Introductory Communication Systems Course Using SDR

Course Materials for an Introductory Analog and Digital Communications Systems Course using MathWorks-Supported Software-Defined Radio

This package contains course materials for an introductory analog and digital communications systems course taught to undergraduate electrical and computer engineering students. An integral part of the course design is a series of laboratory modules through which students explore course topics using low-cost SDR hardware (e.g., RTL-SDR or ADALM-PLUTO) and MATLAB/Simulink software tools. Using these laboratory exercises, students implement various communication systems and investigate real-world communication signals.

The download package includes complete Laboratory documentation, as well as additional Simulink models and MATLAB scripts for use in lecture sessions.

Course syllabus:

Topic 1: Introduction to Communication Systems
- Introduction to Software-Defined Radio
- RTL-SDR and ADALM-PLUTO Installations
- Spectrum Analyzer using SDR

Topic 2: Amplitude Modulation
- Observing Amplitude Modulated Waveforms using SDR
- QAM Transceiver Simulation
- DSB Large Carrier Receiver using SDR
- DSB Large Carrier Transmitter using SDR

Topic 3: Frequency Modulation
- Investigating Broadcast FM Radio Signals using SDR
- Passband FM Modulator Simulation
- Baseband FM Communication System Simulation
- Observing and Demodulation FM Waveforms using SDR
- Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) Receiver using SDR

Topic 4: Digital Communication
- Observing Digital Carrier Modulated Waveforms using SDR
- Bit Error Rate Simulation
- BSPK Receiver: Carrier Synchronization and Symbol Timing Recovery using SDR
- DBPSK Communication using SDR

Topic 5: Spread Spectrum Communications
- DSSS Simulation
- Code Division Multiplexing Simulation
- DSSS BPSK Communication using SDR

Topic 6: Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
- Multicarrier Communications Simulation
- FFT Processing for OFDM Modulation and Demodulation
- IEEE 802.11a WiFi Waveforms