2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The increasing complexity of modern wireless communication systems has created a challenge in educating the next generation of Radio Frequency (RF) engineers. With a shortage of hands-on experiential opportunities and limited applied demonstration of electromagnetic wave propagation, students often struggle to connect theoretical knowledge with practical implementation. While fundamental theory of modulation schemes is essential, ensuring that students are ready for the workforce necessitates hands-on experience with actual signal analysis and system development. Classroom sets of RF equipment are often cost prohibitive for educational institutions, making it difficult to offer individualized instruction for students. To bridge this gap, it is imperative to provide students with opportunities to practice RF concepts with affordable and accessible hardware. This paper introduces a comprehensive solution to these challenges by incorporating an interactive educational platform using commonly available hardware and open-source software to teach digital modulation recognition and signal analysis through progressive hands-on modules.

The platform leverages low-cost components including ESP32 microcontrollers, CC1101 radio transcievers, and commercial Software Defined Radios (SDRs) to create an engaging learning environment where students can learn modulation schemes. A central receiver station operated by the educator includes a programmable LED array that provides visual confirmation when students successfully transmit valid packets based on provided parameters. The total cost of a single basic student station is under $75, while an advanced configuration with HackRF SDRs remain accessible at $400 per station.

In this paper, we detail the development and delivery of five comprehensive lab exercises covering 2-FSK, 4-FSK, GFSK, MSK, and ASK modulation schemes. Each lab is designed with adjustable complexity levels, allowing educators to tailor the difficulty based on course objectives. We provide three distinct hardware configurations: (1) an ESP32/CC1101 unit to program transmitters and learn modulation parameters, (2) a RTL-SDR to capture and analyze signals and recreate them using the ESP32/CC1101, and (3) a HackRF One SDR for full receive and transmit capability for advanced SDR modules. We provide preconfigured labs meant for streamlined integration into a broad range wireless communications class. These labs allow students to identify modulation schemes, determine data rates and frequency deviations, and implement their own transmissions, illuminating a specific LED on educator's receiver. Educators can easily customize packet fields to create unique challenges and prevent simple replay attacks. Assessment methodologies range from basic packet generation to complex signal analysis, supporting various learning objectives. The purpose of this paper and the supporting material is to provide educators with an effective supplement to traditional RF equipment. The practical labs enable students at all levels to gain hands-on experience required for the modern workforce.