Mobile Communications MSc

What you'll study

Key study areas in our Mobile Communications programme include mobile communications, networks, signal processing and radio. You will be taught by research active lecturers who contribute to the future of the industry.

Modules

Mobile Communications covers a wide range of topics; to give you a taster we have expanded on some of the core modules affiliated with this programme and the specific assessment methods associated with each module.

Fundamentals of Digital Signal Processing

Fundamentals of Digital Signal Processing

This modules will develop students' critical understanding of the fundamentals of digital signal processing, as applied to numerous and commonplace digital systems, with the use of computer simulation based tools. At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Explain sampling theorem and the consequences of aliasing and quantisation distortion.
• Explain z-transform and Fourier transform and their properties; and relate them to the impulse response and transfer function of a digital filter.
• Evaluate critically different structures available for the realisation of finite impulse response (FIR) and infinite impulse response (IIR) digital filters.
• Describe ideal filter approximation functions, and the basics of real-time processing.

Personal Radio Communications

Personal Radio Communications

This module provides an overview of various personal radio communications systems used around the world today. It examines key features of these systems in the context of channel access methods, guided and radiated waves and explores the interaction between radio waves and the human body.

Information Theory and Coding

Information Theory and Coding

In recent years the biggest advances in mobile have come from Coding. The aim of this module is to present the students with the fundamental of information theory and its applications to source and channel coding.

Communication Channels

Communication Channels

The module aims to develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of telecommunication channels, with regard to the constraints imposed by the operating environment and how they can be overcome.

On completion of this module the student should be able to:

• Describe how the optical, and free space channel affects the signal being transmitted.
• Analyse how channels are modelled and contract them.
• Evaluate the relative merits and cost implications of free space microwave and fibre optic systems.

Digital Signal Processing for Software Defined Radio

Digital Signal Processing for Software Defined Radio

Almost all mobile systems can now be made in software. This fascinating module will provide an introduction to software defined radio, in particular key digital signal processing operations with modems. We will undertake a review of Fourier analysis and linear time-invariant systems, and uncover digital transmission systems. Other topics include sampling and discrete time systems; multirate signal processing; random processes and adaptive filtering: Least Mean Square (LMS) and Recursive Least Squares (RLS), and applications in channel equalization and synchronization.

Mobile Network Technologies

Mobile Network Technologies

The aim of this module is to study the evolution of mobile network technology, introduce you to the principals and practicalities of mobile telecommunication systems and prepare the you for future employment in telecommunications industry at an advanced technical level.

Antennas

Antennas

The aims of this module are to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to antennas and their functioning and provide practical experience in design and measurement of antennas. On completion of this module, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the function of antennas used in communications systems and understand practical issues associated with antenna design.

Research Project

Research Project

This module will introduce you to the methods and tools required for the planning and management of a project by carrying out a paper based small-scale research project. The module will introduce the methods and tools required for the planning and management of a project, whilst investigating different information sources and retrieval techniques. By the end of the module, students will have developed strong technical and communication skills to carry out a paper based small-scale research project.

Project in Mobile Communications

Project in Mobile Communications

This module has been designed to prepare you for future employment in mobile communications at an advanced technical level. For this module, you will plan and execute extensive research and/or development project in a specialised area of engineering or science which has significant complexity. This will be a highly targeted advanced project in a subject area chosen by you and realized in Loughborough’s exciting, modern and world leading research community.