This project will complete the first (two year) phase of establishing a hands-on telecommunications laboratory, supporting undergraduate instruction in Information Systems, Computer Networks, Computer Architecture and Networking Software. It is a joint interdisciplinary project including Computer Information Systems (CIS) in the School of Business and Computer Science (CS) in the School of Science. Data communications laboratory courses from both disciplines are presently being offered using the equipment on hand. The current courses are designed to teach the basics of data communications, including transmission media, LAN configurations, operation, management and diagnosis. However, the current laboratory does not include network analysis nor fiber optic equipment. These limitations severely restrict the scope of the possible experiences. The equipment to be purchased under this project will allow students to carry out a full complement of experiments. The goal is to provide students with direct, hands-on experience in designing, assembling, testing, modifying and diagnosing telecommunications networks. Over a five year period it is planned to expand from data communications to a laboratory which will support experiments in the high speed transmission and switching of multiform information, including data, images, voice and video.
