Fundamentals of Digital Communication for Wireless Systems
EE-40034
This course will cover the fundamental principles of wireless digital communications.
Participants will learn how to analyze the performance of digital modulation techniques such as quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and apply them in modern wireless systems. High-order modulation (such as 256-QAM, 1024-QAM) achieves greater spectral efficiency, thus leading to higher data rates. They form the basis of current and emerging wireless standards (such as 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi). By changing the modulation and coding, the available data rate and robustness of the wireless signal can be adapted to deployment conditions. The course will review the impact of digital modulation on multi-carrier and multi-antenna wireless systems. Participants will also work on a Matlab project.
Course Highlights:
- Overview of modern wireless systems
- Review of probability, random processes, noise, and entropy
- Baseband and passband modulation
- Receiver design and channel equalization
- Maximum-likelihood signal detection and optimum mean-square estimation
- Sampling theorem and quantization for digital modulation
- Pulse shaping and discrete-time multi-level modulation
- Power spectral density and spectral efficiency
- Error-control coding and error performance
- Link (rate) adaptation using adaptive modulation and coding
- Multiple access techniques for wireless communications
Course Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the components of a wireless digital communications system
- Choose an appropriate modulation and coding scheme for a given application
- Compare the error performance of different modulations
- Design appropriate receiver structures to achieve given design goals
- Gain foundational knowledge for more advanced courses such as 4G/5G and OFDM/OFDMA
Software: Students will need the latest version of Matlab to complete their course project.The discounted student version is availabe for purchase online from MathWorks.
Course Typically Offered: Online in Fall and Spring quarters.
Prerequisite: ECE-40051 Signals and Systems or equivalent knowledge and experience. Participants should also be familiar with calculus, probability theory, and random processes.
Next Step: After completing this course, consider taking other courses in the Wireless Engineering certificate program to continue learning.
Contact: For more information about this course, please email unexengr@ucsd.edu.
Course Information
Course sessions
Section ID:
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This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 3/31/2025
Schedule:
Instructor: Andreas Falkenberg, Ph.D.
Founder, Dr. Falkenberg Technology Consulting Inc.
Andreas Falkenberg has dual Ph.D.s in Computer Science and Telecommunication Systems, holds 35+ patents and has published 20+ papers and one book. After gaining a wide knowledge throughout the telecommunications industry, he started his consulting business in 2003 bringing his expertise and knowledge to the European market, then to San Diego serving the local market.
