ECE Communications Laboratory
The Communication
Laboratory in the ECE department is a modern laboratory facility for classroom
instructions and undergraduate research in design, simulation, and
implementation of communication systems and networks. The laboratory equipment
includes function generators, digital oscilloscopes, mixed-signal
oscilloscopes, a high-frequency RF power meter, frequency counter, spectrum
analyzer, and logic analyzers. The computer network in the lab is established
based on the thin-client virtual-desktop concept using NComputing, Inc.’s
platform connected via a dedicated 1 Gbps high-speed LAN.
This laboratory is utilized to facilitate hands-on experiments for the
ECE courses in the fields of wireless and tethered communications such as introduction to
communication systems, computer communication networks, wireless data communication,
and simulation of communication systems. The students learn to become
proficient in the use of industry-standard tools such as OPNET for network simulation and MATLAB for signal processing, as well as the laboratory equipment
for design and testing. For instance, a test setup for a student project to
design a high-altitude ballooning payload is shown in the figure.