Introduction to Wireless Communication Systems

Course 235

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Summary

This seminar provides an overall view of wireless communications including commercial and military applications for Program Managers, Engineering Managers, and others that do not have a technical engineering background. This is a very informative class at a high level so managers that are involved or going to be involved with Wireless Communications can understand at a high level what the engineers and programs are developing. It includes high level descriptions, enough detail to understand the concepts with little math or analysis involved. This is focus towards spread spectrum systems, which is nearly all of communications today. It covers a wide range of data link communication techniques, including tradeoffs of the system including cost reduction and size reduction methods using a budget to determine what is needed for the wireless system. It discusses the advantages of digital systems that are used extensively today, receivers and transmitters, digital modulation and demodulation techniques of phase-shift keyed and frequency hopped spread spectrum systems using easy-to-understand phase diagrams. It also addresses gain control, high level probability, jamming reduction method using various adaptive processes, error detection and correction, global positioning systems (GPS) data link, and satellite communications. The course discusses broadband communications including Link 16, JTRS, military radios, and networking. It also includes commercial applications such as 3G, 4G, WiFi, WiMax, LTE and home networking. Various techniques and designs are evaluated for modulating and sending/receiving digital data. Thus the student gains a firm understanding of the processes needed to effectively understand wireless data link communication systems which is vital to their jobs.

Learning objectives

Upon completing the course you will be able to:

• Understand the tradeoffs in a Wireless Communications system using a simple tool called a Link Budget. This includes signal and noise evaluations.
• Understand the advantages between digital communications and analog communications. This includes different ways to modulate the carrier frequency such as Phase Shift Keying (BPSK, QPSK, etc), and also spread spectrum and its advantage to prevent inference from others.
• Learn the principles to separate users from each other by using time, frequency, code, and others.
• Learn how cell phones and other wireless communications handle near/far problems, adjacent channel interference, automatic gain control and dynamic range.
• Understand basic concepts such as Image Frequency, Group Delay (important with Digital Communications), Aliasing, Feedback which is necessary to understand digital communications.
• Learn about pulse position modulation and how to use it in burst communications. Examine the advantages and disadvantages of Absolute vs Differential.
• Understand the advantages and disadvantages of Coherent vs Differential that can be applied to all types of digital modulation.
• Learn about how to retrieve the data by eliminating the carrier and the spread spectrum code to achieve the desired data.
• Examine simple concepts to show the probability of errors in the system, and to detect and correct the errors for more reliable communications.
• Learn to minimize inter-system interference that causes unreliable detection of the data.
• Learn about the tradeoffs between high data rate modulations and lower more robust modulations.
• Examine difference types of Multi-path and how it affects digital communications and radar signals. Also show how antenna diversity can improve the signal against multipath.
• Learn techniques on how to remove unwanted signals from interfering with your signal.
• Understand the basic concepts for GPS and how it has become a commodity in the civilian community.
• Learn how satellites are used in providing digital communications. Also how older satellites are being used for unique applications. In addition, learn what satellites are available and what type of communications they provide.
• Examine communication techniques including 3G, 4G, Bluetooth, WiFi, WiMax, and LTE.
• Discover how multiple antennas are being used to increase the data rates and improve the signal quality using MIMO and others.
• Learn about different types of Networks that tie the communications together.
• Discuss Military radios including, Legacy Radios, JTRS, and Link 16.

Target Audience

This course will be of interest to Program Managers, Engineering Managers, Business and Finance Managers and others who are looking to understand both military and commercial Wireless Communications systems at a high level. This includes anyone wishing to be more effecting in dealing with customers, staff, and those working on these programs. It is also an excellent refresher course for those engineers that want to be more involved with Digital Communications in their careers.

Outline

Wireless Tradeoffs in Digital Communications Using a Link Budget

 • Understand the tradeoffs in a Wireless Communications system using a simple tool called a Link Budget. This includes signal and noise evaluations.

Digital Communication Advantages

 •  Understand the advantages between digital communications and analog communications. • Different ways to modulate the carrier frequency such as Phase Shift Keying (BPSK, QPSK, etc), and also spread spectrum and its advantage to prevent inference from others

Basic Principles of Digital Communications

 • Learn the principles to separate users from each other by using time, frequency, codes, and others. • Learn how cell phones and other wireless communications handle near/far problems, adjacent channel interference, automatic gain control and dynamic range. • Understand basic concepts such as Image Frequency, Group Delay (important with Digital Communications), Aliasing, Feedback which is necessary to understand digital communications.

Modulation Techniques used to Improve Communications

 • Learn about pulse position modulation and how to use it in burst communications. • Examine the advantages and disadvantages of Absolute vs Differential. • Understand the advantages and disadvantages of Coherent vs Differential that can be applied to all types of digital modulation.

Receiving the Signal and Detecting and Correction Errors

 • Learn about how to retrieve the data by eliminating the carrier and the spread spectrum code to achieve the desired data • Examine simple concepts to show the probability of errors in the system, and to detect and correct the errors for more reliable communications. • Learn to minimize inter-system interference that causes unreliable detection of the data.

Higher Data Rates vs More Robust Signal

 • Learn about the tradeoffs between high data rate modulations and lower more robust modulations.

Multipath, Antenna Diversity, and Removing Undesired Signals

 • Examine difference types of Multi-path and how it affects digital communications and radar signals. • Show how antenna diversity can improve the signal against multipath • Learn techniques on how to remove unwanted signals from interfering with your signal.

Satellite Communications and GPS

 • Understand the basic concepts for GPS and how it has become a commodity in the civilian community. • Learn how satellites are used in providing digital communications. Also how older satellites are being used for unique applications. In addition, learn what satellites are available and what type of communications they provide.

Commercial and Military Communications

 • Examine communication techniques including 3G, 4G, Bluetooth, WiFi, WiMax, and LTE. • Discover how multiple antennas are being used to increase the data rates and improve the signal quality using MIMO and others. • Learn about different types of Networks that tie the communications together. • Discuss Military radios including, Legacy Radios, JTRS, and Link 16.