In-class demonstration using amateur radio satellites for the teaching of communications engineering at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Abstract

One of the most readily available demonstrations for teaching communications engineering is the amateur radio satellites orbiting the Earth. There are several advantages to using amateur satellites for classroom demonstration. The positions of the satellites are predictable, and, unlike terrestrial communications, the links are generally line of sight and more reliable. In general, the effects of the ionosphere are very minimal on electromagnetic waves with frequencies above 30 MHz. The instructor is at a liberty to use very simple station setup and go through the rudiments of radio communications. This paper describes a case study in which such satellites were used to enhance the students' understanding and grasp of the subject at the undergraduate level. The students have been very responsive to this hands-on approach in learning. The author has observed a change in the students' attitude and eagerness towards the course. Although the demonstrations are simple and easy to carry out, the impact on learning can be significant.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>