Introduction to Digital Communications

by Wayne Stark

Overview

Master the fundamentals of digital communications systems with this accessible and hands-on introductory textbook, carefully interweaving theory and practice. The just-in-time approach introduces essential background as needed, keeping academic theory firmly linked to practical applications. The example-led teaching frames key concepts in the context of real-world systems, such as 5G, WiFi, and GPS. Stark provides foundational material on the trade-offs between energy and bandwidth efficiency, giving students a solid grounding in the fundamental challenges of designing digital communications systems. Features include over 300 illustrative figures, 80 examples, and 130 end-of-chapter problems to reinforce student understanding, with solutions for instructors. Accompanied online by lecture slides, computational MATLAB® and Python resources, and supporting data sets, this is the ideal introduction to digital communications for senior undergraduate and graduate students in electrical engineering.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781009220811
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/16/2023
Pages:	600
Product dimensions:	6.81(w) x 9.84(h) x 1.42(d)

About the Author

Wayne Stark is Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan, and a fellow of the IEEE. He has over forty years of experience in teaching digital communications and has conducted fundamental research on wireless communication systems, for which he has received several awards.

Table of Contents

Contents; Preface; Acknowledgement; List of abbreviations; 1. Fundamentals of digital communications; 2. Modulation and demodulation; 3. Probability, random variables, random processes, signal bandwidth; 4. Error probability for binary signals; 5. Optimal receivers for M-ary communication; 6. Modulation techniques; 7. Wireless channels and transmission techniques; 8. Block codes; 9. Convolutional codes; Appendix A. Pseudorandom sequences; Appendix B. Trigonometric and fourier transform iIdentities; Appendix C. Finite fields and BCH codes; Appendix D. Simulation of signals and noise; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

‘This book emphasizes the fundamentals of digital communication as well as its practice. It provides examples to enhance the understanding, and the many illustrations explain the basic concepts very well. Several concepts from actual engineering practice are discussed in detail.’ Ender Ayanoglu, University of California, Irvine

‘Wayne Stark is a widely respected researcher in digital communications, as well as a dedicated and talented teacher. This book reflects his years of experience teaching a challenging and rapidly changing subject to senior undergraduate and first-year graduate students. His choice of topics and careful balance between theory and practice ensure that this book will be a valuable resource in electrical engineering curricula for years to come.’ Tom Fuja, University of Notre Dame

‘This self-contained book is excellent for a first course in digital communications. It strikes a perfect balance in theory, practice, and insights, so that a beginner can get a good understanding without getting lost in advanced mathematical concepts.’ Sudharman K. Jayaweera, University of New Mexico

‘This is an extraordinary textbook on digital communication theory and practices. Key results are derived step by step, and it provides many examples and figures that help students grasp key concepts. I wish it had been available when I was a student.’ Sang Wu Kim, Iowa State University

‘Not only is this textbook comprehensive and well written, it is mathematically rigorous. The specific numerical examples and practical applications enhance the theoretical derivations. The author does an excellent job of communicating the importance of each result, making it an appropriate textbook for senior undergraduates taking a solid course in the theory of digital communications.’ Laurence B. Milstein, University of California, San Diego

‘I enjoyed this book’s clarity and logical presentation. It is easy to read, balancing mathematical fundamentals with practical applications, problem sets, and examples. I’d be delighted to use it when teaching my undergraduate course on Communication Systems and Principles. This concise resource provides a thorough foundation on digital communication concepts, systems, and techniques, explaining communication systems in general and digital communications specifically.’ Lina Mohjazi, University of Glasgow

‘The real jewel of the book is the introduction chapter. It lays out the most important design considerations and trade-offs at a high (but not superficial) level straightaway, serving as a roadmap to the material in the rest of the book. It is the best and most useful introduction chapter that no one should skip!’ Tan F. Wong, University of Florida

‘This is an excellent textbook for students, communications engineers, and researchers alike. Based on many years’ teaching experience, it includes detailed and illustrative examples that help students understand the fundamentals of digital communications. Professor Stark explains the trade-offs of different key parameters in digital communications, and covers state-of-the-art technologies such as LDPC codes. Each chapter contains clear goals, summaries, and useful exercises.’ Xiang-Gen Xia, University of Delaware

From the Publisher