Technology that can be used for wireless information networks is currently undergoing rapid development. Among the many applications include indoor wireless local area networks (LAN) to provide for the portability and mobility of computer terminals and workstations, digital cellular mobile radio telephone networks to increase channel capacity over current narrowband analog FM cellular systems, and personal communication networks (PCN) where individual users operate pocket sized transceivers capable of making telephone calls using a fully mobile service whether they are at home, in the office, or on the street.This award will assist in funding a new senior level electrical engineering laboratory supporting studies of wireless information systems. Topics to be addressed include pseudo-noise codes, direct sequence spread spectrum, frequency hopped signals, acquisition and tracking, CDMA wireless computer communications, UHF channel propagation characteristics including multipath time delay profiles and attenuation measurements, bit error rate measurements, and phase-locked loops. In addition to formal weekly lab experiments, all students will be required to do a design project relating to wireless information networks, make oral presentations, and submit written reports.
