EE & CPEN 5 - SEL Wireless Communications

Student Team: 3 EE Students
Advisor: TBD
Sponsoring Organization: Schweitzer Engineering Labs
Liaison:  Bill Burns

Project Background:

SEL is in the process of developing two new wireless communications products for use in the ISM bands (900 MHz, and 2.4GHz).

As part of the project validation phase the performance of radio's need to be tested under real conditions.

Project Goal:

Perform field testing of 900MHz and 2.4GHz radio's  to characterize link range and receiver sensitivity.

Project Deliverables:

1. Characterize link range and receiver sensitivity using different antenna configurations  for urban, suburban and rural environments of 900MHz and 2.4Ghz ethernet radios.
2. Antenna configurations will include omni-directional, yagi and panel
3. Perform field testing using 2 radio's to determine the effective range and receiver sensitivity of each radio type using different antennas in different environments
4. Use radio link statistics to determine performance
5. Students will need to learn and apply radio path theory to ensure the radio link paths used for each field test are optimal for performance testing.
6. Students will use freeware software from Radio Mobile to perform radio path studies.

Project Management and Communication Expectations:

1. Project Plan and Schedule
2. Learn principles of radio path studies
3. Learn principles of radio technology being used in SEL radio
4. Understand different antenna types and how to set up radio link based on path study
5. Learn how to use freeware software from Radio Mobile to perform radio path studies
6. Determine appropriate locations for setting up radio sites for each model (urban, suburban and rural)
7. Perform field testing and record data
8. Compile a report that details the results of radio performance (range and sensitivity) for each radio and antenna type
9. Regular meeting schedule: TBD
10. Weekly status report to be sent to Henry and Bill

Project Research:

1. Principles of radio propagation and path studies
2. Propagation of radio waves in free space
3. Sources of interference