Wireless communications underpins much of modern engineering. WiFi, Cellular and increasingly, sensor networks making up the Internet of Things (IoT) are becoming ubiquitous. In Biomedical Engineering wireless attached body sensors are used for continuous health monitoring. In Industrial Process Engineering networks of sensors and actuators are used to monitor and control inputs, machines and outputs. In Mining Engineering wireless is essential for the control and monitoring of underground vehicles and machinery. In Civil Engineering wireless sensor networks are used to monitor and control the integrity of structures. No area of engineering is untouched by wireless communications.

Consequently, Engineering education regardless of the area, should include wireless communications. Unfortunately, wireless communications education has largely been restricted to electrical engineers specialising in telecommunications. It has tended to be theoretical, mathematical, and with an emphasis on the theory of transmission rather than setting up of networks of wireless enabled devices.

Given its importance, wireless communications should be able to be taught in a less theoretical manner to a much broader group of Engineering students who do not necessarily have nor need a detailed understanding of transmission theory. In particular, it should include the practicalities of powering, connecting and using transmitters and receivers, attaching sensors and actuators, and how they can be formed into networks.

In this paper we will discuss our work in developing a lab oriented wireless unit for Engineering students studying in any area. Wireless components and the microcontrollers needed to program and control them are now quite low cost. We purchased a selection of components to put together a kit for every student studying the unit. The kit comprised a variety of low cost transmitters and receivers, including WiFi, Bluetooth, LoRa and other technologies along with a low cost microcontroller to program and drive them. Students used the kits to explore fundamental transmission issues of path loss, shadow fading and spread spectrum performance. However, students also gained hands-on experience in wiring and powering the transmitters and receivers as well as attaching sensors and actuators to them. In the final few labs, students worked as large groups to build complex wireless networks within the lab to explore issues of redundancy, collision and throughput.

Student feedback has been very good. Students can see the practical use of what is studied but also gain deep insights into the nature of wireless communication and wireless networking.

Teaching wireless communications in a lab environment has considerable challenges related to interference between work being done by different students. Unlike other communications systems what one student does will inevitably impact other students. The final part of the paper will discuss how this issue was addressed.

Keywords: Wireless networks, Engineering Education.