Radio channels

Max amount of FITech students: 30

Persons without a valid study right to a Finnish university have preference to this course.

Course contents

• The radio channels of different radio systems.
• Characterization of radio waves and propagation media.
• Different mechanisms of radio wave propagation: direct free-space propagation, absorption, scattering, reflection, refraction, diffraction, surface and ground waves, ionospheric waves and multipath propagation.
• Statistical description of fading radio channel.
• Principles of the radio channel modelling.
• Noise calculations.
• Radio wave propagation phenomena over fixed terrestrial, ionospheric and satellite links.
• Radio channel modelling for outdoor mobile systems.
• Radio wave propagation inside or into buildings.
• Radio channels of mobile satellite links.
• Slow fading.
• Multipath propagation and its effects on narrowband and wideband radio channels.
• MIMO radio channels.
• Measurement methods of radio channels.
• Atmospheric attenuation on terahertz frequency bands.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student

• will be able to define what the radio channel is and is able to distinguish it into modellable parts
• knows different radio wave propagation mechanisms
• can apply physical and empirical radio channel models
• is able to analyse which are the dominating propagation mechanisms in different environments
• will know how to measure the properties of different radio channels.

Course material

Lecture notes and additional reading:

• Andreas Molisch, 2012: Wireless Communications. Wiley-IEEE Press.
• Simon R. Saunders & Alejandro Aragón-Zavala, 2007: Antennas and propagation for wireless communication systems. Second edition. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Completion methods

• Lectures and exercise sessions are organised only on campus (old video recordings available).
• Lab work in campus.
• Final exam online.

Changes possible. The course can be completed largely online by studying independently.

More information on the University of Oulu course page.

You can get a digital badge after completing this course.