Satellite Communications, Data Communications, and Simulation

Satellite Communications, Data Communications and Simulation AbstractWe describe two third-year level laboratory projects used in a linear systems and signalprocessing course. These projects can be used in communication, computer network andinformation systems courses, as well. The two projects addr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAssociation for Engineering Education - Engineering Library Division Papers p. 22.1270.1
Main Authors Aburdene, Maurice F, Nepal, Kundan
Format Conference Proceeding
LanguageEnglish
Published Atlanta American Society for Engineering Education-ASEE 26.06.2011
Subjects
Bandwidths
Computer networks
Computer simulation
Data transmission
Delay
Fading
Fourier analysis
Ground stations
Linear systems
Matlab
Phasors
Satellite communications
Students
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Summary:Satellite Communications, Data Communications and Simulation AbstractWe describe two third-year level laboratory projects used in a linear systems and signalprocessing course. These projects can be used in communication, computer network andinformation systems courses, as well. The two projects address topics that are common inboth satellite and computer network data communications.The satellite communications project provides excellent applications of importantconcepts of signals: time shift, amplitude scaling, delay, echoes, and fading. Weintroduced students to a satellite communication system where a signal is transmittedfrom a ground transmitter, received by the satellite after some delay, and reflected back tothe ground receiver. Students analyzed the signal received by the ground station as thesum of the signal sent from the station and the signal reflected back from the satellite.This interesting project helped students to review sinusoidal signals, phasors, power, andto understand the effect of delays, echoes and fading. In addition, the students simulatedthe system using Matlab and Simulink, while getting to implement fundamental conceptsthey had previously learned in earlier courses.The second project focused on Fourier analysis of periodic signals and applications todata communication. Students were given the task of analyzing an 8-bit ASCII character,transmitted at a particular bit rate over a communication link with a given bandwidth.Specifically, students determined the harmonic content and time-response of both thetransmitted and received signals. Students programmed the Agilent 33220A 20 MHzFunction Generator to create the ASCII character and designed a filter to view andanalyze the output response. Students also used MATLAB and Simulink to simulate thecommunication model. This project reinforced concepts of periodic signals, Fourierseries, harmonics, phase shift, signal power, bit rate, link bandwidth, Nyquist's theoremand Shannon’s theorem for data transmission on a noisy channel.