Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Communications Technology 1
Module Code	CT1
School	Oscail
Online Module Resources
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	15
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

Array

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the history of telegraphy, telephony, communications networks and the origin of the Internet.
2. Explain the theoretical principles of different networks types and the Internet, including different switching types and the basic principles of broadband internet services, including ADSL modems.
3. Define and explain the core theory behind electrical circuits and use this theory to calculate the resistance, voltage, current and power dissipation in series and parallel resistor networks.
4. Explain the principles of number systems (decimal, hexadecimal), represent the same number under different systems, and mathematically operate on integers in the binary number system.
5. Define and explain the principles of electric fields, capacitance and inductance, and calculate the forces on electric charges situated in an electric field and the work done in moving such charges.
6. Define and explain the core concepts of magnetism, sketch the magnetic field patterns surrounding simple permanent magnets, and perform calculations involving magnetic flux and magnetic flux density.
7. Explain the major types of transmission media and their construction (including twisted-pair cables, coaxial cables, optical fibre and wireless links) and describe the advantages of these different media and their role in communications systems.
8. Describe logic gate, symbolic and truth-table representations of basic digital circuits and analyse simple combinational and sequential logic circuits.
9. Detail the different types of semiconductor memory and their operation.
10. Describe the principles of digital communications, including logical and physical circuits, serial and parallel transmission of data and information/transmission rates.
11. Describe the fundamentals of signals and the real-world physical effects of noise, distortion and attenuation on digital transmissions
12. Describe the core concepts of communication networks, including switching, topologies and the ISO OSI reference model, and demonstrate awareness of the trade-off between quality, performance and cost.
13. Describe the physical operation of wireless networks, including point-to-point microwave systems, cellular systems and wireless LANs.

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Tutorial	16	No Description
On-line learning	16	No Description
Independent learning	343	No Description
Total Workload: 375

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Telecommunications and the Development of Networks.
INTRODUCTION Early History of Communications The Telegraph The Telephone Manually Operated Telephone Exchanges Electromechanical Exchanges Common Control Exchanges Digital Exchanges The Development of Wireless Telegraphy Telecommunications and the Computer Network Classifications Network Management Private Branch Exchange (PBX) Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) Public Data Networks (PDNs) ISDN Local Loop and Unbundling Broadband Services Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) Cable Modems The Internet SIGNALS Number Systems Binary Number System Conversion from Binary to Decimal Conversion from Decimal to Binary Binary Addition Binary Subtraction Signed Binary Numbers Hexadecimal Numbers Signals Analogue Signals Digital Signals Frequency Content of a Signal Analogue to Digital Conversion Sampling Quantisation Digital to Analogue Converters (DACS) Waves Describing waves Light Waves Electromagnetic Waves ELECTRONICS The Nature of Electricity The Atomic Description of Electricity Principle of Charge Conservation Electric Current Electric circuits Electromotive Force and Potential Difference DC Circuits Resistance and OHM’S Law Resistivity Resistors in Series Resistors in Parallel Kirchoff’s Laws AC electricity Sinusoidal Waveforms Magnetism Magnetic Fields Magnetic Flux and Flux Density Electromagnetic Fields Magnetic Field Due to a Current in a long Straight Conductor Magnetic Field Due to a Current in a Solenoid Semiconductors – The P N Junction Unbiased Junction Forward Biased Junction Reverse Biased Junction Junction Diode Light Emitting Diode (LED) Photodiode Semiconductors – The Bipolar Transistor Construction and Operation Digital Electronics Boolean Algebra De Morgan’s Theorems Circuit Simplification using Boolean Algebra Binary Adders Decoders Encoders Logic Families & Semiconductor Memory IC Packaging IC Complexity IC Technologies Memory DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS What is Communication? Information and Data Channel Types Circuit Types Transmission Methods Communication Link Configurations Modems Multiplexers Modulation Transmission Speeds The Nature of Information Entropy Information Rate Information and Channel Capacity TRANSMISSION MEDIA Twisted Pair Cables Coaxial Cable Optical Fibres Wireless Links Transmission – Media and Signals Characteristics of Ideal Media Crosstalk Echoes Signal Robustness and Noise Noise Signal to Noise Ratio Attenuation Delays Error Detection and Correction Information Transmission Speeds Bandwidth Sources of Electrical Noise The Problem of Noise Man Made Noise Atmospheric Noise Cosmic Noise Thermal Noise NETWORKS Communication Networks Communication Systems Elements of Communication Systems Networks Basic Network Structures Multipoint Circuits Basic Network Topologies Hybrid Systems Switched Networks Non Switched Networks Comparison Between Switched and Non Switched Networks Basic Requirements in Network Design Terminal Equipment Function Summary of Communication Networks The TCP/IP Model Network Applications LAN Protocols Ethernet Storage Area Networks TCP/IP Protocol Internet Protocol IP Addresses Subnetting and CIDR Internet Protocol Version Transmission Control Protocol User Datagram Protocol Network Management Network Management Network Management Protocols Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) Management Information Base OPTICAL COMMUNICATION Reflection of Light Refraction Refractive Index Critical Angle and Total Internal Reflection Dispersion Diffraction The Photoelectric Effect Introducing Optical Fibre Communication Typical Fibre Optic Communications System The Use of Fibre Optic Communications Structure of Fibre Propagation of Light in the Optical Fibre Type of Fibre Single Mode Fibre Optical Fibre Sizes Cable Construction Optical Fibre Attenuation and Dispersion Attenuation Pulse Spreading Cause of Pulse Spreading Splicing Transmission Sources for Fibre Systems Optical Detectors Pin Photodiodes Fibre Optic Systems Design Considerations WIRELESS NETWORKS Wireless Links Radio Links Antennas (Aerials) Satellite Communication Systems Infrared Links Microwave Communications Point to Point Microwave Transmission Satellite Communication Systems Cellular Networks Basic Principles Cellular Radio Network Structure Mobile Tracking and Hand Off The GSM Network GSM Area Networks GSM Specifications GSM Subscriber Services GSM Supplementary Services Roaming Mobile Data HSCSD GPRS Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE) Third Generation Wireless Systems Wireless LAN Wireless LAN Transmission Technologies Spread Spectrum Transmission Wireless LAN Hardware Bluetooth Bluetooth Topology .

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	40%	Examination Weight	60%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assignment	Three assignments over academic year	40%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 3

Indicative Reading List

Other Resources

None

Array

Programme or List of Programmes

BSc in Management of Info Syst/Info Tech

Diploma/BSc in Information Technology

ITS

Diploma/BSc in Information Technology

Timetable this semester: Timetable for CT1

Date of Last Revision

29-NOV-10