Wireless Communication Systems (ELEN90007)

Overview

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AIMS

This subject covers the fundamental design and performance issues associated with the physical and media access control of wireless networks.

INDICATIVE CONTENT

Topics include:

Wireless RF link basics (antenna characterisation, polarisation, EIRP, propagation loss);
Principles of cellular mobile radio systems (cells and frequency reuse, handover, cell splitting, sectorisation);
Characterisation and modelling of wireless channels (small scale fading including multipath channels, large scale fading);
Link budgets;
Modulation methods (linear, non-linear, single-carrier, multi-carrier OFDM);
Duplexing methods (time-division, frequency-division);
Multiple access methods (frequency-division, time-division, code-division, space-division and orthogonal-frequency-division multiple access), contention and non-contention methods;
Equalisation techniques (linear, non-linear, time-domain, frequency domain);
Lowpass Representation off Bandpass Signals and Systems;
Channel coding for error control (block codes, convolutional codes, turbo codes, LDPC), automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocols, hybrid ARQ protocols (including incremental redundancy);
Interleaving;
Diversity techniques (space diversity, frequency diversity, time diversity, multi-user diversity) and combining techniques;
Multiple antenna technologies (transmit and receive diversity, space-time block codes, beamforming, spatial multiplexing, MIMO);
Transmission of digital signals over fading channels;
Introduction to cellular mobile technologies (GSM/GPRS/EDGE, WCDMA/HSPA and LTE). Students will undertake a wireless project, such as network design, or analysis.

Intended learning outcomes

The ability to undertake analysis and assessment of mobile wireless systems

Generic skills

On completion of this subject, the students should have developed the following skills:

Problem solving and analytical skills;
Critical and creative thinking, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning;
Sense of intellectual curiosity;
Ability to interpret data and research results;
Ability to learn in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies;
Capacity to confront unfamiliar problems;
Ability to evaluate and synthesise the research and professional literature;
Ability to develop models of practical applications and evaluate their performance by rigorous analytical means.

Last updated: 4 March 2025