Digital and Data Communications

Course Description

EET2351C — Digital and Data Communications — is a 4-credit combined lecture and laboratory course in the Electronic Engineering Technology program area (SCNS taxonomy: Engineering Technologies > Electronic Engineering Technology). The course provides a comprehensive study of digital and data communication systems, covering both the theoretical principles and practical laboratory skills needed to analyze, configure, and troubleshoot modern digital communication links. Students examine analog-to-digital conversion, digital modulation techniques, serial and parallel data transmission, communication protocols, error detection and correction, and network architectures. Laboratory sessions reinforce lecture concepts through hands-on experimentation with signal generation equipment, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and industry-standard serial communication interfaces.

Learning Outcomes

Required Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Describe the fundamental components and signal flow of a digital communication system, distinguishing between baseband and bandpass transmission.
Apply digital modulation techniques — including ASK, FSK, and PSK — and analyze their performance characteristics such as bandwidth efficiency and bit error rate (BER).
Explain and compare synchronous and asynchronous serial data transmission methods and associated standards (RS-232/EIA-232, RS-485).
Identify and calculate signal parameters including baud rate, bit rate, channel capacity (Shannon's theorem), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
Implement and analyze error detection and correction techniques including parity, CRC, and Hamming codes at the data link layer.
Describe multiplexing methods — FDM, TDM, and WDM — and explain their applications in modern communication networks.
Explain the OSI reference model and the TCP/IP protocol stack, identifying the major functions performed at each layer.
Identify and compare common network topologies, media access control methods (CSMA/CD, CSMA/CA), and the IEEE 802 family of standards.
Use laboratory instruments — oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and serial protocol analyzers — to measure, capture, and interpret digital communication signals.
Analyze transmission media (twisted pair, coaxial cable, optical fiber, wireless) and describe their signal propagation characteristics and bandwidth limitations.

Optional Learning Outcomes

Depending on institutional emphasis, students may also be able to:

Configure and troubleshoot UART, SPI, and I²C embedded serial communication interfaces using microcontroller development boards.
Analyze spread spectrum techniques (FHSS, DSSS) and their role in wireless and secure communications.
Describe fiber-optic communication system components including LEDs, laser diodes, photodetectors, and optical amplifiers.
Explain cellular network architectures (4G LTE, 5G NR) and describe how OFDM is used in modern wireless standards.
Apply Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) and related source coding concepts to digitize analog signals.
Demonstrate basic network configuration and administration tasks using network simulation software (e.g., Cisco Packet Tracer).

Major Topics

Required Topics

Fundamentals of Digital Communication Systems — system block diagrams, signal types, bandwidth, noise, and channel capacity (Nyquist and Shannon theorems); decibel calculations and signal power.
Digital Modulation Techniques — Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK), Frequency Shift Keying (FSK / BFSK), Phase Shift Keying (PSK / BPSK / QPSK), and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM); constellation diagrams; BER analysis.
Data Encoding and Line Codes — NRZ, NRZI, Manchester, differential Manchester, 4B/5B, and 8B/10B encoding; clock recovery.
Serial Data Transmission Standards — asynchronous vs. synchronous transmission; UART operation; RS-232/EIA-232C signal levels, connectors, and handshaking; RS-485 / EIA-485 multi-drop buses.
Error Detection and Correction — parity bits (even/odd), longitudinal redundancy check (LRC), cyclic redundancy check (CRC), Hamming codes; ARQ protocols (Stop-and-Wait, Go-Back-N, Selective Repeat).
Multiplexing and Demultiplexing — Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM), Time Division Multiplexing (TDM / STDM), Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM); framing and synchronization.
Transmission Media — characteristics of twisted-pair (UTP/STP), coaxial cable, optical fiber, and wireless channels; attenuation, dispersion, interference, and bandwidth.
OSI and TCP/IP Models — seven-layer OSI reference model; TCP/IP five-layer model; functions of physical, data link, network, transport, and application layers; encapsulation and protocol data units (PDUs).
Data Link Layer Protocols — HDLC, PPP, Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) frame structure; flow control; MAC addressing.
Local Area Networks (LANs) — Ethernet topologies (bus, star, ring); switches and hubs; CSMA/CD and CSMA/CA; IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) fundamentals; network cabling standards (TIA-568).
Laboratory Skills — use of oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers to measure digital signals; serial bus protocol decoding; cable testing; hands-on experimentation with modulation and demodulation circuits.

Optional Topics

Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) and Source Coding — sampling (Nyquist rate), quantization, encoding, companding (µ-law / A-law); delta modulation.
Spread Spectrum Techniques — Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS), Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS); processing gain and jamming resistance.
Fiber Optic Communications — single-mode vs. multimode fiber; optical transmitters (LED, laser diode) and receivers (photodetectors); connectors and splicing; optical link power budget.
Embedded Serial Interfaces — SPI, I²C, CAN bus, USB fundamentals; interface configuration on microcontroller platforms.
Wireless and Cellular Systems — OFDM principles; 4G LTE / 5G NR architecture overview; cellular frequency reuse; Bluetooth and ZigBee.
Network Layer and Routing — IPv4/IPv6 addressing; subnetting; ARP; basic routing concepts; introduction to TCP/UDP.
Network Simulation Lab — use of simulation tools (e.g., Cisco Packet Tracer or GNS3) to configure and test small network topologies.

Resources & Tools

Data and Computer Communications, William Stallings (Pearson) — industry-standard reference covering transmission, encoding, protocols, and networks.
Electronic Communications Systems: Fundamentals Through Advanced, Wayne Tomasi (Pearson) — widely used in Florida EET programs for analog and digital communications.
Digital Communications: Fundamentals and Applications, Bernard Sklar (Prentice Hall).

Laboratory Equipment and Software

Digital oscilloscope with serial decoding capability (e.g., Tektronix, Rigol)
Spectrum analyzer or software-defined radio (SDR) platform
EMONA ETT-101 or similar telecommunications training platform for modulation experiments
RS-232 / RS-485 breakout boards and serial analyzers
Microcontroller development boards (Arduino, STM32) for serial interface labs
Cisco Packet Tracer (free to students via Cisco Networking Academy) for network simulation
MATLAB / GNU Octave or National Instruments Multisim for signal simulation
Cable tester and crimping tools; RJ-45 connectors; TIA-568 wiring standards reference

Online Resources

Cisco Networking Academy (netacad.com) — free IT Essentials and CCNA Intro modules
IEEE Xplore (ieee.org/xplore) — standards documents (IEEE 802.3, 802.11)
NIST Computer Security Resource Center — data communications security references

Career Pathways

Completion of EET2351C supports entry into the following career fields, consistent with Florida's electronic engineering technology workforce needs:

Electronics Technician / Communications Technician — installation, testing, and maintenance of communication hardware in manufacturing, utilities, or government sectors.
Network Technician / Field Service Technician — LAN/WAN installation and troubleshooting; entry-level network support roles.
Telecommunications Technician — work with telephone systems, fiber optic infrastructure, and broadband equipment for telecom carriers.
Industrial Controls / Automation Technician — use of serial fieldbus protocols (RS-485, CAN, Modbus) in industrial automation and SCADA systems.
Avionics / Defense Electronics Technician — data-link systems, military communications equipment, and embedded serial interfaces.
Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) — networked medical devices and data communication interfaces in healthcare settings.

This course also supports articulation into bachelor-level programs in Electronic Engineering Technology, Computer Engineering Technology, or Information Technology at Florida institutions offering the B.A.S. or B.S.E.T. degrees.

Special Information

Certification Preparation

CompTIA Network+ — Course content in OSI/TCP-IP models, Ethernet standards, transmission media, and network topologies aligns directly with CompTIA Network+ exam objectives (N10-009). Students are encouraged to pursue this vendor-neutral certification upon course completion.
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) — Introduction — The networking and protocol content in this course provides foundational preparation for the Cisco CCNA track available through the Cisco Networking Academy.
IPC Certification Relevance — Florida EET programs frequently embed IPC J-STD-001 and IPC-A-610 soldering and assembly standards across the EET sequence; students completing the full program may sit for IPC Specialist (CIS) certification examinations.

Laboratory Safety and Professional Standards

Students working in the electronics lab are expected to follow all ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) handling procedures, use proper grounding techniques, and adhere to workplace safety practices consistent with those expected by industry employers in the electronics manufacturing and telecommunications sectors.