The aims of this course are to introduce and overview the wide range of current personal and mobile, satellite and optical communication systems; to describe the propagation environment involved in such systems and to explain methods of characterisation; to explain typical modulation, coding and multiplexing methods; to describe the system and network aspects of typical mobile systems; to introduce optical fibres, laser diodes and Photo-detectors; to discuss in detail: optical transmitters; optical receivers; and optical fibre communication systems in particular coherent fibre communications and wavelength division multiplexing systems.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Discuss the design and configuration of satellite and mobile communication systems to meet specific requirements;
Discuss appropriate measures to overcome the problems caused by different propagation environments;
Explain the system and network aspects of satellite and mobile communication systems;
Calculate figures of merit for basestations, earth stations, satellite transponders and mobile units and use these in assessing link budgets;
Perform quantitative design on optical fibre systems;
Describe roles of optical transmitter, fibre and receiver in an optical fibre communication system;
Design both conventional and coherent optical fibre communication systems;
Critically appraise the relative merits of satellite, cellular and optical fibre communication systems for diverse applications.
Assessment
24097-01 : Module mark : Mixed (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions
Main assessment: (20%) ongoing Canvas based timed summative assessment e.g. quizzes with feedback opportunity to consolidate learning (typically the week after finishing each of the three blocks)
(80%) Timed open book assessment released and submitted via Canvas, covering all three themes of the module and all learning outcomes.
Supplementary/Reassessment: Reassessment to match the main assessment method with due consideration made to any restrictions imposed at the time of reassessment. Typically this will mean a repeat of the timed open book assessment with a different set of exercises, but will not include an opportunity to re-take the quizzes.