Wireless Communications

General

Educational goals

The main objective of the course is to introduce the basic principles of modern wireless communication systems, to analyze the operation and the basic components of such systems and to offer the students the means to deal with pertinent applications. By the successful completion of the course the student should be able to:

  • Calculate the fundamental parameters of an antenna (radiated power, radiation intensity, directivity etc.).
  • Compare the characteristics (pros and cons) of antennas and propose the most appropriate antenna for a specific apllication.
  • Evaluate the propagation models and apply the most appropriate model for the calculation of path losses of a wireless link.
  • Assess the performance of a wireless communication system, based on specific quality criteria.
  • Calculate the link budget and propose specific techniques for its improvement.
  • Explain the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of contemporary multiplexing and multiple access techniques.
  • Understand international terminology and specifications.
General Skills
  • Search, analysis and synthesis of information by using the appropriate means and technology.
  • Desicion making.
  • Independent and cooperative work.
  • Respect to the natural environment.
  • Criticism and self-criticism ability.
  • Free, creative and inductive thinking.

Course Contents

Introduction: Electromagnetic (EM) spectrum and applications. General description of a contemporary wireless communication system.

Antennas: Far field parameters (radiation power density, total radiated power, radiation intensity, radiation pattern, half-power beamwidth, directivity, gain). Reciprocity. Polarization. Input impedance-resonance-standing wave ratio. Infinitesimal dipole and linear wire antennas. Linear arrays. Modern antennas and applications.

Propagation of radiowaves: Propagation mechanisms. Free-space propagation. Knife-edge diffraction losses. Attenuation by rain and atmospheric gases. Depolarization of radiowaves. Radiation of an antenna located over a flat earth. Multipath and fading. Large and small scale fading. Frequency selective and non-selective channels. Link budget.

Wireless tranceivers: Modulation and frequency translation, Transceiver architectures and characteristics (non-linearities, intermodulation, noise figure, receiver sensitivity), Link budget,

Digital modulation and detection: M-ary digital modulation/demodulation techniques (MQAM, MPSK, MFSK).  Optimum receiver architectures. Performance of digital modulation over AWGN and fading channels. Calculation and analysis of quality parameters of wireless communication systems. Introduction to diversity and MIMO techniques.

Mutliplexing and multiple access techniques: Duplexing (FDD, TDD, Half FDD), Multiplexing (FDM, TDM, SM), Orthogonal and non-orthogonal multiple access (TDMA, FDMA, SDMA, NOMA), random access (ALOHA, CSMA/CA), OFDM.

Teaching Methods - Evaluation

Teaching Method
  • Lectures in the classroom.
  • Laboratory/practice exercises in the laboratory room (small teams).
Use of ICT means
  • Power point presentations.
  • Moodle.
  • Tools for simulation of wireless communication systems.
  • Use of spectrum analyzer for antenna measurements.
  • Electronic communication with students.
Teaching Organization
Activity Semester workload
Lectures52
Laboratory/practical exercises26
Preparation for laboratory exercises26
Small projects and technical reports26
Literature analysis, individual study and problem solving50
Total 180
Students evaluation

Α. Final written examination (WΕ) (60%)
- Problem solving and calculations.
- Comparative evaluation of various systems/situations relative to wireless communications.

Β. Laboratory projects and technical reports (LΕ) (40%)

The final score of the course (WΕ*0,6+ LΕ*0,4) should be at least five (5). Moreover, WE and LE individual scores should be at least four (4).

The evaluation criteria are listed in the webpage of the course and are explained to the students in the classroom.

Recommended Bibliography

Recommended Bibliography through "Eudoxus"
  1. (Ελληνικά) Π. Κωττής, Π. Αράπογλου, "Ασύρματες Επικοινωνίες", Εκδόσεις Α. Τζιόλα & Υοί ΑΕ, 2010, ISBN: 978-960-418-268-8, Κωδικός Βιβλίου στον Εύδοξο: 18548835.
  2. R. Heath, "Εισαγωγή στην Ασύρματη Ψηφιακή Επικοινωνία", Εκδόσεις Χ. Γκιούρδα & Σια ΕΕ, 2018, ISBN: 978-960-512-7084, Κωδικός Βιβλίου στον Εύδοξο: 77107209.
  3. Α. Κανάτας και Γ. Πάντος, "Ασύρματες Επικοινωνίες", Εκδόσεις Α. Παπασωτηρίου & Σια ΙΚΕ, 2017, 2η έκδ., ISBN: 978-960-491-112-7, Κωδικός Βιβλίου στον Εύδοξο: 68393538.
Complementary greek bibliography
  1. (Ελληνικά) D. Tse, P. Viswanath, "Βασικές Αρχές Ασύρματης Επικοινωνίας", Εκδόσεις Κλειδάριθμος ΕΠΕ, 2009, ISBN: 978-960-461-228-4.
  2. B. Sklar, "Ψηφιακές Επικοινωνίες", Εκδόσεις Α. Παπασωτηρίου & Σια ΟΕ, 2η εκδ., 2011, ISBN: 978-960-491-019-9.
  3. Γ. Ευθύμογλου, «Προσομοίωση και Επίδοση Τηλεπικοινωνιακών Συστημάτων», Σύνδεσμος Ελληνικών Ακαδημαϊκών Βιβλιοθηκών (www.kallipos.gr), 2015, ISBN: 978-960-603-062-8.
  4. Ν. Μήτρου, «Ψηφιακές Επικοινωνίες: Συνοπτική Θεωρία και Εργαστήριο», Σύνδεσμος Ελληνικών Ακαδημαϊκών Βιβλιοθηκών (www.kallipos.gr), 2015, ISBN: 978-960-603-299-8.
  5. W. Stallings, C. Beard, «Ασύρματες Επικοινωνίες, Δίκτυα και Συστήματα», Εκδόσεις Α. Τζιόλα & Υοί Α.Ε., 2016, ISBN: 978-960-418-549-8.
  6. C.A. Balanis, "Κεραίες-Ανάλυση και Σχεδίαση", Εκδόσεις Στέλλα Παρίκου & ΣΙΑ ΟΕ, 2005, ISBN: 978-960-411-509-9.
  7. J. Kraus και R. Marhefka, "Κεραίες", Εκδόσεις Α. Τζιόλα & Υοί ΑΕ, 2015 , 3η έκδ., ISBN: 978-960-418-510-8.
  8. Σ.Α. Πακτίτης και Α.Α. Νασιόπουλος, "Εισαγωγή στη Διάδοση Ηλεκτρομαγνητικών Κυμάτων", Εκδόσεις Στέλλα Παρίκου & ΣΙΑ Ο.Ε., 2007, ISBN: 978-960-411-650-8.
Complementary international bibliography
  1. B. Sklar, "Digital Communications: Fundamentals and Applications", Prentice Hall, 2017, 2nd ed., ISBN: 978-0134724058.
  2. A.F. Molisch, “Wireless Communications", John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 2011, 2nd ed., ISBN: 9780470741870.
  3. A. Goldsmith, “Wireless Communications”, Cambridge University Press, 2005, ISBN: 9780511841224.
  4. G. Kalivas, “Digital Radio System Design”, John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2009, ISBN 9780470847091.
  5. S.K. Das and A. Das, “Antenna and Wave Propagation”, Tata Mc-Graw Hill Education, 2013.
  6. W.L. Stutzman and G.A. Thiele, “Antenna Theory and Design”, Wiley, 2013 (3rd ed.).
  7. T. Manning, “Microwave Radio Transmission Design Guide”, Artech House, 2nd ed., 2009, ISBN: 9781596934566.
Scientific journals
  1. ΙΕΕΕ Communications Magazine
  2. IEEE Wireless Communications
  3. IEEE Transactions on Communications
  4. IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications
  5. IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials
  6. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation
  7. IET Microwaves, Antennas and Propagation