Communication Systems Laboratory Course (5 - 10cr)

Objectives

The goal of laboratory course is to become familiar with the tools used in practical communication system development. After the course a student will be able to use general tools and methods for telecommunication development tasks and make typical RF laboratory measurements independently. After the course the student will be able to understand basic behavior of functional blocks of a communication system. The actual laboratory work is expected to take 30 % of the effort. Acquiring the background knowledge, as well as examination and evaluation of the measurement results belong to the student's self studies.

Content

Core contentThe course includes compulsory and optional measurement tasks which are made in student groups.After a basic RF-measurement task student will be able to use basic measurement equipment of telecommunication. Student will be also able to use general measurement units for noise and signal power and make related conversions. Student is also able to distinquish the time and frequency domains.After the network-analyzer task student will be able to study responses of some unknown devices, and perform a basic calibration for network analyzer.After the receiver and noise measurement task student will be able to plan and implement basic measurement arrangements of analog front-end system.After the monitor receiver task student will be able to design measurements of real receiver involving sensitivity, bandwidth, and SINAD characteristics.After the IQ- modulation task the student will be able to describe operation of each blocks in IQ-receiver.After the Digital modulation task student will be able to name, classify and separate most general digital modulation methods.After the Wimax task student will be able to explain basic principles of developed telecommunication system, and measure them.Mobile Networks 1: Indoor channel measurements and planning . After this work, student should be able to know basics of radio network planning and signal propagation in indoor environment with simple measurements.Mobile Networks 2: Physical Layer Procedures and Functionality. After this work, student should be able to understand different basic procedures and functionalities taking place in mobile networks.Mobile Networks 3: Throughput measurements. After this work, student should be able to understand how different network configurations and capabilities as well as different environments affect the achievable data rates.

Prerequisites

Good skills in performing electronic measurements are a mandatory background for taking the course. The theoretical background knowledge depends on the chosen exercises.To support this course, it is strongly recommended to choose also the lecture course Basic RF Measurements COMM.RF.410, in which the theoretical background of the work course measurements is lectured.

Further information

Partial completions of the course must be carried out during the same implementation round.