Digital Communications and Systems Lab

Learning outcomes: At the end of the course the student will be able to:

• explain the need for satellite communications
• acquire an understanding on orbital mechanics of LEO, MEO, HEO and GEO satellites
• define and explain propagation impairments
• design uplink/downlink satellite link using the power link budget
• explain the analog and digital modulation techniques
• explain the synchronization and multiple-access techniques, such as FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, Aloha
• design and simulate satellite orbits with specific characteristics using STK software of AGI

Contents

Satellite orbit types and characteristics, orbital mechanics and orbits LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, calculation methods for link budget, transponders, propagation impairments (free space loss, atmospheric, rain attenuation, shadowing), effects of noise, noise figure, antennas, transmission/reception techniques, multiple access techniques, random access, multibeam systems, simulation  on orbit planning and link budget with STK software by Analytical Graphics (AGI). Exercises based on the STK and GNU Octave software packages.

Assessment

Written exams at the end of the semester. Assignments may be given during the semester with weight 30% (in which case the weight of the written exams will be 70%).

Bibliography

1. Gerard Maral and Michel Bousquet, Satellite Communications Systems: Systems, Techniques and Technology, Wiley; 4th edition, 2020. ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0471496540
2. Timothy Pratt, Charles W. Bostian, and Jeremy E. Allnutt, Satellite Communications, 2nd Edition, October 2002. ISBN-13: 978-0471370079

Undergraduate Program: Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Peloponnese

Category: Specialization in Telecommunications-Elective

ECTS credits: 5

Semester: 6^th

Prerequisites: Probabilities and Statistics

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course students will:

• Evaluate the discrete source entropy
• Explain 1^st and 2^nd Shannon coding theorem
• Recognize and categorize source codes
• Perform data compression
• Evaluate the mutual information and the discrete channel capacity
• Explain the motivation for source and channel coding
• Encode and decode linear block codes and cyclic codes

Contents

Introduction, entropy, joint entropy, mutual information, information rate, redundancy, discrete message sources, memoryless sources, Markov sources, source coding, Huffman coding, communication channels, discrete channel capacity, continuous channel capacity, Galois field GF(2), linear block codes, Hamming codes, cyclic codes, systematic codes, BCH and CRC codes, burst error correcting codes.

Assessment

Written exams at the end of the semester. Given projects have 30%-40% weight on the total course grade.

Bibliography

1. Thomas M. Cover and Joy A. Thomas, Elements of Information Theory, 2nd edition, 2006. DOI: 10.1002/047174882X
2. S. Haykin και M. Moher, Communication Systems, 5^th Edition,  November 2008, ISBN: 978-0-470-46088-7

Undergraduate Program: Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Peloponnese

Category: Specialization in Telecommunications-Elective

ECTS credits: 5

Semester: 8^th

Prerequisites: Programming I or Programming II or Digital Communications or Signals and Systems

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course the student will be able to:

• generate random numbers having specific properties
• simulate the most well-known modulation formats
• design and simulate the optimum receiver
• identify the differences in system performance between theory and simulation
• evaluate the bit and symbol error probability
• describe the software-defined radio architecture
• develop communication systems based on SDR and GNU Radio

Content

Telecommunication system design by using methods and techniques based on random process, fundamental computer simulation techniques, fading channel, error probability simulation, spectral analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, thermal noise, Rayleigh fading, software defined radio systems, simulation system development in GNU Octave and GNU Radio.

Assessment

Written exams at the end of the semester with weight 60-40% and compulsory assignments during the semester with weight 40-60%.

Bibliography

• B. P. Lathi and Zhi Ding, Modern Digital and Analog Communication Systems, 5th Edition, 2018. ISBN13: 9780190686840
• Michel C. Jeruchim, Philip Balaban, and Sam K. Shanmugan, Simulation of Communication Systems, Springer, 2nd edition, 2000. DOI: 10.1007/b117713
  

Undergraduate Program: Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Peloponnese

ECTS credits: 5

Semester: 5^th

Requirement: Signals and Systems or Telecommunication Systems Fundamentals

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course students will:

• Recognize the most well-known line codes and plot corresponding spectra.
• Calculate the signal space dimension and design the optimal detector.
• Be aware of basic digital modulation techniques with (ASK, PSK, DPSK, FSK) and without (PAM, PPM, on/off) carrier and recognize their waveforms.
• Design optimum filters to eliminate intersymbol interference.
• Be able to calculate bandwidth and power requirements for optimal operation of digital communication systems.
• Calculate and compare the performance of basic modulation techniques in the presence of AWGN noise

Contents

Introduction, AWGN noise, line codes and spectra, baseband modulation techniques (PAM, PPM), signal algebra, constellation diagram, Nyquist filters, correlator and matched filter, intersymbol interference, probability of error and bandwidth requirements, optimum receiver design, maximum likelihood detectors, eye pattern, carrier modulation, coherent demodulation (ASK, PSK, FSK), non-coherent demodulation (DPSK, NCFSK), performance comparison.

Assessment

Written exams at the end of the semester in both theoretical and laboratory parts with a percentage 70% and 30%, respectively. Optional midterm exams are also possible

Bibliography

1. B. P. Lathi and Zhi Ding, Modern Digital and Analog Communication Systems, 5th Edition, 2018. ISBN13: 9780190686840
2. S. Haykin και M. Moher, Communication Systems, 5^th Edition,  November 2008, ISBN: 978-0-470-46088-7