course-details-portlet

TTT4130

Digital Communication

Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.

Credits 7.5
Level Second degree level
Course start Spring 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement Aggregate score

About

About the course

Course content

The course gives a fundamental introduction to the principles and systems for digital transmission of information over channels with Gaussian noise, including basic transmission and reception strategies, as well as an understanding of expected performance and performance limits. Through project work, the course gives the student skills in simulation of and experimentation with real transmitter and receiver hardware, as well as experimentation planning and reporting. The couse topics are: - Linear baseband digital (PAM) modulation, - upconversion and linear (QAM) and nonlinear (FSK) passband digital modulation, - Maximum a-Posteriori and Maximum Likelihood detection, non-coherent detection, - transmissiond bandwidth, Nyquist pulses, sampling and intersymbol interference, - Gaussian noise, and related error analysis in symbol detection, - Gaussian channel capacity, coding, convolutional codes, decoding, and error analysis, - signal space, signal constellations, equivalent baseband model, and - tradeoffs between energy, data rate and error rate.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: The candidate has: - understanding of digitally modulated signals and their properties, - deep understanding of the detection principles for digital signals, - good understanding of error behavior and performance of digital receivers - understanding of central abstraction methods and models used to describe digital transmission methods - good overview of performance limits. Skills: The candidate can: - design and parametrize digital transmitters and corresponding receivers, - characterize the central qualities and performance of digital transmission through simulation and analysis, - find tradeoffs between energy, bandwidth, and error rate, - evaluate performance limits, and - evaluate system performance with simulations.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and integrated exercises. Project work in groups, with supervision.

Compulsory assignments

  • Feedback activity

Further on evaluation

In the final grading the written exam weighs 70%, and the project work weighs 30%.

The students work in groups on projects, that will be graded based on reportingof the work. Explicit rules for the work and grading will be available at the startof the semester.

The obligatory deliveries consist of reflection notes on students' own learning.

Repeat exam in August may be changed to oral exam.

If the course is retaken a later year, only the exam must be repeated. While the reports will be accepted up to three years after they have been approved.

Required previous knowledge

TTT4275 Estimation, detection and classification or corresponding knowledge

Course materials

Sklar, Harris, "Digital Communications, Fundamentals and Applications", 3rd Ed, Pearson 2021

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
SIE2045 7.5 sp
This course has academic overlap with the course in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Technological subjects

Contact information

Course coordinator

Lecturers

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Electronic Systems

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: Aggregate score
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

School exam
Weighting 70/100 Examination aids Code B Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.
Portfolio
Weighting 30/100 Exam system Inspera Assessment

Re-sit examination - Summer 2026

School exam
Weighting 70/100 Examination aids Code B Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.