NAME ______________ SOLUTIONS _____________________

EE 442 Homework #1 Solutions

(Spring 2020 – Due January 29, 2020 )
Print out homework and do work on the printed pages.

Textbook: Samuel O. Agbo & Matthew O. Sadiku, Principles of Modern Communication

Systems, Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom, 2017.

Problem 1 Wavelengths in Radio Applications (10 points)

Radio waves propagate in free space (and in our atmosphere) at a velocity of v =

2.99792  108 meters per second. For this problem use v = 3.00  108 meters per
second (m/sec). An important wave parameter for electromagnetic waves is the
wavelength  which is inversely related to the wave frequency f (cycles per second in
units of Hertz). The relationship is velocity equals wavelength times frequency (v = f ).

The reason wavelength  is important is because the wavelength is

approximately the spatial resolving dimension of radar and antenna sizes scale with
wavelength (e.g., long wavelengths requires large antennas).

To get a feel for the size of the free space wavelength  for various radio
communication systems fill out the table below: [Express all wavelengths in either
meters, or millimeters for smaller wavelengths.]

Solution:
Radio Application Frequency Band Wavelength Range
AM broadcast radio 535 kHz to 1605 kHz 560.7 meters to 186.9 meters

FM broadcast radio 88 MHz to 108 MHz 3.409 meters to 2.778 meters

VHF Civil Aviation Band 108 MHz to 136 MHz 2.778 meters to 2.206 meters
(example) (example)
GSM Cellular (Uplink) 890 MHz to 915 MHz 0.3371 meter to 0.3279 meter

GSM Cellular (Downlink) 925 MHz to 960 MHz 0.3243 meter to 0.3125 meter

Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n 2.400 GHz to 2.497 GHz 0.1250 meter to 0.1201 meter

Wi-Fi 802.11 ac 4.915 GHz to 5.825 GHz 61.0 mm to 51.5 mm

Homework 1

X-band Police Radar 10.525 GHz 28.5 mm

(narrowband)
Ka-band Photo-Radar 34.2 GHz to 34.4 GHz 8.77 mm to 8.72 mm

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Wi-Fi 802.11 ad 57.05 GHz to 71.00 GHz 5.259 mm to 4.225 mm

Automotive Long-Range 76 GHz to 77 GHz 3.947 mm to 3.896 mm

Radar

Problem 2 Height of an AM Braodcast Antenna (6 points)

In problem 1 you found that radio wavelengths cover a very broad span of
values. For example, in broadcast AM radio (which has been around since the 1920s),
the wavelengths covering its band are very large. The photo of the AM broadcast
antenna is designed to be of the order of one-quarter wavelength (/4). Radio station
KNBR (CBS Sports Radio) in San Francisco broadcasts at frequency f = 680 kHz.
Given that its broadcast antenna is a quarter wavelength, what is the height of KNBR’s
antenna expressed in feet? (Note that 1 meter = 3.2808 feet).

Solution:

First, we estimate the wavelength,

3  108 (m/sec) = 0.680  106 (1/sec)   (m);  = 441.2 m
441.2 (m)
height =  3.2808 (feet/m) = 361.9 feet 
4

Problem 3 Frequency Requirement for a Cell Phone (6 points)

For this problem we want to estimate how high a frequency must be to have a
Homework 1

handheld cellular telephone without a separate antenna extruding from the case of the
cell phone. Again, let us assume that we can use a quarter wavelength antenna in the
direction of the height of the cell phone case (such as using the side of the case itself).
Using the dimension of the height of your personal cell phone, and setting that

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dimension equal to one-quarter wavelength, what frequency f meets this requirement?
[Note: This would be the lowest frequency you would allow for operation.]

Solution: (Of courese, the exact value will bepend upon your cell phone height.)
My cell phone was approximatley 5 inches in height. This is equal to 12.7 cm
(because 2.54 cm equals 1 inch). Setting 12.7 cm equal to /4 gives  = 50.8 cm for the
wavelength. Answers will vary because of different sizes of cell phones (my cell phone
is quite small relative to more recent larger cell phones).
3  1010 (cm/sec)
v
f= = = 5.906  108 (sec-1 ) = 590.6 MHz 
 50.8 (cm)

Problem 4 Voltage Gain & Power Gain (16 points)

Electrical engineers often specify, or characterize, circuit blocks and/or networks

in terms of voltage gain and power gain. Voltage and power gains can be expressed
either numerically or in decibels (see Handout #1 for a discussion of decibels). In this
problem you are presented with the amplifier circuit shown diagrammatically shown
below with input and output resistances and voltages levels as labeled.

Vin = 0.85 volt Vout = 11 volts

AMP +
+

Rin Rout
= 75  = 75 
Assume the amplifier is impedance matched at output and input.
Calculate:

(a) The numerical voltage gain ratio.

Vout 11 (volts)
= = 12.94 
Vin 0.85 (volt)

(b) The voltage gain expressed in decibles (dB).

V 
20  log10  out  = 20  log10 (12.94 ) = 22.24 dB 
 Vin 
Homework 1

(c) The power gain ratio.

( 0.85 V ) (11 V )
2 2
−3 Pout
Pin = = 9.63  10 W and Pout = = 1.61 W; = 167.44 
75  75  Pin

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(d) The power gain ratio expressed in decibels (dB).

P 
10  log10  out  = 10  log10 (167.44 ) = 22.24 dB 
 Pin 

Added note to the curious student: Cable line amplifiers (CATV) in cable television
distribution systems typically use 75 ohm coaxial cable (rather than 50 ohm coaxial
cables) because a 77 ohm coxial cable provides the lowest poss per length of line and
75 ohm cable is therefore lower loss than a 50 ohm cable. The highest peak power
carrying capability in a coxial cable is a cable with a 30 ohm characterisitic impedance.
Why do you think this is true? Thus, a 50 ohm coxial cable is a compromise between
30 ohm and 77 ohm characteristic impedances. That is why 50 ohm coaxial cables are
so widely used.

Problem 5 Voltage Gain & Power Gain continued (10 points)

Consider a similar amplifier with a higher output resistance Rout = 150 ohms (it is
no longer 75 ohms). This is illustrated in the diagram below. Again, assume input and
output impedance matching.

Write an expression for the power gain in decibels in terms of Vin, Vout and the ratio of
Rin to Rout. Show your derivation step by step with assumptions made.

Solution:  (Vout )2

 
 Pout   = 10  log  (Vout )  Rin  =
2
10  log10   Rout
 = 10  log10   10  
( Vin ) (Vin )2  Rout 
2
 Pin    
Homework 1

 R 
 in
V  R 
= 20  log10  out  + 10  log10  in  
 Vin   Rout 
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Problem 6 Cable Attenuation (12 points)

Transmission losses in cables (such as coaxial cables) are generally expressed

in decibels per 100 feet (dB/100 ft) or decibels per 100 meters (dB/100 m) Suppose
you have a 50-ohm RG-213 coaxial cable with an attenuation per distance as a function
of frequency as listed in the table:
.

https://www.ges.cz/en/rg-213-u-GES06700707.html

If you imput 10 milliwatts (that is, + 10 dBm) into a RG-213 cable cable of 25 feet in
length, what is the output power (express it in both milliwatts and dBm) at (a) 100 MHz,
(b) at 500 MHz, and (c) at 2320 MHz?

Solution:

First, we convert dB/100 meters to dB/100 feet.

Note: 3.2808 feet per meter; 25 feet = 7.620 meters; so the conversion is
(dB/100 feet) = (dB/100 meters)  0.3048

Frequency Loss in dB/100 meters Loss in dB/100 feet

100 MHz 6.9 dB/100 meters 2.1 dB/100 feet
500 MHz 16.7 dB/100 meters 5.09 dB/100 feet
2,320 MHz 46.5 dB/100 meters 14.17 dB/100 feet
Homework 1

(a) At 100 MHz, we have 2.1 dB/100 feet loss, therefore

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  -2.10 dB 
Total loss = 25 feet ×   = − 0.525 dB
 100 ft 
The minus sign indicates loss.
P 
Loss = 10 log10  out  = − 0.525 dB
 Pin 
P
 out = 10−0.0525 = 0.886
Pin
Pout = 0.886  Pin = 0.886  (10 mW) = 8.86 mW  9.475 dBm 

(b) At 500 MHz, we have 5.09 dB/100 feet loss, thus

 -5.09 dB 
Total loss = 25 feet ×   = −1.273 dB
 100 ft 
P 
Loss = 10 log10  out  = − 1.273 dB
 Pin 
Pout
 = 10−0.1273 = 0.746
Pin
Pout = 0.746  Pin = 0.746  (10 mW) = 7.460 mW  8.727 dBm 

(bc) At 2,320 MHz, we have 14.17 dB/100 feet loss, thus

 -14.17 dB 
Total loss = 25 feet ×   = − 3.543 dB
 100 ft 
P 
Loss = 10 log10  out  = − 3.543 dB
 Pin 
Pout
 = 10−0.3543 = 0.442
Pin
Pout = 0.442  Pin = 0.442  (10 mW) = 4.423 mW  6.457 dBm 
Homework 1

Problem 7 Voltage Gain & Power Gain continued (12 points)

We have four circuit components cascaded together as shown on the block

diagram below.

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 Component 1 Component 2 Component 3 Component 4

P1 1 P2 P3 1 Pout
Pin = P1 = 20 P2 = P3 = 7.3 Pout
Pin 4 P1 P2 2.4 P3

(a) Express the gains and losses in decibels (use the second column in the table
below):

Numerical power ratio Power ratio in dB

P1 /Pin = ¼ -6.02 dB
P2 /P1 = 20 +13.01 dB
P3 /P2 = 1/2.4 -3.80 dB
Pout /P3 = 7.3 +8.63 dB

(b) What is ratio of (Pout/Pin) (both numerically and in decibels)?

Pout  1   1 
=   ( 20 )   ( 7.3) = 15.21
Pin  4   2.4 
P 
10  log10  out  = 10  log10 (15.21) = 11.82 dB
 Pin 
or -6.02 dB + 13.01 dB -3.80 dB +8.63 dB = 11.82 dB 

(c) If Pin = 30 mW, what is Pout in watts (W)?

Pout = 15.21  Pin = 15.21  30 mW = 456.3 mW = 0.456 W

P  P
11.82 dB = 10  log10  out   101.182 = 10log10 (Pout /Pin ) so 15.21 = out
 Pin  30 mW
Pout = 15.21  30 mW = 0.456 W 

Problem 8 Communication Link: Gain & Loss (14 points)

Homework 1

You are given the receiver block as schematically shown below. It consists of a
receiving antenna which delivers a signal to a bandpass filter. The antenna feed has a
loss of -1.15 dB and the filter’s loss is -2.4 dB. The filter’s output drives an amplifier with

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gain of +40.7 dB and this RF signal is input to a mixer which performs a frequency
1translation to an IF signal (but the mixer has a loss of -8.2 dB). Finally, the IF signal
travels through another bandpass filter with a nominal loss of -1.6 dB. If the signal
strength output by the last filter is Psig = -86.3 dBm, what is the signal strength of the
signal Pant at the antenna? How many milliwatts is this signal power?

Antenna
Oscillator
Amplifier
BP filter BP filter

Mixer
Psig
-1.15 dB -2.4 dB + 40.7 dB -8.2 dB -1.6 dB
Solution:

Psig = Pant − 1.15 − 2.4 + 40.7 − 8.2 − 1.6 =

Psig = Pant + 27.35 = −86.3 dBm − 27.35 dB = − 113.65 dBm
Numerical Power = 1 mW 10( −113.65/10) = 4.315 10 −12 mW
The signal power = -113.65 dBm = 4.315  10-12 mW. 

Problem 9 Bandwidth of a Channel (7 points)

(This is problem 1.11 in Abgo and Sadiku – page 14)

Evaluate the bandwidth of a channel with capacity 36,000 bits/sec and a signal-
to-noise ratio of 30 dB.

Solution:

S S
  = 30dB    = 10 = 1000
3

 N dB N
 S C 36, 000
C = B log 2 1 +   B = = = 3.6118 kHz 
 N  log 2 1001 log 10 1001
log10 2
Homework 1

Problem 10 Bandwidth of a Channel (7 points)

(This is problem 1.10 in Abgo and Sadiku – page 14)

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 Calculate the bandwidth required of a channel capacity of 25 kbps (kilobits/sec)
when the signal-to-noise ratio is numerically 500.

Solution:

25, 000
25 kbps = B  log 2 (1 + 500)  B= = 2.78 kHz 
log 2 501

Homework 1