EEC 456/556 – Software Defined Radio

Course Description and Objectives

This class approaches wireless communications from the perspective of Software-defined Radios (SDR). SDR implementation relies heavily on digital signal processing techniques and requires fewer radio-frequency components than classic hardware-based radios. Consequently, by utilizing software radio algorithms, it is possible to implement radio transceivers at a very low cost and simultaneously to exploit the multiple benefits a digital system offers, such as high dynamic range, perfect coherent quadrature detection, and programmable filters. A review will be given to reinforce the student’s knowledge of telecommunication concepts and systems, waveform generation, and analog and digital modulation schemes. The student will be able to simulate the hardware elements of an SDR system: the front-end RF system, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion, and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The student will then couple these elements with the software-defined elements of the radio system: sampling, digital filtering, signal recovery, timing recovery, equalization, and baseband processing. The student will also appreciate the current and future trends in the SDR space through the assigned course project. The course contains significant computer simulation and project work in order to simulate SDR systems. It also includes:

• A review of communication concepts and systems, waveform generation, and analog and digital modulation schemes.

• Simulation of the SDR system such as the front-end RF system, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion, and FPGAs with NI USRP SDR units through the use of NI LabView environment.

• Learning different blocks of SDR systems involving modulation, detection, pulse shaping, channel estimation and equalization, frame detection, frequency offset correction, OFDM and frequency domain equalization.

Instructor

Prof. Mehdi Rahmati
Email: m.rahmati @ csuohio DOT edu
Office location: Fenn Hall 336
Office hours: T & TH 7-8 pm (Zoom)

Teaching Assistant

Ayaz Khaja Lnu
Email: a.lnu26 @ vikes.csuohio DOT edu
Office hours: TH 3:00-4:00 pm and FR 5:00–6:00pm (Zoom)

Class Hours (Zoom)

Zoom meeting ID and passcode can be found in the Syllabus on Blackboard.

• EEC 456:

  • Lectures: weekly lectures (asynchronous) to be uploaded on Blackboard

  • Lab:     6:00 – 7:00 pm T & TH (Attendance in the zoom laboratory session is recommended)

  • Office: 7:00 – 8:00 pm T & TH (zoom)

• EEC 556:

  • Lectures: 2 hours weekly (asynchronous) to be uploaded on Blackboard

  • Lab:                    6:00 – 7:00 pm T & TH (Attendance in the zoom laboratory session is recommended)

  • Office and project progress meeting: 7:00 – 8:00 pm T & TH (zoom)

Textbook

Digital Communications: Physical Layer Exploration Lab Using The NI USRP Platform, by Robert W. Heath, Jr., National Technology and Science Press, 2012.

References:

• Introduction to Wireless Digital Communication: A Signal Processing Perspective, by Robert W. Heath, Prentice Hall, 2017.

• Software Defined Radio: Architectures, Systems, and Functions, edited by Markus Dillinger, Kambiz Madani, Nancy Alonistioti, Wiley, 2003.

Grading

This course is cross-listed as both an undergraduate and a graduate course. Letter assignments will be made in accordance with the grading policies of the university. The course contains a project (a report and resentation for undergraduates and an implementation/simulation for graduate students). The topics will be announced in the second week of class.

• EEC 456

  • Lab reports (6 labs) 60%

  • Project 10%

  • Midterm 15%

  • Final 15%

• EEC 556

  • Lab reports (6 labs) 50%

  • Project 20%

  • Midterm 15%

  • Final 15%

Student Conduct

Students are expected to do their own work. Academic misconduct, student misconduct, cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Violations will be subject to disciplinary action as specified in the CSU Student Code of Conduct (available here).

Resources (Blackboard)

Please see Blackboard for slides, videos, and other resources.

Schedule

• Labs:

  • Lab 1 (Part 1): Introduction to NI LabVIEW
    

  • Lab 1 (Part 2): Introduction to NI RF Hardware
    

  • Lab 2 (Part 1): Modulation and Detection
    

  • Lab 2 (Part 2): Pulse Shaping and Matched Filtering
    

  • Lab 3: Synchronization
    

  • Lab 4: Channel Estimation & Equalization
    

  • Lab 5: Frame Detection & Frequency Offset Correction
    

  • Lab 6: OFDM Modulation & Frequency Domain Equalization
    

• Lectures:

  • Introduction
    

  • An Overview of Digital Communication
    

  • Signal Processing Fundamentals
    

  • Digital Modulation and Demodulation
    

  • Dealing with Impairments