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NSWEngineering StudiesQuick questions
HSC Module: Telecommunications Engineering
Quick questions on Communication systems fundamentals: HSC Engineering Studies Telecommunications Engineering
10short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the 5-element communication system model?Show answer
Every communication system can be decomposed into five elements:
What is modulation?Show answer
Modulation is the process of impressing the information signal onto a higher-frequency carrier wave so it can be transmitted efficiently. Demodulation at the receiver recovers the original signal.
What is bandwidth?Show answer
Bandwidth is the range of frequencies a signal occupies, measured in Hz. Higher-bandwidth channels can carry more information per second.
What is signal-to-noise ratio (S/N)?Show answer
S/N is the ratio of signal power to noise power, usually expressed in decibels (dB):
What is attenuation?Show answer
Attenuation is the loss of signal power as it travels through a channel, measured in dB per unit distance (e.g. dB/km for fibre optic; dB per 100m for copper).
What is multiplexing?Show answer
Multiplexing allows multiple signals to share a single channel.
What are generic modulation answers?Show answer
Name AM, FM, PSK, QAM with their specific applications. Generic "the signal is modulated" doesn't show command of the principle.
What is q1?Show answer
Identify the five elements of a communication system. [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Distinguish between AM and FM modulation, including one advantage of each. [4 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Justify the choice of optical fibre over copper twisted pair for a long-distance telecommunications backbone. [6 marks]