Communications Systems Lab

Students design, test and analyze real communication systems, progressing from RF components to full wireless receivers. Capstone projects connect these skills to real aviation communication applications.

In the Communications Systems Lab, Electrical Engineering students learn to characterize fundamental building blocks for communications systems such as mixers, amplifiers, splitters, filters and oscillators. Next, students combine these components to implement important communication systems functions, such as the detection of amplitude-modulated signals.

Later in the Wireless Communication Systems Lab, students conduct wireless communications experiments where they transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals and characterize the path loss and signal attenuations at various transmitter-receiver separation distances for both indoor and outdoor wireless systems.

During capstone projects, students apply the knowledge gained in the labs to develop a functioning aircraft band receiver that allows them to monitor conversations from local tower and ground controllers, as well as aircraft that are en route. The Communications Systems Laboratory provides students with hands-on, real-world experience that enables them to take their skills to the next level.

Equipment

• 8 Dell Optiplex 7020 computers with Intel Core i7 processors and solid-state drives
• 4 Fluke 6061A synthesized RF signal generators
• 1 HP 4195A network/spectrum analyzer
• 1 Advantest 3265A spectrum analyzer
• 1 Fluke PM 6303 RLC meter
• 8 HP 339A distortion measurement sets
• 8 Fluke 1912A frequency counters
• 8 HP 4332A power meters
• 10 Tektronix 2215A 60 MHz analog oscilloscopes
• 8 GW Instek dual-output DC power supplies
• Amplifiers, splitters, mixers, cables, connectors, test leads, etc.
• 2 RF gears for up-converting and down-converting baseband signals from standard off-the-shelf signal generators to and from millimeter-wave (mmWave) bands
• 1 Agilent EXG Vector Signal Generator for generating baseband signals
• 2 Keysight EXG Analog Signal Generators for generating carrier signals
• 1 Keysight CXA Signal Analyzer

Research Capacity

• Pathloss measurements and characterizations for RF communications at mmWave bands
• Diversity signal combining based on real-world measurements at ISM bands