Block Diagram

Today’s formal telecommunications coursework and texts use the ‘Block Diagram’ as the standard notation to describe techniques of modulation and demodulation. The individual blocks that make up such diagrams usually represent basic electronic circuit functions such as oscillators, filters, adders, multipliers, etc.

In TIMS, these individual blocks are implemented as plug-in and fixed modules. All plug-in modules are hot-swappable and inputs/outputs are protected.

Modules are patched together according to a block diagram, modelling mathematical equations through to complete communications systems. The performance of the TIMS model will closely match ‘textbook’ theory.

TIMS plug in modules as functional blocks

Block diagram approach


Watch a 2.00 minute long animation on the Unique Block Diagram Approach and the TIMS concept in implementing Telecoms experiments.

TIMS University Level Training

Each TIMS module can be used in any number of experiments. There are no scale markings on TIMS module control knobs. Without scale markings, students are prevented from using a ‘cook book’ approach to setting up experiments (i.e. pre-setting of variables). Students must measure the variables to check against theoretical calculations.

Go to Experiments List

  • Is real educative value
  • Providing hands-on training
  • Bringing ‘learning by doing’
  • Using hardware-based true modelling
  • Giving stable ‘textbook’ scope displays
  • Designed from the start to be student-proof as well as future-proof

EXPERIMENT EXAMPLE 1 - AM

This example details the implementation of AM modulation from the equation to block diagram (click to view brief animation) and to its implementation with TIMS modules. Similarly, any form of modulation or coding can be implemented using TIMS's true hardware modeling approach shown below.

Take a mathematical equation:

Mathematical equation of AM

Represent it as a block diagram:

Block diagram of AM modulation

Implement it using TIMS Modules:

TIMS modules patched for AM


EXAMPLE 2 – QPSK

This example details the implementation of QPSK modulation from the equation to block diagram and to its implementation with TIMS modules. Similarly, any form of modulation or coding can be implemented using TIMS's true hardware modeling approach shown below.

Take a mathematical equation:

QPSK Mathematical equation

Represent it as a block diagram:

QPSK Block diagram representation

Implement it using TIMS Modules:

QPSK implemented using TIMS modules