the principles and main features of optical sources, detectors and amplifiers
Understand modulation in optical communications, including direct vs external modulation, the use of eye diagrams and chirp
Have knowledge of multiplexing: the definition, WDM and TDM and future trends
Understand limitations in optical links: capacity, sensitivity, physical implementation including dispersion limit, sensitivity/loss limit and dispersion compensation
Be able to calculate power budgets in amplified and non-amplified links, and understand the main system architectures (grid, ring, and tree)
Understand optical access: "Fibre to the home/kerb", Active and Passive optical networks
Be able to establish and use channel models for wired, wireless and optical systems
Develop a basic design of transmission schemes using OFDM/DMT and/or MIMO
Be able to design a link and dispersion budget for an optical communication system
Graduate skills learning outcomes
After successful completion of this module, students will:
Be able to express advanced technical concepts concisely and accurately and comment on their applications, limitations and implications
Be able to select, adapt and apply a range of mathematical techniques to solve advanced problems and explain the implications of the answer
Assessment
Task
Length
% of module mark
University - closed examination Wired, Wireless & Optical Transmission
2 hours
100
Special assessment rules
None
Reassessment
Task
Length
% of module mark
University - closed examination Wired, Wireless & Optical Transmission
2 hours
100
Module feedback
Feedback on the examination performance will be provided within six weeks. Formative feedback is provided in seminars.
Indicative reading
Notes and readings will be provided in class
Coronavirus (COVID-19): changes to courses
The 2020/21 academic year will start in September. We aim to deliver as much face-to-face teaching as we can, supported by high quality online alternatives where we must.
Find details of the measures we're planning to protect our community.