Abhijit Dutta analyses the different branches of electronics and communication engineering
AS THE entrances draw to a close, a lot of engineering students are confused about what branch to choose from the plethora available. To help with this dilemma, here is a detailed analysis of the different branches up for grabs.
First up: Electronics and communications engineering (ECE) deals with the design and development of electronic circuits, equipment and machines. The electronics and communications bachelor of technology (BTech) course is very similar to the electronics engineering BTech course. They differ only in that the former has subjects that focus more on communication engineering. Communications can be analog or digital.
ECE covers subjects including optical communication, wireless and mobile communication, digital communication, communication system, antenna and microwave engineering, industrial economics, thermodynamics, measurement and instrumentation, information theory and coding, satellite communication and radar, artificial neural networks, radar and navigation, TV engineering, multimedia communication, advanced microprocessor, and advanced semiconductor devices.
An ECE Engineer has to design, fabricate, maintain, supervise, and manufacture electronic equipment used in the entertainment media, in hospitals, in the computer industry, for communication and in defence. Electronics engineers work with devices that use extremely small amounts of power. They work with microprocessors, fibre optics, and in telecommunication, television, and radio.
Graduates in electronics and communication engineering are qualified for employment in a wide variety of sectors. This ranges from consumer electronics such as television, video and compact disc to the use of electronic systems for communications and computing in business. In the public utilities such as electricity, gas and water supply, electronic control and protection systems are indispensable. Students completing the undergraduate curriculum can be employed in the public and private sector industries and organizations such as the Indian Telephone Industries, MTNL, National Physical Laboratories, AIR, civil aviation, and the police wireless departments.
Electronics engineers are also absorbed into the entertainment transmission industry, research establishments, and defence. They can also take up teaching and research in one of the many engineering colleges in India or abroad.
Courses in ECE are offered by almost all IITs and NITs, most universities, and state-funded institutions. ([email protected])
