11/21/2024 3:36:03 AM	ELEC 167 Course Outline as of Fall 2020	Reinstated Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  ELEC 167	Title:  RF COMMUNICATIONS
Full Title:  Radio Frequency and Wireless Communications
Last Reviewed:3/9/2020

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	2.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	35.00
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	3.00		8 min.	Lab Scheduled	52.50
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	5.00			Contact Total	87.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  ELEC 67A

Catalog Description:

An introductory course in theory and practice of radio frequency and wireless communication technologies.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion of ELEC 54B

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

An introductory course in theory and practice of radio frequency and wireless communication technologies.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:Course Completion of ELEC 54B
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Describe the various modulation techniques used in two-way and point-to-point microwave

    communications

2.  Describe the function of key circuits used in radio frequency (RF) transmitters and receivers

3.  Evaluate transmission signals, transmission lines, and antennas

4.  Utilize network antenna analyzer for performance sweeps of antennas and transmission lines

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Construct and analyze fundamental circuits used in RF communication devices

2. Perform measurements of various radio parameters such as deviation, carrier frequency,

    receive sensitivity, forward and reflected power

3. Assemble coaxial connectors onto braided and heliax cable types

4. Assemble ethernet cables and perform microwave dish alignments

5. Test and identify common faults within coaxial cables and antennas

6. Identify and operate common test equipment used in communications system

Topics and Scope

I. Fundamentals of Communications

    A. Understanding of decibels in gain and attenuation

    B. Tuned circuits

    C. Filters

    D. Phase Locked Loop

    E. Fourier theory

    F. Wavelength and critical cable length

II. Modulation Fundamentals

    A. Amplitude modulation (AM)

         1. Modulation index

         2. Single sideband modulation

    B. Frequency modulation (FM)

         1. Phase modulation

         2. Modulation index and sidebands

    C. Digital modulation (DM)

         1. Digital coding

         2. FSK, QPSK, QAM

         3. FDMA, TDMA, CDMA

III. RF Propagation and Path Analyses - Antennas Systems

    A. RF wave propagation

    B. Common antenna types and patterns

    C. Microwave and waveguide systems

    D. Transmission lines and connector types

    E. Construction and best practices to installation

    F. Performance testing

 

Laboratory Material:

I.     Crystal filters

II.    AM modulation and demodulation

III.   Differential modulator

IV.   FM modulation and demodulation

V.    Phase Locked Loop

VI.   Class C amplifier and RF mixers

VII.  Transmission lines and connectors

VIII. Cable loss, distance to fault measurements

IX.    Complex load measurements

X.     Radio performance and FCC testing

Assignments:

Lecture-Related Assignments:

1. Assigned readings (20-30 pages per week)

2. Homework: collect, analyze, and validate data against spec sheets and by calculations

    (1-2 per week)

3. Quizzes (2-4); exam(s) (0-2)

4. Final exam

 

Lab-Related Assignments:

1. Weekly lab participation

2. Write lab reports (8-14)

3. Skill demonstration(s) (1-2)

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 20 - 30%
Lab Reports
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 30 - 40%
Homework
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 10 - 20%
Skill demonstration(s)
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 20 - 30%
Quizzes, 0 -2 exam(s), final exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 10%
Lab participation

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Principles of Electronic Communications Systems. 4th ed. Frenzel Jr, Louis. McGraw Hill. 2015 (classic)

 

Experiments Manual for Principles of Electronic Communications Systems. 4th ed. Frenzel Jr, Louis. McGraw Hill. 2015 (classic)

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