ET-232: Wireless Mobile Communications

Course, prefix, number, & title: ET-232 Wireless Mobile Communications

Hours (Class, recitation, Laboratory, studio): 3

Credits: 3

Pre-requisites (if any): ET-704 or Permission of the Department

Course Description in college catalog:

We live in a wireless world. All the technologies and standards that have been released in the past six years, along with the ones that will be released, mean that almost everything we do every aspect of our lives—has a wireless component. This course covers the important aspects of mobile and wireless communications from the Internet to signals, access protocols and cellular systems, emphasizing the key area of digital data transfer.

Academic programs for which this course serves as a requirement or an elective:

A.A.S. Computer Engineering Technology

A.A.S. Internet and Information Technology

A.A.S. Electronic Engineering Technology 

A.A.S. Telecommunications Technology

Internet and Information Technology

General Education Outcomes: Below is a listing of General Education Outcome(s) that this course supports.

1. Use analytical reasoning to identify issues or problems and evaluate evidence in order to make informed decisions

2. Reason quantitatively as required in various fields of interest and in everyday life

Course-specific student learning outcomes:

Students should describe the basic principles of wireless environment in mobile communications; identify a broad range of media access technologies and be able to explain why media access technologies from fixed networks often cannot be applied to wireless networks; show how the multiplexing schemes, can now be used for accessing the medium; able to describe standards, frequencies, services, access methods, and the architectures of the various mobile systems worldwide, such as GSM, LTE, WiMAX.

Program-specific outcomes

ABET Criterion 3 Student Outcomes addressed by ET-232:

Student Outcome (1) - an ability to apply knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to solve well-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline;

• Performance Indicator ETCT1-4 Interpret relevant technical standards.

Methods by which student learning will be assessed and evaluated; describe the types of methods to be employed; note whether certain methods are required for all sections:

ET 232 Lecture Course Topics- Table of Week Numbers and Lecture Course Topics:

Course objectives/expected student learning outcomes

Week	Lecture Topics
1	Introduction: How Wireless Technology Is Used; Wireless Applications; Wireless Advantages and Disadvantages
2	Wireless Data Transmission: Wireless Signals; How Radio Data Is Transmitted; Spread Spectrum
3	Radio Frequency Communications: Components of a Radio System; Design a Radio System; Understanding Standards; Radio Frequency Spectrum
4	How Antennas Work: Gain and Loss; Antenna Characteristics; How Antennas Work; Antenna Performance; Antenna System Implementation
5	Wireless Personal Area Networks: What is WPAN; RF WPANs; Low Rate WPAN Security
6	High-Rate Wireless Personal Area Networks: High Rate WPAN Standards; Ultra - Wide Band (UWB); WPAN Challenges
7	Midterm Lab Practical Exam
8	Low-Speed Wireless Local Area Networks: WLAN Applications; WLAN Components; Wireless LAN Standards and Operation; Point Coordination Function
9	High-Speed WLANs and WLAN Security: IEEE 802.11a; IEEE 802.11n and Other Amendments; Expanding WLAN Functionality; Other WLAN Expansion Hardware; 802.11 Security
10	Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks: What is a WMAN; Land Based Fixed Broadband Wireless; WMAN Security
11	Wireless Wide Area Networks: Cellular Telephone Technology; Satellite Broadband Wireless
12	Radio Frequency Identification and Near Field Communication: What is RFID; How RFID Works; Near Field Communications; RFID Application; RFID and NFC Challenge
13	Wireless Communications in Business: Advantages of Wireless Technology; Challenges of Using Wireless Technology; Building a Wireless Infrastructure
14	Review Final Exam
15	Final Exam

ET 232 Lab Course Topics- Tables of Week Numbers and Lab Course Topics:

Course objectives/expected student learning outcomes

Week	Lecture Topics
1	Lab 1: introduction and lab safety. Reading Assignment: Ch1 (Pages 1-40)
2	Lab 2: Use of digital modulation to create a waveform of a digital signal encoded onto a carrier using PSK
3	Lab 3: Examine resulting output frequency ranges from the various filters. Create a CDMA signal in the transmitter, and decode it in the receiver.
4	Lab 4: Investigate the loss of signal strength caused by natural and man-made objects located in a radio signal’s path.
5	Lab 5: Create a Bluetooth PAN using the devices with Bluetooth adapter
6	Lab 6: Compare HR WPAN Technologies
7	Midterm Lab Exam
8	Lab 7: Configure a wireless network connection in Microsoft Windows 7
9	Lab 8: Configure a 802.11n capable residential gateway, to understand which items affect the speed and performance of the wireless links
10	Lab 9: Identify locations of the antennas for a mobile WiMAX network in your area. Display this using Google Maps
11	Lab 10: Using Radio Mobile suite, determine the properties of a 4G cellular network
12	Lab 11: Determine security related issues surrounding RFID
13	Lab 12: Perform a limited 802.11 site survey.
14	Final Lab Practical Exam

Academic Integrity policy (department or College):
Academic honesty is expected of all students. Any violation of academic integrity is taken extremely seriously. All assignments and projects must be the original work of the student or teammates. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any questions regarding academic integrity should be brought to the attention of the instructor. The following is the Queensborough Community College Policy on Academic Integrity: "It is the official policy of the College that all acts or attempted acts that are violations of Academic Integrity be reported to the Office of Student Affairs. At the faculty member's discretion and with the concurrence of the student or students involved, some cases though reported to the Office of Student Affairs may be resolved within the confines of the course and department. The instructor has the authority to adjust the offender's grade as deemed appropriate, including assigning an F to the assignment or exercise or, in more serious cases, an F to the student for the entire course." Read the University's policy on Academic Integrity opens in a new window(PDF).

Disabilities
Any student who feels that he or she may need an accommodation based upon the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Accessibility Services in Science Building, Room S-132, 718-631-6257, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. You can visit the Office of Accessibility Services website.