ECE 4270 Online: Communication Systems Summer Session II, 2016 Welcome to ECE 4270! Prof. Carl Baum, Clemson University Phone: See Blackboard. Email: baumc@clemson.edu. Telephone-Based Office Hours: See Blackboard My desire is that everyone succeed in this course to as great an extent as possible; furthermore, my desire is that you succeed not only in this course but in applying what you learn throughout your careers. For this reason we will cover a lot of material, but many of the procedures of the course have been designed to help you master the material. If you watch all the videos, do all the homeworks, take all the old tests, learn how to do everything correctly after getting anything wrong, and ask questions when needed, you should be able to do well in this course. I commit to treating you fairly and with respect and doing all that I can to help you succeed. Contacting Me: For questions about administrative procedures or other questions not related to course content, the best way to contact me is by email. For technical questions (help with homework problems, understanding lectures, going over old tests, etc.), contact me via telephone during office hours. These times are strictly enforced. Note that telephone is a much more effective medium for conveying technical details than email. If you are more than 3 time zones away from EST, you can arrange for alternate times for telephone calls by sending me an email so that we can schedule an appointment. Contacting You: Important messages for the class will be communicated via Blackboard announcements. You are responsible for the content of these messages. Blackboard should be checked frequently so as to have the most recent information. You may also be contacted individually via email, either via your university email ID or as a reply to an email initiated by you. It is your responsibility to check your email frequently or have it forwarded to an account that you check frequently. It is also your responsibility to make sure your email account stays below quota. Note that there are two email systems and corresponding addresses: username@clemson.edu and username@g.clemson.edu. You can set one to forward to the other or both to forward to another address. Make sure you can receive email from both addresses! Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, you should have an understanding of principles of digital and analog communication including the following: signals and spectra, baseband signaling and detection in noise, digital and analog modulation and demodulation techniques, and communications link budget analysis. Course Prerequisites: If you are a Clemson University student, your prerequistes are ECE 3300 and ECE 3170. If you are a non-clemson student, you should have completed a course in probability and random variables and a course in signals and systems. With regards to these courses, previous introductions to random processes and discrete-time signals and systems are helpful but not necessary.
Course Materials: Course notes, homework assignments, videos, and other materials are available for download on Blackboard via bb.clemson.edu. With regards to the notes, many students prefer the pdf files which are preformatted to print two slides per page; the original powerpoint files are also available. Optional textbook: Introduction to Analog and Digital Communications 2e by Haykin and Moher, Wiley Publishers, ISBN 0-471-43222-9. This course does not require or even directly refer to this textbook, but it does cover the majority of the material. The following textbooks are additional sources: Communication Systems 3e by Haykin, Wiley Publishers, ISBN 0-471-57176-8, Modern Digital and Analog Communication Systems 4e by Lathi and Ding, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-533145-5, and Digital Communications Fundamentals and Applications 2e, Sklar, Prentice Hall Publishers, ISBN 0-13-084788-7. Recommended Daily Learning Procedure: On regular days: (1) Use the daily planner (later in this syllabus) to look up the day s requirements. Do not fall behind! (2) Watch the videos, annotating your notes as you watch. Do not multitask while doing this! (3) Do the corresponding homework problems. This is an essential step to learning the material! (4) Correct your work by looking at the detailed homework solutions. Don t cheat and just copy these, or you are likely to fail the tests. Contact me if there is something you still don t understand. On test study days: (1) Create your notes sheets. See the Exam Content and Procedures section of this syllabus for more information. (2) Take as many sample exams as you have time to take, using a timer to limit your time on each exam to 60 minutes. (3) Check your answers and redo any problems you did not solve correctly. Contact me if, after restudying the material, you still cannot get the correct answer on a problem. Grading: Final grades will be determined by averaging the homework, exams, and the final exam based on the following scale: Homework 10% A 90% 100% 1st Midterm Exam 20% B 80% 89% 2nd Midterm Exam 20% C 70% 79% Final Exam 50% D 60% 69% The 90/80/70/60 grade cutoffs may be modified to be lower at my discretion. Normally such modifications are by no more than a few points; for example, the A cutoff might change from 90% to 88%. I reserve the right to modify the overall weighting scheme; for example, the relative weight of the final exam might be increased or decreased. Reasons for such a modification include the situation that I deem that a particular exam did not accurately assess student ability. Homework: There are 10 homework assignments. Homework assignments and solutions are posted in Blackboard. To receive full credit on homework, all needed work must be shown. Just copying final answers from the solutions will give you zero credit. Homework must be written in your own handwriting and not be previously graded. Homework must be scanned into a single multi-page pdf and uploaded as an assignment in Blackboard. No other formats (such as jpg) are accepted. The filename should include your last name and homework number, for example, smith1b.pdf if you are John Smith turning in Homework 1B. To upload a homework click on Assignments, click on the particular homework number, 2
and upload your single pdf file. Homework is due on the dates and times indicated in the course schedule in this syllabus. No late homeworks are accepted. Exam Content and Procedures: Exams are multiple choice; the midterms each last 90 minutes and contain 18 problems, and the final lasts 150 minutes and contains 30 problems. Exam 1 covers Chapters 2 and 3 (Homeworks 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B), Exam 2 covers Chapters 4 and 5 (Homeworks 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B), and the final exam is cumulative for the entire course. For the first exam you may bring 2 sheets of notes (4 sides of paper); for the second, 4 sheets of notes (the two sheets from the first exam plus two new sheets) plus a Q table (available on Blackboard), and for the final, 5 sheets (the four sheets from previous exams plus one new sheet) plus the Q table. No equations are provided on any exam. Your exam sheets may contain theory, examples from the notes, homework problems, etc., but must not contain problems or answers from past exams. In addition to the notes sheets and Q table, you should bring a calculator (the calculator must not have communications capability) and a scantron form (more details below). Exam Administration: Exams must be taken remotely with a proctor. Detailed information regarding proctors is given in a later section of this syllabus. Proctors must complete a proctor form (also in this syllabus) by the date indicated in the course schedule and be approved by me. Without proctor approval, a student will be unable to take exams. You must download a copy of the Clemson OMR sheet (Scantron) from Blackboard. When you finish your exams, your proctor must scan your test, OMR sheet, photo ID (University ID or driver s license), and notes sheets into pdf and email them to me. Midterm 1: Tuesday, July 5, 90 minutes duration Start time: 11:30 a.m. EST End time: 1:00 p.m. EST Email deadline for proctored exams: 2:00 p.m. EST Midterm 2: Tuesday, July 19, 90 minutes duration Start time: 11:30 a.m. EST End time: 1:00 p.m. EST Email deadline for proctored exams: 2:00 p.m. EST Final: Friday, July 29, 150 minutes duration Start time: 11:30 a.m. EST End time: 2:00 p.m. EST Email deadline for proctored exams: 3:00 p.m. EST Academic Integrity: Anyone caught in an act of academic dishonesty (cheating) will be penalized in accordance with Clemson University Academic Regulations. Disputing Grades: A student wishing to dispute a grade on homework or a test must do so by emailing the professor within 72 hours of the time that the item receives a grade in Blackboard. Appeals made after this deadline will not be considered. Disability Access: It is University policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable accommodations to students who have disabilities. If you are such a student, you are encouraged to contact Student Disability Services to discuss your individual needs for accommodation, obtain a letter if appropriate, and then discuss these needs with me. In order to obtain accommodations, you must notify me no later than the end of the second week of class. 3
Statement of Instructor/Student Interaction: Live telephone-based office hours are available every weekday (except for exam dates). Summary Topical Outline: 1. Introduction 2. The Fourier transform applied to communications: signal concepts, Fourier transforms, energy, power, periodic signals, linear time-invariant systems, correlation, spectral densities. 3. Amplitude, angle, and pulse modulation: amplitude modulation with and without carriers, quadrature multiplexing, frequency and phase modulation, pulse amplitude and position modulation. 4. Baseband data and digital bandpass modulation: sampling and quantization, pulse code modulation, delta modulation, differential PCM, line codes, intersymbol interference, Nyquist channel, raised cosine signaling, eye patterns, equalization, partial repsonse signaling, signal space concepts, amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying, QPSK, OQPSK, MSK, signal design for noncoherent reception, M-ary signaling. 5. Random signals and noise: probability and random variables, random procsses, correlation and spectral densities, effects of filtering, detection theory. 6. Noise analysis of communication systems: noise in AM and FM, FM pre-emphasis, coherent baseband detection, coherent bandpass detection, detection and performance with block and convolutional coding, noise figure and temperature, link calculations, terrestrial radio models. Summer Session II, 2016 Course Schedule: Date Day Assignments Item Due Time Due 06/22 Wed. 1.1-2.2 (none) 06/23 Thu. 2.3-2.4 H1A 11:00 p.m. EST 06/24 Fri. 2.5-2.6 (none) 06/27 Mon. 2.7-2.8 H1B 11:00 p.m. EST 06/28 Tue. 3.1-3.2 Proctor form 11:00 p.m. EST 06/29 Wed. 3.3-3.4 H2A 11:00 p.m. EST 06/30 Thu. 3.5-3.6 H2B 11:00 p.m. EST 07/01 Fri. Study day (none) 07/04 Mon. Holiday (none) 07/05 Tue. Midterm 1 Midterm 1 2:00 p.m. EST 07/06 Wed. 4.1-4.2 (none) 07/07 Thu. 4.3 (none) 07/08 Fri. 4.4-4.5 H3A 11:00 p.m. EST 07/11 Mon. 4.6-4.7 (none) 07/12 Tue. 4.8-4.9 H3B 11:00 p.m. EST 07/13 Wed. 5.1-5.2 H4A 11:00 p.m. EST 07/14 Thu. 5.3-5.4 (none) 07/15 Fri. 5.5 H4B 11:00 p.m. EST 07/18 Mon. Study day (none) 07/19 Tue. Midterm 2 Midterm 2 2:00 p.m. EST 07/20 Wed. 6.1-6.2 (none) 07/21 Thu. 6.3-6.4 (none) 07/22 Fri. 6.5 H5A 11:00 p.m. EST 07/25 Mon. 6.6-6.7 (none) 07/26 Tue. 6.8-6.9 H5B 11:00 p.m. EST 07/27 Wed. Study day (none) 07/28 Thu. Study day (none) 07/29 Fri. Final Exam Final Exam 3:00 p.m. EST 4
Proctor Eligibility: A proctor is an individual who is appointed to supervise and monitor students as they take exams, thus ensuring a secure environment free of distractions and/or resources that might compromise the integrity of the exam. They also ensure that the exam is taken within the allotted time duration. Acceptable proctors are those who have an appropriate level of credentials to administer a collegelevel exam. A student s choice of proctor must be submitted by the deadline in the syllabus. Examples of preferred proctors include testing center staff, librarians, professors or teachers, supervisors, and supervisory-level human resources representatives. Note that proctor approval is a subjective process and that the instructor reserves the right to reject a proctor deemed unsuitable for any reason. (If your choice of proctor is rejected, you will be informed of the reason.) 1. A proctor must be unrelated to the student and cannot be a friend, roommate, or neighbor of the student. In addition, the proctor cannot be a student of any kind, including a graduate student or a postdoctoral associate, even if he or she also teaches classes. 2. Individual proctors can only supervise ONE student taking exams. Only testing centers are permitted to proctor more than one student. 3. Proctors must be personally able to (1) print pdf files (2) scan papers into pdf no other file formats are permitted and (3) have access to email for receiving and sending exams, all of these at the times of the exams. 4. On the proctor form, proposed proctors must provide a work-based email; public email (such as gmail or hotmail) is not acceptable and will result in rejection of the proposed proctor. 5. On the proctor form, proposed proctors must provide a link to their employer s web site that lists their name, position, and contact information including their email address. Failure to do so will result in a rejection of the proctor. In some cases alternate means of verification will be permitted, but only upon approval BEFORE submitting the proctor form. 6. The times and procedures for taking exams are NOT negotiable. If your proctor does not return the exam by the required deadline or if the proctor does not uphold the requirements of the proctor form in any other manner, you will receive a zero on that exam and be forbidden from using that proctor on future exams. 7. Submission of a proctor form that is fraudulent in any manner (for example, if the person applying to be a proctor is actually a student) will result in the proctor request being denied and the student will be unable to take exams. 5
Proctor Request Procedure: 1. Identify a suitable person to be a proctor, giving them pages 5 and 7 of this syllabus. If they agree that they are willing and suitable, fill out items 1 and 2 on page 7 for them. 2. Have your person complete page 7, scan it into pdf and email it to me before the proctor form deadline. 3. Within 48 hours I will send an email to you and the proctor stating whether your proctor request has been approved or rejected. Rejections either occur because the potential proctor has not provided the required information on the form or because the proctor does not meet one of the requirements. (Not having a work-based email account with one s employer and not having a web page or other non-falsifiable way to provide verification of employment are the two most common situations in the latter case; choose someone else to be a proctor if this is your situation.) 4. If your initial request has been rejected, you have until 48 hours after the original proctor form deadline to submit a second proctor request (either with the first proposed proctor or with another person). Because there is a limited amount of time before the date of the first exam, a maximum of two attempts to gain approval is permitted. After this, no additional proctor requests will be considered and you will be unable to take exams. Similarly, you will be unable to take exams if you do not meet the initial deadline for submitting the proctor approval form. (In some cases, short extensions to the deadline will be approved but only if the request is made prior to the deadline and only if there is a compelling reason.) Common questions regarding proctors: What if my proctor isn t there at the exam start time on exam day or otherwise violates some of the instructions? You will receive a zero on that exam and be required to take your remaining exams at a university testing center. You will need to get your testing center approved in the manner required for your original proctor (two attempts maximum). It is your responsibility to choose a reliable and responsible proctor. Clemson University is not responsible for consequences related to the actions of your proctor, so choose your proctor carefully. Examples of practices that will result in the above consequences include the proctor turning in the exam past the deadline, the student not showing their work on the exam itself, correct answers on multiple problems without work shown on the exam, and evidence of collaboration. What if there is an unexpected emergency? You must call or email me BEFORE the exam begins or no accommodation will be made. The degree to which an accommodation can be made will depend on the exact nature of the emergency. What if I will be away on business on one of the test dates? You can arrange a proctor for that particular exam at your business location subject to the requirements for deadlines and approval. What if I cannot find a single proctor for all three exams? If necessary, you can have different proctors on different exams. Each proctor must submit a proctor form and is subject to the requirements for deadlines and approval. What if I am having trouble finding a proctor? It is your responsibility to find a proctor. Look up each university or college in your area and see if they have a testing center that can work with you; in such cases, the main administrator of the testing center should fill out the form. Another possibility is a university library; in this case, the proctor must be a reasonably high-level employee and cannot be a student. (A student can never be a proctor.) 6
ECE 4270 Online: Communication Systems Summer Session II, 2016 PROCTOR APPROVAL/AGREEMENT FORM Scan into pdf and email to Prof. Carl Baum at baumc@clemson.edu Thank you for being willing to serve as a proctor in ECE 4270 for Clemson University. The student should provide lines (1) and (2) for you. Read page 5 of the syllabus before completing this form. Every line must be completed or the proctor request will be rejected. Questions? Email baumc@clemson.edu BEFORE submitting this form; the student is only permitted TWO attempts to gain proctor approval. Keep a copy for your records. (1) Name of student (2) Clemson email address of student (3) Your name (4) Name of your employer (5) Address where you will proctor exams including city, state/province, zip (6) Your work or cell phone number (7) Your work-based email (no gmail etc.) (8) Work web page address that lists your name and email (9) Work email address to which exams should be sent (can be same as #7) Circle at left only the tests you personally (or your testing center) will be proctoring. TEST 1 TEST 2 FINAL Tuesday, July 5. Start: 11:30 a.m. EST. End: 1:00 p.m. EST. Deadline for emailing scanned exam materials: 2:00 p.m. EST Tuesday, July 19. Start: 11:30 a.m. EST. End: 1:00 p.m. EST. Deadline for emailing scanned exam materials: 2:00 p.m. EST Friday, July 29. Start: 11:30 a.m. EST. End: 2:00 p.m. EST. Deadline for emailing scanned exam materials: 3:00 p.m. EST Please circle an answer in each case below. An answer of YES on every question is required. YES NO Exams will be emailed to the proctor in pdf one hour before each exam. I will print out the exam before it starts. YES NO I will abide by the above start and finish times for the exams. YES NO At the conclusion of the exams I will scan (1) the student s completed scantron form (2) the student s exam with work shown (3) the student s picture ID (4) the student s notes sheets into pdf and email the pdf files by the deadlines above. YES NO I will not provide any assistance during the exams or allow anyone else to provide assistance. YES NO I will verify that the student has no more than 2 sheets of notes at the first exam, 4 sheets at the second exam, and 6 at the final. Calculators without wireless communications capability are permitted. Internet use, computers, phones, etc. are prohibited. YES NO I will REMOVE all wireless communications and internet devices from the student for the duration of the exam. This is absolutely critical. YES NO I will periodically check on the student during the exam. I certify that everything above is accurate, and that I am not a student, not related to the student, nor am I a friend, roommate, or neighbor of the student. (Sign and date): A proctor cannot be an undergraduate student, graduate student, or postdoctoral associate. 7