The belated December 2024 recipient for the Great Scott Gadgets Free Stuff Program is Adrian Lam from Victoria, Australia! Adrian is a high school STEM teacher at a small, independent school and wants to create a Wireless Exploration Lab for his students, aimed at teaching the fundamentals of wireless communication systems.

The Wireless Exploration Lab will introduce students aged 14-18 to concepts such as radio wave propagation, spectrum analysis, and digital modulation, linking these concepts to the science/technology curriculum and real-world applications like IoT, mobile networks, and satellite communications. Once the lab is ready, students will lead a project of designing and deploying a school-wide weather data station network using low-power wireless sensors. They will use HackRF One to visualize and analyze the wireless signals sent by these sensors, gaining hands-on experience with software-defined radio. The station will record weather metrics (temperature, humidity, and pressure), transmitting data via RF signals for display on a central dashboard. The program is designed to encourage awareness and an appreciation of sustainability practices in addition to STEM teaching, and include students from other local schools, as well as members from the community.

Adrian says that his students are already familiar with how to use a Raspberry Pi for data collection, and they have developed the initial framework for their weather station network, including the construction of basic sensor modules and a prototype dashboard for displaying data. HackRF One is ideal for the Wireless Exploration Lab because of its versatility, ease of use, and compatibility with educational software like GNU Radio. Its wide frequency range (1 MHz to 6 GHz) will allow students to explore a broad spectrum of signals, from the sensors’ low-power transmissions to real-world signals like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. As a half-duplex transceiver, it can not only receive signals for analysis but also transmit, enabling students to simulate wireless protocols and test their designs. HackRF One’s programmability will allow them to introduce advanced topics such as modulation techniques and spectrum efficiency, fostering a deeper understanding of SDR technology.

We will be sending Adrian a HackRF One to support his students in their ongoing development of the Wireless Exploration Lab and weather monitoring project. Thank you Adrian for introducing your students to the wonderful world of open source hardware and wireless communication! We are looking forward to seeing what you all accomplish together.