ELEX 3525 - Data Communications

		       Check Your Marks

Please check your marks.  Download the file "marks.zip" from the
Course Information part of the Content section.  The marks.zip
file itself contains one encrypted zip'ed text file per student.
For example, inside the marks.zip file you'll find
A00123456.txt.zip which contains the marks for the student with
ID A00123456.

To extract the text file you'll need to use a program capable of
handling AES-128 encryption (e.g. 7zip).  You'll also need your
individual password which has been e-mailed to you separately
(see below).

The marking scheme is described in the course outline.  Please
let me know as soon as possible and before the end of exam week
if any of your marks have not been recorded or if they have been
recorded or computed incorrectly.

In particular, please check to make sure I have not missed any
pre-labs, lab reports or assignments that you handed in and that
you've received credit for all of the labs you completed before
Dec 27.

You may have to check the D2L "e-mail" system under
myTools->Email for the password required to view your marks.

		       Exam Office Hours

I will be available in my office (SW1-3061) on Friday, January 3
from 1 to 3PM.

You can also ask questions on the course discussion forum
(Activities/Discussion) or by e-mail (e-mail me directly, I
cannot reply to e-mail sent from the course web site).

		All Labs and Assignments Marked
 	
All labs and assignments have been marked.  The marking schemes
are available on the course web site under Content/Course
Information.  If you think there was a mistake with the way you
were marked please let me know.

Please e-mail me directly, I cannot reply to e-mail sent through
the course web site.

			  Final Exam

The final exam is scheduled for Tuesday, January 7 from 9:30 AM
to 12:30 PM in NE1-209.

Note that this is a 3-hour exam so the start time is 9:30 rather
than 10:30.

		   Deadline for Lab Reports

All lab reports must be handed in by /Friday, December 27/.  Any
lab reports handed in after that date will not be marked and the
lab report mark for that lab will be zero.

		Mid-Term Exam Marking and Marks

Marks were assigned for:

Question 1

- correct bit values (0x58)
- correct bit order (LS    to MS bit)
- correct start/stop bit polarity (+ve, -ve)
- correct voltages (+/-    3V)
- correct time scale (1/4800 s/bit)

Question 2

- delay (method and value, 0.5 each)
- VF (formula and value, 0.5 each),
- epsilon r (formula and value, 0.5 each)

Question 3

- using Shanon Capacity theorem
- correct capacity equation
- correct answers
- explanation that can't transmit error-free above capacity

Question 4

- correct signal power
- correct noise power
- formula with correct parameters
- correct answer

min/average/median/max marks were 8/13.5/14/16 out of 16 (50, 84, 88 and
100%)

	   How to Study for Mid-Term and Final Exams

Review the learning outcomes shown in italics at the start of the
relevant set of lecture notes to make sure you understand the
scope of what you are expected to know for the exam.

Use the following as practice material:

  * the lecture exercises
  * the assignments
  * previous year's assignments
  * previour year's exams
 
In each case, read the question, write out the answer (partially,
if it's a long question) and compare your answer to the answer
supplied in class or the solution handouts.

If you don't understand the question or can't answer it, review
the relevant lecture notes.  If you don't still can't answer the
question, read the solutions.  If reviewing the solutions doesn't
help, post a question on the course web site or ask a fellow
student.

You may want to do one or more of the questions as a practice
exam by timing yourself.  If you understand the material you
should be able to do most questions in about 15 minutes.

			Lab 4 Extended

Another week (October 24 and 25) will be allowed for completing
Lab 4.

	    Previous Mid-Terms, Exams and Solutions

Previous exams for this course can be downloaded from:

  http://www.ece.ubc.ca/~edc/3525/exams/

		    Date for Mid-Term Exam
 	
Wednesday, October 30 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.  It will cover
all of the material up to Line Codes (Lecture 7).

You will have two hours.  Please let me know as soon as possible
if you have a conflict during the first hour.

The Exam will be held in SW1-4076.

	       Tentative Date for Mid-Term Exam
 	
Wednesday, October 30 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.  It will cover
all of the material up to shortly before the exam.  Details will
be posted later.

You will have two hours.  Please let me know as soon as possible
if you have a conflict during the second hour.

			Report Formats

Please submit your reports in PDF format, not in the file format
is used by your word processor (.odt, .doc, .docx).  If your word
processor does not export to PDF, there is free software that
lets you convert any printable file to PDF format.  You could
also scan a "hard copy" of your report into PDF format.

		  Labs begin September 19, 20

In SW1-3575.

		       Lecture Schedule
 	

Day             Time    Room

Tuesday         10:30   SW3-4725
Wednesday       11:30   SW3-3615
Friday          10:30   SW1-2020