RF Design in the Classroom

Few electrical engineering students arrive on campus with the basic skills needed to turn a concept into working hardware that solves a problem. Even university seniors typically have had few opportunities to practice design; that is, given a constrained set of tools, skills, and components, create, evaluate, and implement a unique solution to a particular problem or to address a particular need. The Portland State approach has been to separate the wireless RF functions from the need for digital hardware.