Study the fundamentals of analog and digital modulation, various transmission media, and the principles of signal integrity in modern communication systems.
Course overview
This course introduces the core concepts behind how information travels from one point to another. You will explore both analog and digital modulation techniques, learning how data is encoded onto carrier signals for efficient transmission. The curriculum covers a range of transmission media, from traditional copper wiring to modern fiber optic cables and wireless systems.
A major focus of the course is signal integrity. You will study how noise, attenuation, and interference degrade signals and what engineers do to preserve data quality over distance. Through a combination of theoretical analysis and practical laboratory work, you will gain the skills needed to design and evaluate basic communication links.
Who takes this course
ELEC 2240 is an elective open to students in the Electrical & Electronics Engineering Technology program. It is also available as an elective for students in the Electrical Engineering Technology and Electrical Engineering Technology (Part-time) programs, subject to departmental approval and prerequisite completion.
Credits: 3 · Hours: 45
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
- Explain the principles of amplitude, frequency, and phase modulation for analog signals.
- Analyze the performance characteristics of digital modulation schemes such as PSK and QAM.
- Evaluate different transmission media, including copper, fiber optic, and wireless channels.
- Identify sources of signal noise and interference and calculate signal-to-noise ratios.
- Apply techniques for maintaining signal integrity over long-distance transmission links.
- Design basic receiver and transmitter blocks for simple communication applications.
Evaluation
| Component | Weight (%) |
| Midterm exam | 30 |
| Laboratory reports and practicals | 30 |
| Final examination | 40 |