ECE 4270 Online: Communication Systems
Summer Session II, 2016
Prof. Carl Baum, Clemson University
Phone: See Blackboard. Email: baumc@clemson.edu.
Telephone-Based Office Hours: See Blackboard
Welcome to ECE 4270!
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
1st Midterm Exam
2nd Midterm Exam
Final Exam
10%
20%
20%
50%
A
B
C
D
90%
80%
70%
60%
–
–
–
–
100%
89%
79%
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.
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Statement of Instructor/Student Interaction:
Live telephone-based office hours are available every weekday (except for exam dates).
Summary Topical Outline:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Introduction
The Fourier transform applied to communications: signal concepts, Fourier transforms,
energy, power, periodic signals, linear time-invariant systems, correlation, spectral densities.
Amplitude, angle, and pulse modulation: amplitude modulation with and without carriers, quadrature multiplexing, frequency and phase modulation, pulse amplitude and position
modulation.
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.
Random signals and noise: probability and random variables, random procsses, correlation
and spectral densities, effects of filtering, detection theory.
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
06/22
06/23
06/24
06/27
06/28
06/29
06/30
07/01
07/04
07/05
07/06
07/07
07/08
07/11
07/12
07/13
07/14
07/15
07/18
07/19
07/20
07/21
07/22
07/25
07/26
07/27
07/28
07/29
Day
Wed.
Thu.
Fri.
Mon.
Tue.
Wed.
Thu.
Fri.
Mon.
Tue.
Wed.
Thu.
Fri.
Mon.
Tue.
Wed.
Thu.
Fri.
Mon.
Tue.
Wed.
Thu.
Fri.
Mon.
Tue.
Wed.
Thu.
Fri.
Assignments
1.1-2.2
2.3-2.4
2.5-2.6
2.7-2.8
3.1-3.2
3.3-3.4
3.5-3.6
Study day
Holiday
Midterm 1
4.1-4.2
4.3
4.4-4.5
4.6-4.7
4.8-4.9
5.1-5.2
5.3-5.4
5.5
Study day
Midterm 2
6.1-6.2
6.3-6.4
6.5
6.6-6.7
6.8-6.9
Study day
Study day
Final Exam
Item Due
(none)
H1A
(none)
H1B
Proctor form
H2A
H2B
(none)
(none)
Midterm 1
(none)
(none)
H3A
(none)
H3B
H4A
(none)
H4B
(none)
Midterm 2
(none)
(none)
H5A
(none)
H5B
(none)
(none)
Final Exam
4
Time Due
11:00 p.m. EST
11:00
11:00
11:00
11:00
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
p.m.
EST
EST
EST
EST
2:00 p.m. EST
11:00 p.m. EST
11:00 p.m. EST
11:00 p.m. EST
11:00 p.m. EST
2:00 p.m. EST
11:00 p.m. EST
11:00 p.m. EST
3:00 p.m. EST
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
YES
YES
NO
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
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.
I will abide by the above start and finish times for the exams.
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.
I will not provide any assistance during the exams or allow anyone else to provide assistance.
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.
I will REMOVE all wireless communications and internet devices from the student for the
duration of the exam. This is absolutely critical.
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