Development of an Undergraduate Communications Simulation Laboratory

Authors

Ahmed Musa, University of Texas at El Paso
Virgilio Gonzalez, University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Mehdi Shadaram, University of Texas at San Antonio

Publication Date

2004

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Comments

Musa, A. Gonzalez, V. Shadaram, M. ' Development of an Undergraduate Communications Simulation Laboratory ', ASEE-GSW24 conference, Paper 67 ,Lubbock Texas,March 24

Abstract

This paper describes the implementation of a new course in communications through the creation of a computer-based laboratory for modeling and simulating communication systems. The lecture course in a typical Electrical Engineering (EE) curriculum, along with this laboratory, provide a totally integrated delivery system for teaching a wide spectrum of topics ranging from transmission/reception concepts and applications to performance analysis of fiber optic networks. The laboratory is easily implemented by constructing a PC-based computer network supporting several simulation tools. Students are able to access a variety of software packages for analysis of different communication systems. The topics covered in the laboratory can be divided into three categories: communication signals, fiber optic and wireless links, and communication networks. Senior and graduate students are the primary users of this laboratory. Typically, this laboratory can be utilized as a supplement to the existing communication courses or be taken as an elective course.