| Aim of Module | Students will gain an understanding of the facilities and techniques available for the interconnection of computers and peripherals, concentrating on asynchronous communications. |
| Credits | 7 |
| Student Learning hours | 70 |
| Content Revised | 2000 |
| Prescription Expiry Date | Nov 2007 |
| Topics | Highest Skill Level | Suggested Assessment Percentage | |
| 1 Data Communications Developments | C | 5 | |
| 2 Signal Characteristics and Communications Media | C | 25 | |
| 3 Data Communications Methods | C | 25 | |
| 4 Physical Interface | C | 15 | |
| 5 Modems and Modulation | C | 30 | |
| 100 | |||
| LEARNING OUTCOMES The Student Will | ||
| C | 1 | Describe the developments in data communications. |
| C | 2 | Explain signal characteristics and describe various communications media. |
| C | 3 | Describe methods used for the provision of data communications channels and the techniques associated with channel utilisation. |
| C | 4 | Describe and explain the operation of the physical interface between the Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) and the Data Communications Equipment (DCE). |
| C | 5 | Gain a basic understanding of the operation of modems and the various modulation techniques employed to enable data communications over analogue lines. |
| Demonstrations of data communications techniques and facilities should be used whenever practicable. | ||
| 1 | Data Communications Developments |
| > | The basic components of a communications system will be described in terms of source, medium and sink (receiver). | |
| > | The requirements for standards and the development of standards organisations; ie. ITU, ISO, EIA, and IEEE, will be examined. | |
| 2 | Signal Characteristics and Communications Media |
| > | Signal characteristics will include the following: | |
| - analogue signal properties; amplitude, frequency and phase | ||
| - digital signal properties and their components | ||
| > | The examination of communications media will include; twisted pair, multiconductor flat, coaxial, and optical fibre cables and wireless; eg. microwave and infrared, and their properties. | |
| 3 | Data Communications Methods |
| > | The provision of communications channels will include FDM, TDM and STDM multiplexing techniques. | |
| > | Methods of data communications will include modes of operation (simplex, half-duplex and full duplex), serial and parallel transmission, and synchronisation (asynchronous, synchronous, and isochronous). | |
| 4 | Physical Interface |
| > | The mechanical, electrical, functional and procedural requirements of the ITU-T V, X, and I series recommendations will be described. | |
| > | A specific example of an implementation of the V.24/V.28 (EIA 232-D) interface, such as a current Universal Synchronous Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (USART) and the associated line drivers/receivers, will be examined in block schematic form. | |
| 5 | Modems and Modulation |
| > | The purpose of a modem, together with specific modulation techniques, including amplitude, frequency, phase and combinations of these; eg. Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), will be studied. | |
| > | The reasons for the use of trellis coding for high-speed modems will be discussed. | |
| > | In examining the operation of modems the use of the Hayes commands; eg. auto dial, auto answer, etc, will be explored. | |