The remote educational antenna laboratory: making it easier to add projects to antenna courses [education column]

An antenna measurement facility has been constructed that can be remotely controlled over the Internet. The primary purpose of the facility is to make it easier for instructors to include antenna construction and measurement projects in courses on antennas, RF systems, and electromagnetic fields. The facility is capable of measuring gain, patterns, and return loss for antennas of the type used in personal electronic devices in the 800 MHz to 6.5 GHz range. Experience with remotely supporting courses at Carnegie Mellon University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute showed that both students and instructors felt that use of the remote laboratory added value to the students´ experiences.