The Rochester Institute of Technology has introduced a course in wireless technology and its deployment, using inexpensive carts as mobile experimental laboratories for their students. This approach to instruction provides students with a fundamental understanding of wireless networks, starting with the physical layer and proceeding through to the current products used to form wireless networks. The student is first introduced to an interference-free environment outside, so as to understand the basics of the technology from the perspective of a network designer and from that of a manager. This is possible because the carts have an uninterruptible power supply capability of up to four hours and can be moved around the campus. The authors give an introduction to the theory of wireless networks and provide the basic information on wireless networks in an interference-free environment. They then cover interference from other networks in a variety of situations.

This is a very forward-looking way of providing hands-on experience interspersed with theory. It gives students pragmatic instruction and is affordable.