ELT 475 - Communications Systems Lab

1. Use Decibel Measurements in radio frequency circuits
   1. Perform decibel calculations in dB, dBm, and dBv in common radio frequency circuits
   2. Measure gain and loss is radio frequency circuits
2. Assess resonance circuits and how they are used
   1. Perform resonant frequency calculations and measurements
   2. Build a radio frequency (RF) oscillator
3. Build an AM/FM radio receiver
   1. Outline basic building blocks of a broadcast receiver
   2. Demonstrate proper electronic construction techniques
   3. Perform alignment and calibration of tuned circuits
4. Examine Distortion Analyzer operation
   1. Outline how a distortion analyzer operates
   2. Perform total harmonic distortion(THD) measurements on sine, triangular and square waves
5. Examine spectrum analyzer operation
   1. Outline how a Spectrum Analyzer operates
   2. Perform signal strength measurements with a spectrum analyzer
   3. Perform distortion measurements using a spectrum analyzer
6. Distinguish signals in time and frequency domain
   1. Describe a Fourier Series
   2. Contrast a square wave in time and frequency domains
7. Evaluate mixer operation
   1. Outline various types of RF mixers
   2. Build and test a diode ring mixer
   3. Outline mixer operation in Intermediate Frequency (IF) circuits
8. Evaluate noise in the radio spectrum
   1. Perform signal to noise ratio measurements using a spectrum analyzer
   2. Outline radio frequency noise types
9. Outline Amplitude Modulation waveform measurements
   1. Measure AM modulation with an oscilloscope
   2. Measure AM modulation with a spectrum analyzer
10. Characterize receiver sensitivity
    1. Measure receiver sensitivity with a microvolt signal generator
    2. Contrast AM, FM, Digital, and SSB reception sensitivity
11. Describe single sideband transmission and reception
12. Outline phase locked loop systems
    1. Describe a frequency synthesizer
    2. Build a phase lock loop
13. Evaluate FM Modulation Measurements
    1. Measure frequency modulation with a spectrum analyzer
    2. Estimate frequency modulation in RF circuits
14. Analyze Transmission Lines
    1. Outline transmission line types
    2. Measure Characteristic transmission line impedances
    3. Use a Smith Chart to estimate impedance transformations on a transmission line