Course description: This course covers the analog underpinning of analog and digital communication systems: representation of signals and systems in the time and frequency domains; analog modulation schemes; random processes; prediction and noise analysis using random processes; noise sensitivity and bandwidth requirements of modulation schemes. Brief introduction to digital communications. Full description, including course goals and instructional objectives, can be found here.

Credit: 3 undergraduate hours or 3 graduate hours.

Prerequisite: ECE 313.

Course information in course explorer.

Lectures: MWF, 10-10.50am, ECEB 2015.

Lecture Attendance Policy:

 

Instructor: Prof. Juan Alvarez, alvarez@, 3046 Electrical & Computer Eng Bldg (ECEB), 300-5452.

Teaching Assistant: Yulun Wu, yulunwu3@.


 

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COURSE MATERIALS

Textbook: Additional resources: Useful tables:

 

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DISCUSSION

Active participation in your learning environment is vital to your success in this course.

Piazza: For discussions and questions regarding course material.

Student online behavior: In any social interaction, certain rules of etiquette are expected and contribute to more enjoyable and productive communication. The following are tips for interacting online via e-mail or discussion board messages, adapted from guidelines originally compiled by Chuq Von Rospach and Gene Spafford (1995):

 

 

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GRADING POLICIES

It is the student's responsibility to check that the correct grades are entered in CANVAS.

The final grade will be calculated as follows:

 

 

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EXAMS

No conflict exams: There are no scheduled make-up exams. If you miss an exam due to illness, injury, family emergency or other reasons beyond your control, you will be asked to provide your professor with an absence letter from the Student Assistance Center in the Office of the Dean of Students. Documentation which validates the absence is required by the Dean's Office to provide the absence letter. The absence letter will serve to verify the reason for your absence from the exam. Your midterm exam grade will be replaced by an average of your other three exams. However, this will only apply to one midterm exam, if you miss more than one midterm exam, then the others will receive a zero.


Exam Regrades

 

 

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HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

Homework assignment policy:

 

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OFFICE HOURS

Office hours will be held starting September 2, through December 10, except November 24-28.

 

 

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Final project


Learning objectives: Project Description:

You must select one peer-reviewed research journal or article paper on a communications topic related to the course and create a 10-minute video presentation summarizing the paper.

Project Requirements:
  1. Finding a Research Paper:
    • Select a peer-reviewed research paper published within the last 3 years related to the communications topics in this course.
    • Ensure the paper is from a reputable journal or conference. IEEE Communications Society journals or Google Scholar are great examples of repositories for scientific publications.
  2. Creating the Video Presentation:
    • Software: video files must be in MP4 format and up to 500 MB in size. You can simply record yourself via zoom, but any software is acceptable.
    • Duration: The presentation should take no longer than 12 minutes.
    • Slides: Prepare about 10 slides, with each slide corresponding to approximately 1 minute of your presentation:
      • Slide 1: Introduction to the topic and the selected research paper.
      • Slide 2-3: Background of the topic you selected.
      • Slide 4-8: Summary of the research paper.
      • Slide 9: Your opinion about the potential impact of the research.
      • Slide 10: Conclusion and references. Please note that your source must be cited properly. Use the following websites for guidelines and examples of how to cite:
      • Content: Ensure each slide is clear, concise, and visually engaging. Use bullet points, images, and graphs where appropriate.
      • Delivery: Practice your presentation to ensure it is well-paced and within the time limit. Speak clearly and confidently.
  3. Submission: Submit the research paper, your power point slides and the video via Gradescope by the end of the last day of classes (December10 ). There is a 48-hour penalty-free extension for this assignment past this date.
  4. Evaluation Criteria:
    • Appropriateness and relevance of the selected paper.
    • Insightfulness of the critical evaluation.
    • Clarity, organization, and engagement of the video presentation.
    • Following the assignment requirements and meeting the time limit.
AI Usage: You may use AI tools to gather sources, but you must verify that each source is legitimate. If any of your sources turn out to be non-existent or nonsensical, you will receive a score of 0 for the project.

 

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OUTLINE

  1. Introduction
  2. Representation of Signals and Systems
  3. Analog Modulation
  4. Probability and Random Processes
  5. Noise in Analog Modulation
    • Signal-to-noise ratio in amplitude modulation systems
      • DSB-SC, SSB
      • DSB-TC: small noise
    • Signal-to-noise ratios in angle modulation systems
      • FM
        • Small noise
        • Pre-emphasis and de-emphasis
      • PM
  6. Digital Communication
    • Sampling, quantization, quantization noise
    • Waveform coding: PCM, DPCM, DM
    • Line Codes and Power Spectra of Binary Transmission:
      • RZ vs. NRZ
      • on/off, polar, bipolar, Manchester
    • Intersymbol interference (ISI)
    • Eye diagrams.
    • Digital modulation (PAM, PWM, PPM, ASK, FSK, PSK, QPSK, and QAM)
    • Baseband pulse transmission in AWGN: Optimum receiver, detection error probability
      • Binary
      • M-ary

 

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES





 

Anti-Racism and Inclusivity Statement

We in the Illinois ECE community are committed to understanding, empathizing with, and respecting each other, embracing the many differences among us.  
Academic integrity

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Student Code should is very important for you to know.

Students should pay particular attention to Article 1, Part 4: Academic Integrity. Academic dishonesty may result in a failing grade. Every student is expected to review and abide by the Academic Integrity Policy. Ignorance is not an excuse for any academic dishonesty. It is your responsibility to read this policy to avoid any misunderstanding. Do not hesitate to ask the instructor(s) if you are ever in doubt about what constitutes plagiarism, cheating, or any other breach of academic integrity.

 
Inclusivity

The effectiveness of this course is dependent upon the creation of an encouraging and safe classroom environment. Exclusionary, offensive or harmful speech (such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, etc.) will not be tolerated and in some cases subject to University harassment procedures. We are all responsible for creating a positive and safe environment that allows all students equal respect and comfort. I expect each of you to help establish and maintain and environment where you and your peers can contribute without fear of ridicule or intolerant or offensive language.

 
Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES)

To obtain disability-related academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the course instructor and the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) as soon as possible.

To contact DRES, you may visit 1207 S. Oak St., Champaign, call 333-4603, e-mail disability@illinois.edu or go to the DRES website.

If you are concerned you have a disability-related condition that is impacting your academic progress, there are academic screening appointments available on campus that can help diagnosis a previously undiagnosed disability by visiting the DRES website and selecting at the bottom of the page.

 
FERPA

Any student who has suppressed their directory information pursuant to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) should self-identify to the instructor to ensure protection of the privacy of their attendance in this course. Click here for more information on FERPA.

 
Sexual misconduct

The University of Illinois is committed to combating sexual misconduct. Faculty and staff members are required to report any instances of sexual misconduct to the University's Title IX and Disability Office. In turn, an individual with the Title IX and Disability Office will provide information about rights and options, including accommodations, support services, the campus disciplinary process, and law enforcement options. A list of the designated University employees who, as counselors, confidential advisors, and medical professionals, do not have this reporting responsibility and can maintain confidentiality, can be found here. Other information about resources and reporting is available here.

Support Resources and Supporting Fellow Students in Distress

As members of the Illinois community, we each have a responsibility to express care and concern for one another. If you come across a classmate whose behavior concerns you, whether in regards to their well-being or yours, we encourage you to refer this behavior to the Student Assistance Center (1-217-333-0050) or online. Based upon your report, staff in the Student Assistance Center reaches out to students to make sure they have the support they need to be healthy and safe. Further, as a Community of Care, we want to support you in your overall wellness. We know that students sometimes face challenges that can impact academic performance (examples include mental health concerns, food insecurity, homelessness, personal emergencies). Should you find that you are managing such a challenge and that it is interfering with your coursework, you are encouraged to contact theStudent Assistance Center (SAC)in the Office of the Dean of Students for support and referrals to campus and/or community resources. The SAC has a Dean on Duty available to see students who walk in, call, or email the office during business hours. For mental health emergencies, you can call 911 or contact the Counseling Center.

 
Run, hide, fight.

Emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time. It is important that we take a minute to prepare for a situation in which our safety or even our lives could depend on our ability to react quickly. When we have three options: Run, hide or fight.

Run, hide, fight video.

Run
Leaving the area quickly is the best option if it is safe to do so.
  • Take time now to learn the different ways to leave your building.
  • Leave personal items behind.
  • Assist those who need help, but consider whether doing so puts yourself at risk.
  • Alert authorities of the emergency when it is safe to do so.
Hide
When you cant want to run, take shelter indoors.
  • Take time now to learn different ways to seek shelter in your building.
  • If severe weather is imminent, go to the nearest indoor storm refuge area.
  • If someone is trying to hurt you and you cant evacuate, get to a place where you cant be seen, lock or barricade your area if possible, silence your phone, don't come out until you receive an Illini-Alert indicating it is safe to do so.
Fight
As a last resort, you may need to fight to increase your chances of survival.
  • Think about what kind of common items are in your area which you can use to defend yourself.
  • Team up with others to fight if the situation allows.
  • Mentally prepare yourself - you may be in a fight for your life

Please be aware of people with disabilities who may need additional assistance in emergency situations

Other resources