EdX

A System View of Communications: From Signals to Packets (Part 1) (edX)

A System View of Communications: From Signals to Packets (Part 1) (edX)

Explore the tradeoffs in designing communication systems like mobile phones, and the engineering tools to handle them. Have you ever wondered how information is transmitted using your mobile phone or a WiFi hotspot? This introductory course seeks to enable you to understand the basic engineering tools used and tradeoffs encountered in the design of these systems.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see EdX's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

This course is divided into three parts. In Part 1, we examine the point-to-point link, which communicates information from a single transmitter to a single receiver. Part 2 examines how multiple transmitters can share the same physical channel. Part 3 discusses how information can be transmitted reliably from one station to another over a network that connects multiple stations. Online interactive exercises are included to help build your intuition.
This course was inspired by and built upon the course 6.02 Digital Communication Systems developed at MIT, which Prof Bertram Shi worked on during his sabbatical in 2009.

In this course, you will:

  • Learn the point-to-point link which communicates information from a single transmitter to a single receiver.
  • Gain a basic understanding of the engineering tools used and tradeoffs faced in designing digital communications systems.
  • Discuss effective solutions to overcome these challenges and develop intuitive, useful systems.
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Caer o No caer. El secreto de las estructuras (edX) EdX
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid - UC3M,UC3Mx

Caer o No caer. El secreto de las estructuras (edX)

Las estructuras están presentes en todos los sistemas que nos rodean. Descubrirlas y comprender cómo funcionan es sencillo y fascinante. Las estructuras están implicadas en nuestras vidas: las plantas, los animales, casi todo lo que fabrica el ser humano, incluso nuestro propio cuerpo, deben soportar una serie de fuerzas sin romperse, y por lo tanto prácticamente cualquier elemento de nuestro entorno es una estructura de una clase u otra.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Forensic Engineering: Learning from Failures (edX) EdX
Delft University of Technology,DelftX

Forensic Engineering: Learning from Failures (edX)

Don’t let good failures go to waste! Identify the causes of failure and use this knowledge to enhance safety and improve performance. What do collapsed buildings, infected hospital patients, and crashed airplanes have in common? If you know the causes of these events and conditions, they can all be prevented. In this course, you will learn how to use the TU Delft mind-set to investigate the causes of such events so you can prevent them in the future.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
The Engineering of Structures Around Us (edX) EdX
DartmouthX,Dartmouth College

The Engineering of Structures Around Us (edX)

Explore how engineers design bridges and buildings in our communities and iconic structures around the world. In this introductory course, you’ll learn some engineering principles that can be applied to structural systems everywhere: in nature, in furniture, in mechanical and aerospace systems, and in any solid object that resists a load. Together we’ll explore how structures work, why they were designed the way they were designed, how they support loads, and where forces flow through them.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
水力学 | Hydraulics (edX) EdX
Tsinghua University,TsinghuaX

水力学 | Hydraulics (edX)

This Hydraulics course explores the science of hydraulics and focuses on hydrodynamic laws and their applications, which are indispensable and a critical factor in the development and utilization of water resources. 水,是人类生活不可或缺的资源。水力学是人类开发利用水资源的有力工具。本课教你认识和掌握水流静止和运动的力学规律,了解在相关领域的工程应用。

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Project Management of Engineering Projects: Preparing for Success (edX) EdX
Delft University of Technology,DelftX

Project Management of Engineering Projects: Preparing for Success (edX)

Create your own project plan and learn the importance of the early project phases in achieving project success. People are key! Are you a (project) engineer with a technical background but lack management knowledge? Are you eager to improve project performance and want to expand your knowledge? This business and management course will focus on the necessary project management skills to successfully manage projects.

Sep 24th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Business Communications (edX) EdX
The University of British Columbia,UBCx

Business Communications (edX)

Learn how to communicate effectively in a business setting: understand diverse audiences and build sound arguments. This course will sharpen your writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills to help you succeed in the business world. You will learn a range of successful practices and guidelines that have been derived from both research and experience.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Water and Wastewater Treatment Engineering: Biochemical Technology (edX) EdX
Tsinghua University,TsinghuaX

Water and Wastewater Treatment Engineering: Biochemical Technology (edX)

Learn the basic principles and characteristics of biochemical technology in water and wastewater treatment engineering. Biochemical technology in water and wastewater treatment engineering is essential in the field of water treatment. In this environmental studies course you will learn the basic principles and characteristics of biochemical technology.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Design Thinking: Ideation, Iteration and Communication (edX) EdX
Rochester Institute of Technology,RITx

Design Thinking: Ideation, Iteration and Communication (edX)

Learn how ideas transform into solutions through iteration and validation along with best practices for communicating your solution to stakeholders. Designing a successful and innovative solution requires creative ideas and their iteration. As critical phases of the design thinking process, ideation and iteration are often what distinguish design thinking from traditional or linear problem-solving approaches.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Dynamics and Control (edX) EdX
Universitat Politècnica de València,UPValenciaX

Dynamics and Control (edX)

This is an interactive course about the basic concepts of Systems, Control and their impact in all the human activities. First, the basic concepts of systems, dynamics, structure and control are introduced. Then, looking at many examples in Nature and human made devices, we will realize that the dynamic behavior of most systems can be modified by adding a control system. Later we will see how knowing how to evaluate the dynamic behavior of a system and measure its performance will provide the tools to design new controlled systems fulfilling some requirements.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Introducción a la Ingeniería del Software (edX) EdX
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid,UAMx

Introducción a la Ingeniería del Software (edX)

Conoce las distintas fases de desarrollo por las que pasa un proyecto informático, así como las actividades de gestión necesarias para lograr finalizar el proyecto con éxito. ¿Alguna vez te has preguntado qué es y para qué sirve la Ingeniería de Software? ¿Quieres saber por qué es tan necesaria esta disciplina y por qué se utiliza tanto en entornos tecnológicos? ¿O cuál es el motivo de que muchos proyectos informáticos no finalizan en tiempo y coste o con la calidad deseada?

Self Paced
Self-Paced
English for Doing Business in Asia - Speaking (edX) EdX
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST,HKUSTx

English for Doing Business in Asia - Speaking (edX)

Introducing strategies for developing your spoken English communication skills in the context of doing business in Asia. The use of English for doing business in multinational settings is a fact of life for many business people. As Asian economies expand and become more involved in the global economy, a lingua franca – a language used to communicate among groups of people who do not share a mother tongue – is needed to exchange information.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
A Hands-on Introduction to Engineering Simulations (edX) EdX
CornellX,Cornell University

A Hands-on Introduction to Engineering Simulations (edX)

Learn how to analyze real-world engineering problems using ANSYS simulation software and gain important professional skills sought by employers. In this hands-on course, you’ll learn how to perform engineering simulations using a powerful tool from ANSYS, Inc. This is a problem-based course where you’ll learn by doing. The focus will be on understanding what’s under the blackbox so as to move beyond garbage-in, garbage-out. You’ll practice using a common solution approach to problems involving different physics: structural mechanics, fluid dynamics and heat transfer.

Self Paced
Self-Paced