Syllabus for EST 414 Advanced Communication Systems

Instructor:  Ralph Tate

Office/Hours:  ASA 120 ·  10:00 – 12:00 Monday, Wednesday; 1:00 – 2:00 Tuesday, Thursday

Telephone:  (618) 453-8878    Email/Website: rtate@siu.edu · www.siu.edu/~rtate

Classroom/Time:  ASA 204A ·  9:35 – 11:55 Tuesday and Thursday 

Textbook:        Electronic Communications Systems, by Wayne Tomasi, 5th Edition, 2004, Pearson Prentice Hall Publishers, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ.  ISBN: 0130494925

Grading:          Attendance 50 points (10%)

Homework/Quizzes 50 points (10%)

Exams 200 points (40%)

Lab Project 100 points (20%)

Technical Paper/Presentation 100 points (20%)

Total Points: 500 points

Grades are based on the percentage of total points earned versus total points available from attendance, homework, quizzes, exams, and technical paper/presentation.

                                                            A = 90 to 100%

                                                            B = 80 to 89%

                                                            C = 70 to 79%

                                                            D = 60 to 69%

                                                            F = Below 60%

Attendance:     Attendance is mandatory and will be recorded.  If you have to be absent, please email as soon as possible or call (leave a message if I am not in).  Quizzes and in-class assignments CANNOT be made up.

Late work:       Generally, late work will not be accepted.  Missed exams can only be made up if arrangements are made prior to exam dates.

Supplies:          Scientific Calculator.

Laboratory Projects:

                        Laboratory projects will be assigned to each student (or teams of two or more students) to reinforce knowledge gained in lectures and to provide hands-on experience with communications systems.  A wide range of projects will be made available such as the configuration of a software-based PBX system, development of high gain antennas for ISM technology, LabVIEW-based data communications, and wireless data networks.

Technical Paper/Presentation:

                        Each student will research and prepare a technical report and PowerPoint presentation on a current aspect of communications technology.  A list of potential topics and format for technical reporting will be made available later in the course.

Course Description:

This course provides advanced knowledge through lecture and laboratory exercises of the theory of operation, terminology, and the underlying principles pertaining to communication systems including basic telephony, cellular radio, microwave, satellite, and data networks.

Objectives:      Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Identify and describe the major networking systems in the communications industry.

2. Describe the process of basic telephony and identify telephone equipment required in transmitting voice and data in intra-office, local exchange, and long distance services.

3.  Identify cellular network equipment required to transmit voice and data and describe how cellular calls are processed.

4.  Identify local area network hardware and software and describe data-link protocols.

5.  Demonstrate an understanding of the functional components comprising microwave and satellite communication systems.

6.  Identify the major functions of managing a telecommunications department.

7.  Discuss and compare future trends and emerging technologies in the communications field.

Topical Outline:

I.  Digital T-Carriers and Multiplexing

         A. Time division multiplexing (TDM)

         B. T1 digital carrier

         C. Frequency division multiplexing (FDM)

         D. Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)

II.  The Telephone System            

         A. Standard telephone set

B. Telephone call tones and signals

C. Local subscriber loop

D. Public switched telephone network (PSTN)

E. Exchanges

III.  Cellular Radio                                                                                                         

A.  Fundamental concepts of cellular telephone

B. Cellular system topology

C. Roaming and handoffs

D. Cellular telephone systems (AMPS, FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, GSM)

 IV.  Data Communications and Networking                                                                       

A. Network architecture, protocols, and standards

B. Layered network architecture

C. Open systems interconnection (OSI)

D. Data communication circuits

   V.  Data-Link Protocols                                                                                     

A. Asynchronous/Synchronous data-link protocols and controls

B. PSDN, X.25, ISDN, ATM, LAN, Ethernet

C. USB, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 1394

D. Equipment and techniques for troubleshooting networks

VI.  Microwave Communications                                                                                     

A. Diversity and protection switching

B. Microwave radio stations

C. Microwave repeater stations

D. Line-of-sight path characteristics

E. Microwave radio system gain                                                                                   

    VII.  Satellite Communications                                                                                        

A. Kepler’s laws and satellite orbits

B. Geosynchronous satellites

C. System link models, parameters, and budgets

D. Multiple accessing

E. Satellite radio navigation (GPS)

VIII.  Future Trends in Communications