Basic Concepts in Telecommunications: Power, Signals, and Wireless Fundamentals

Objectives: Basic Concepts in Telecommunications: Power, Signals, and Wireless Fundamentals

Comprehensive Notes on Basic Concepts in Telecommunications: Set 3 (All 29 Concepts)

Comprehensive Notes on Basic Concepts in Telecommunications: Set 3 (All 29 Concepts)

This document provides detailed explanations, formulas, examples, and visual illustrations for all 29 basic concepts in telecommunications Set 3 as of December 2025.

1. Energy

Energy is the ability of a system to do work or cause change. In telecommunications, energy is required to operate transmitters, receivers, and other equipment.

Formula: \( E = P \times t \)

Where: E = energy (Joules, J), P = power (Watts, W), t = time (seconds, s)

Example: If P = 10 W and t = 5 s, then E = 50 J.

Energy formula diagram (power and time relation). Energy and power in signals illustration.

2. Power

Power is the rate at which energy is used or transferred. It indicates how strong a signal is.

Formula: \( P = \frac{E}{t} \)

Where: P = power (W), E = energy (J), t = time (s)

Example: If E = 100 J and t = 10 s, then P = 10 W.

Power formula diagram (Watt's law). Power in electrical circuits illustration.

3. Units of Power

Power is measured in Watts (W).

1 W = 1000 mW
1 kW = 1000 W

Power units conversion chart. Metric power units illustration.

4. Decibel (dB)

The decibel is a logarithmic unit used to express gain or loss of power.

Formula: \( dB = 10 \log_{10} \left( \frac{P_2}{P_1} \right) \)

Where: P2 = output power, P1 = reference power

Example: If P2 = 100 W and P1 = 10 W, then gain = 10 dB.

Decibel scale for power gain/loss. dB in telecommunications illustration.

5. Efficiency

Efficiency measures how much input power is converted into useful output power.

Formula: \( \eta = \left( \frac{P_{out}}{P_{in}} \right) \times 100\% \)

Where: Pout = output power, Pin = input power

Example: If Pin = 100 W and Pout = 80 W, efficiency = 80%.

Efficiency in power amplifiers diagram. Amplifier efficiency illustration.

6. Speed of Electromagnetic Waves

Electromagnetic waves travel at a constant speed in free space.

Formula: \( c = 3 \times 10^8 \) m/s

Speed of EM waves in vacuum diagram. Electromagnetic spectrum with speed.

7. Frequency, Wavelength, Period, and Speed

These describe wave behavior.

Formulas: \( c = f \lambda \), \( T = \frac{1}{f} \)

Where: f = frequency (Hz), λ = wavelength (m), T = period (s)

Example: If f = 100 MHz, then λ = 3 m.

Sine wave parameters diagram. Wave speed, frequency, wavelength illustration.

8. Phase

Phase represents the position of a wave within one complete cycle.

Phase of sine wave diagram. Sine wave phase illustration.

9. Phase Shift

Phase shift is the change in phase between two signals due to delay or transmission effects.

Phase shift between two sine waves. Phase shift diagram.

10. Analog Signal

An analog signal varies continuously with time and can take any value within a range.

Analog continuous waveform. Analog signal example.

11. Digital Signal

A digital signal uses discrete levels, usually binary 0 and 1.

Digital discrete waveform. Digital signal illustration.

12. Analog Signal Equation

An analog signal can be represented by:

\( x(t) = A \sin(\omega t + \phi) \)

Where: A = amplitude, ω = 2πf, φ = phase

Analog sine wave equation diagram. Sine wave with phase.

13. Digital Signal Equation

A digital signal switches between two levels:

\( x(t) \in \{0, A\} \)

Digital binary levels diagram. Digital signal waveform.

14. Channel

A channel is the physical medium through which a signal travels.

Communication channel diagram (transmitter to receiver). Typical communication system block diagram.

15. Free Space Propagation

Free space propagation describes signal transmission through open space without obstacles.

Free space path loss diagram. Free space propagation illustration.

16. Antenna

An antenna converts electrical signals into electromagnetic waves and vice versa.

Antenna transmit/receive operation. Antenna radiation pattern.

17. Antenna Gain

Antenna gain measures how well an antenna directs energy in a specific direction.

Antenna gain in dBi diagram. Directional antenna gain illustration.

18. Path Loss

Path loss is the reduction in signal power as it propagates through the channel.

Path loss formula and graph. Free space path loss diagram.

19. Linear Path Loss

Linear path loss is given by:

\( L = \frac{P_t}{P_r} \)

Where: Pt = transmitted power, Pr = received power

Path loss vs distance.

20. Path Loss vs Distance

Path loss increases as distance increases due to signal spreading.

Path loss vs distance graph.

21. Receiver Sensitivity

Receiver sensitivity is the minimum signal power level required for reliable reception.

Receiver sensitivity diagram. Minimum sensitivity measurement.

22. Link Budget

A link budget accounts for all gains and losses.

\( P_r = P_t + G_t + G_r - L \)

Where: Gt, Gr = antenna gains, L = path loss

Link budget calculation diagram. Link budget chart.

23. Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)

SNR compares signal power to noise power.

\( SNR = \frac{P_s}{P_n} \)

Where: Ps = signal power, Pn = noise power

SNR diagram. SNR calculation illustration.

24. Bit Error Rate (BER)

BER is the ratio of erroneous bits to total transmitted bits.

\( BER = \frac{\text{error bits}}{\text{total bits}} \)

BER vs SNR curve.

25. Multiplexing

Multiplexing allows multiple signals to share one communication channel.

TDM/FDM multiplexing diagram. Multiplexing techniques illustration.

26. Interference

Interference is any unwanted signal that degrades communication.

Interference in signals diagram. Interference cancellation illustration.

27. Signal Interference

Signal interference affects the entire signal waveform.

Waveform distortion due to interference.

28. Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI)

ISI occurs when symbols overlap in time, causing distortion.

Eye diagram showing ISI. ISI illustration.

29. Co-Channel Interference

Co-channel interference occurs when the same frequency is reused nearby.

Co-channel interference in cellular networks. Cellular frequency reuse diagram.

Conclusion

This completes the full coverage of all 29 concepts in Set 3 with definitions, formulas, examples, and embedded visual illustrations for better understanding.

Reference Book: N/A

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