UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2013/2014

EXAMINATION FOR THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN

DATA COMMUNICATIONS
MDC 6102 BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS
DATE: APRIL, 2014

TIME: 2 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question One and Any Other Two Questions

QUESTION ONE: [20 Marks]

(a) Explain the following terms:
i.

Throughput.

ii.

Channel encoder

iii.

Low Pass Filter.

iv.

DS0.

v.

Super group.

(5 Marks)

(b) State the Nyquist sampling Theorem.

(1 Mark)

(c) Outline the importance of Nyquist sampling criterion.

(1 Mark)

(d) What is SDH? Why is SDH important in the present day communications network?

(2 Marks)

(e) Briefly, describe the four elements of the SDH link.

(4 Marks)

(f) What is the difference between Wi-Fi and WiMaX technologies

(1 Mark)

(g) With the aid of a labeled diagram, describe the structure of an E1 frame.

(2 Marks)

(h) How many voice or data channels can a Jumbo Group accommodate?

(2 Marks)

(i) Explain the difference between Multiplex Section and Regenerator Section as applied to the SDH
Link

(2 Marks)

QUESTION TWO: (15 Marks)

(a) Derive the frequency of the Band occupied by a Group in the Analogue System Hierarchy.
(4 Marks)
(b) Describe the functions of the satellite space segment.

(3 Marks)

(c) Distinguish between Channel Associated Signaling and Common Channel Signaling.

(2 Marks)

(d) Outline the benefits of Bit over Byte interleaving.

(2 Marks)

(e) Describe the following as applied in Analogue to Digital conversion Process:

i.

Sampling

ii.

Coding

(4 Marks)

QUESTION THREE: (15 Marks)

(a) Outline the three types of Ethernet technologies.

(3 Marks)

(b) State four standards used in a Wireless LAN.

(2 Marks)

(c) Outline four benefits of signal Multiplexing.

(2 Marks)

(d) Using a labeled diagram, describe the frequency spectrum of amplitude modulated signal.
(2 Marks)
(e) Using a labeled diagram, explain the operation of a GSM Network

(6 Marks)

QUESTION FOUR :( 15 Marks)

(a) Discuss any four impairments of a satellite channel. Explain how these impairments are addressed.
(2 Marks)
(b) Using a time space diagram, describe the phases of circuit switching technique.

(2 Marks)

(c) Describe the services provided by a wireless infrastructure.

(3 Marks)

(d) Outline any four characteristics of the fifth generation broadband and mobile communication
network.

(2 Marks)

(e) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Time division multiplexing over Frequency division
multiplexing.

(3 Marks)

(f) Five channels each with a band width of 128MHz are multiplexed. The minimum separation
between the channels to avoid interference is 5MHz. Using a frequency spectrum for this system,
determine the minimum bandwidth of the link required to transmit the data from these five
channels.

(3 Marks)
2