Wireless Communications


EE 381K-11, Unique 16648, Spring 2009
Professor Ted Rappaport
TTH 2:00 - 3:30
ENS 306

Click Here for Spring 2009 Homework Assignments, Quiz Solutions, and Lecture Notes

Click Here for Class Announcements - *NEW* Presentation Schedule

Class Information

Introduction to fundamental aspects of wireless communications. Cellular system design, channel modeling, radio propagation, cellular concepts, fading and multipath countermeasures (equalization, diversity, channel coding), spread spectrum, and basic multiple access techniques.

Prerequisite

Graduate standing plus Electrical Engineering 351K and 360K, EE360K, or their equivalents.

Class Philosophy

This course is an excellent first year graduate course or senior elective, and provides you with the fundamentals of wireless communications as well as the opportunity to do a research project on a topic in wireless that you find interesting.

Instructor Information

Instructor: Dr. Ted. S. Rappaport
Office Location: ENS 433A
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 4:00 - 5:00, and Wednesdays, 4:00 - 5:00 (when I am in town), ENS 433A

Grader Information

Kristen Parrish
Email: kparrish@ece.utexas.edu
Office Location: ENS 402
Questions and Class Help: You may stop by her office (see Cassandra Clarke in ENS 433 if you need proximity access), or email for an appointment

Required Text

Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice, 2nd Edition
Theodore S. Rappaport
Prentice Hall, 2002
ISBN 9780130422323

Grading

Homework will be assigned and graded. Homework is due at the beginning of class. Your grade will be determined by homework and several quizzes to be given at the beginning of class. Quizzes shall be announced ahead of time, and shall follow the homework and examples in the text.

Honor Policy

Faculty in the ECE Department are committed to detecting and responding to all instances of scholastic dishonesty and will pursue cases of scholastic dishonesty in accordance with university policy. Scholastic dishonesty, in all its forms, is a blight on our entire academic community. All parties in our community -- faculty, staff, and students -- are responsible for creating an environment that educates outstanding engineers, and this goal entails excellence in technical skills, self-giving citizenry, and ethical integrity. Industry wants engineers who are competent and fully trustworthy, and both qualities must be developed day by day throughout an entire lifetime. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic records, or any act designed to give an unfair academic advantage to the student. Penalties for scholastic dishonesty are severe and can include, but are not limited to, a written reprimand, a zero on the assignment/exam, re-taking the exam in question, an F in the course, or expulsion from the University. Please do not jeopardize your career by an act of scholastic dishonesty. Details about academic integrity and what constitutes scholastic dishonesty can be found at the website for the UT Dean of Students Office and the General Information Catalog, Section 11-802.

Course Projects

Students shall submit written pre-proposals with an early draft of their intended research interests by February 12 at the beginning of class. This pre-proposal should include a complete bibliography that identifies key technical journals, web sites, or standard bodies that are of interest to you, and a detailed description of a few potential topics.

Student proposals shall be presented and due in late February (February 26), during the class period. Students shall have four free research days on February 10, April 9, April 16, and April 28, and are invited to meet with me to discuss research topics, references, and cutting edge trends in wireless communications throughout the semester. The written proposal shall be a 6 - 10 page typewritten document with figures and a complete bibliography and literature search, demonstrating the student's current knowledge and area of interest for the final project. Proposals shall be presented in five-minute intervals during the February 26 class. Final presentations will be given in a symposium format during the last week of class.

Research topics should consist of a student's favorite area and may include the following suggested topics:

Lecture Schedule

Date Topic Reading Assignments Important Events in Class
1/20 Introduction to Wireless Communications Ch. 1, pp. 1-21, Appendix B  
1/22 3G Standards - World Development, Multiple Access Techniques Ch. 2, pp. 25-40, Ch. 9  
1/27 Evolution of Wireless Broadband Ch. 2, pp. 40-54, Ch. 9  
1/29 The Cellular Concept, Cellular System Design Fundamentals Ch. 3, pp. 57-77, Appendix B  
2/3 Trunking, GOS, Cell-Splitting, SIR Ch. 3, pp. 77-96, Appendix A Quiz at Beginning of Class
2/5 Antennas, Propagation, Fundamentals Ch. 4, pp. 105-114  
2/10 Free Research Day   Project Research
2/12 Cellular System Examples   Written Pre-Proposals Due at the beginning of class
2/17 2-Ray Ground Reflection Ch. 4, pp. 120-125  
2/19 Link Budget, Log-Normal Shadowing Ch. 4, pp. 138-144, Appendix F  
2/24 Link Budget, Log-Normal Shadowing Ch. 4, pp. 138-144, Appendix F  
2/26 Proposals Due; Student Proposal Presentations   Research Proposals Due, Presentation by Students
3/3 Outdoor Path Loss, Hata Model, Log-Normal Shadowing, Indoor Path Loss Ch. 4, pp. 145-167  
3/5 Wideband vs. Narrowband Channels, Level Crossing Rate & Average Fade Duration Ch. 5, pp. 199-210  
3/10 Rayleigh, Rician, Clarke & Gans Model, Level Crossing Rate & Average Fade Duration Ch. 5, pp. 210-229  
3/12 Digital Modulation, FM Quadriature Detection, Line Coding, Nyquist Pulse Shaping, Gaussian Pulse Shaping Ch. 6, pp. 264-294  
3/17 Spring Break    
3/19 Spring Break    
3/24 Linear Modulation, BPSK, DPSK, QPSK Ch. 6, pp. 294-305  
3/26 pi/4 QPSK, Constant Envelope, MSK, GMSK, BER Ch. 6, pp. 305-322  
3/31 Spread Spectrum, SH/FH, Performance in AWGN Ch. 6, pp. 329-339  
4/2 Visit to Verizon Wireless Cell Site on campus   Site visit - meet in front of ECE building
4/7 OFDM and Future Modulations and Multi-Input Multi-Output Class Notes, Paper  
4/9 Free Research Day   Project Research
4/14 Bit Error Performance in Fading Channels Ch. 6, pp. 339-350, Fading Channel Issues in System Engineering
4/16 Free Research Day   Project Research
4/21 Equalization Ch. 7, pp. 355-380  
4/23 Antenna Diversity Ch. 7, pp. 380-394  
4/28 Free Research Day   ENS 306 will be open to test A/V equpiment for presentations
4/30 Coding Ch. 7, pp. 394-410  
5/5 Project Presentations - Presentation Review Form Presentation Schedule Additional presentations to be scheduled the weekend before finals
5/7 Project Presentations - Presentation Review Form Presentation Schedule Additional presentations to be scheduled the weekend before finals
5/9 Project Presentations - Presentation Review Form Presentation Schedule Project Presentations from 1 PM to 5:30 PM on Saturday, May 9, in ENS 306.