Communications Systems

Course Description

EEL4514 — Communications Systems is a senior-level (4xxx) college-credit course in Florida's B.S. Electrical Engineering programs. The course covers analog and digital communication system fundamentals: signal and noise representation; amplitude modulation (AM); angle modulation (FM, PM); pulse modulation; digital communication (PCM, ASK, FSK, PSK, QAM); error performance; introduction to information theory and channel coding; introduction to modern wireless and satellite systems.

This course is offered at Florida State University System institutions with B.S. or graduate Electrical Engineering programs: University of Florida, Florida State University, University of South Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida A&M University, and Florida Institute of Technology. As an upper-division course, it is restricted to students admitted to the B.S. Electrical Engineering or B.S. Computer Engineering program at the offering institution.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of EEL4514, students will be able to:

• Apply signal and system analysis: continuous and discrete-time signals; Fourier analysis (FT, FS); frequency-domain representations; bandwidth and spectral efficiency.
• Apply noise analysis: random processes; autocorrelation and power spectral density; signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); thermal noise.
• Apply amplitude modulation: DSB-LC, DSB-SC, SSB; modulation index; bandwidth; envelope detection; coherent detection.
• Apply angle modulation: FM and PM; modulation index; Carson's rule; FM discriminator and PLL detection; FM noise improvement.
• Apply pulse modulation: PAM; PWM; PPM; pulse code modulation (PCM); sampling and quantization; quantization noise.
• Apply digital modulation: ASK; FSK; PSK (BPSK, QPSK); QAM; constellation diagrams; bit error rate vs. signal-to-noise ratio.
• Apply introductory error performance and channel coding: BER analysis; FEC introduction; block codes (Hamming) and convolutional codes overview.
• Describe principles of modern wireless and satellite communications: cellular concepts (4G LTE, 5G NR); GPS; satellite communications.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Signal Analysis Review: Continuous and discrete signals; Fourier transform; Fourier series; convolution; system response.
• Random Signals and Noise: Random variables; random processes; stationarity; autocorrelation; power spectral density; thermal noise; SNR concepts.
• Amplitude Modulation: DSB with large carrier (commercial AM); DSB with suppressed carrier; single sideband (SSB); modulation index and overmodulation; envelope detector; product detector; superheterodyne receiver.
• Angle Modulation: FM and PM relationships; instantaneous frequency; Carson's rule for FM bandwidth; pre-emphasis/de-emphasis; FM discriminator; PLL demodulation; threshold effect; FM stereo.
• Pulse Modulation: PAM; PWM; PPM; sampling theorem; aliasing; PCM (uniform and non-uniform quantization, mu-law and A-law companding).
• Digital Communications: ASK, FSK, PSK (BPSK, QPSK), DPSK, QAM (4-QAM, 16-QAM, 64-QAM); constellation diagrams; matched filter receiver; bit error rate analysis.
• Information Theory Introduction: Information content; entropy; channel capacity; Shannon limit.
• Channel Coding Introduction: Block codes (Hamming, BCH, Reed-Solomon overview); convolutional codes (Viterbi decoder concept).
• Wireless and Satellite Systems: Cellular concepts; 4G LTE and 5G NR overview; GPS L1/L2 signals; LEO/GEO satellite communications.

Resources & Tools

• Simon Haykin and Michael Moher Communication Systems (Wiley); B. P. Lathi and Z. Ding Modern Digital and Analog Communication Systems (Oxford); Leon Couch Digital and Analog Communication Systems
• MATLAB Communications Toolbox; Simulink
• IEEE Communications Society standards and publications

Career Pathways

EEL4514 supports careers in Florida's substantial telecommunications, defense, and aerospace sectors:

• Communications Engineer at telecommunications providers: T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, and regional providers.
• Defense Communications Engineer at Florida defense contractors: L3Harris (Melbourne) (one of the largest pure-play communications/defense companies on Florida's Space Coast), Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman.
• Aerospace Communications Engineer for satellite and space systems at Florida space industry employers.
• RF/Wireless Engineer for commercial and industrial wireless products.
• Continuation toward graduate study in communications, signal processing, or wireless systems.

Special Information

Course Format

Typically 3 credits, 45 contact hours (lecture).

ABET Accreditation

This course contributes to ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accreditation requirements for B.S. EE programs. Florida public university EE programs are ABET-accredited.