Tag Archives: Term 3

Networking and Operating Systems

Spring 2016 – DIY Directional Antennas Project – Build Phase and Testing

Objective:

I can demonstrate my understanding of computer networks, network operating systems and wireless networking by assembling a directional antenna with the intent of establishing and sustaining a 2.4 GHz wireless signal at a distance of greater than 100 yards.

Links:

Do It Yourself Wireless Antenna (Pringles Can Yagi): https://www.binarywolf.com/249/pringles_cantenna.htm

How to Build a Tin Can Waveguide WiFi Antenna: https://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

802.11b Homebrew Wi-Fi Antenna Shootout: https://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html

DIY Bi-Quad Directional Wi-Fi Antenna: https://lifehacker.com/5964111/diy-wi-fi-antenna-cheaply-extends-your-wireless-network

Build a Directional Wi-Fi Antenna from Kitchen Gear and a Baby Bottle: https://lifehacker.com/build-a-directional-wi-fi-antenna-from-kitchen-gear-and-1686173362

$10 Wi-Fi 16dBi Super Antenna: https://www.instructables.com/id/10–WIFI-16dBi-Super-Antenna-Pictorial/

Topics Discussed:

Wireless Networking
802.11 Wi-Fi spec
Directional Antennas
Waveguide Antenna
Yagi Antenna
Flickenger design Antenna

Assignment:

Today, we will continue the build phase of our directional antenna project. Remember that the goal is to sustain a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal over a minimum distance of 100 yards (300 ft or ~92m).

All tools and equipment are located in Room 212. The wireless network cards are located in the cabinet closest to the Teacher Workroom door in Room 212. If the cabinet is locked, see Mr. Herrera for the key. If you have not already, you should request a wireless network card and install it in your PC. There should be enough wireless network cards to install one in each team’s PC for testing.

Please use this time to make progress on your project. I have extended the time well beyond the original projected testing date, but we do not have unlimited time. On Tuesday, March 1st, we will go out to the football field and test all completed antennas to allow those with working products to see the results and modify their designs if necessary. It is in your best interest to test tomorrow so you can tweak the design if necessary before the final test!

We will conduct final tests the week of March 7th. To be considered a success (and receive credit for the project), your antenna design must be able to sustain at least a one-bar wireless signal over a 100 yard distance (the length of the football field).

Reminder: The team (or individual) that produces the antenna that can reliably sustain the highest gain signal over the longest distance will receive a personal pizza and wings party, to be held while everyone else writes a four paragraph personal reflection describing their participation in this project.

Good luck, and remember: Your antenna doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be better than everyone else’s.

Posted: February 29th, 2016
Due Date: March 7th, 2016

Networking and Operating Systems

Spring 2016 – DIY Directional Antennas Project

Objective:

  • I can demonstrate my understanding of computer networks, network operating systems and wireless networking by assembling a directional antenna with the intent of establishing and sustaining a 2.4 GHz wireless signal at a distance of greater than 100 yards.

Links:

Do It Yourself Wireless Antenna (Pringles Can Yagi): https://www.binarywolf.com/249/pringles_cantenna.htm

How to Build a Tin Can Waveguide WiFi Antenna: https://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

802.11b Homebrew Wi-Fi Antenna Shootout: https://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html

DIY Bi-Quad Directional Wi-Fi Antenna:  https://lifehacker.com/5964111/diy-wi-fi-antenna-cheaply-extends-your-wireless-network

Build a Directional Wi-Fi Antenna from Kitchen Gear and a Baby Bottle: https://lifehacker.com/build-a-directional-wi-fi-antenna-from-kitchen-gear-and-1686173362

$10 Wi-Fi 16dBi Super Antenna: https://www.instructables.com/id/10–WIFI-16dBi-Super-Antenna-Pictorial/

Topics Discussed:

  • Wireless Networking
  • 802.11 Wi-Fi spec
  • Directional Antennas
  • Waveguide Antenna
  • Yagi Antenna
  • Flickenger design Antenna

Assignment:

Today, we are going to begin a focused short-term project in preparation for our broader long-term project following Spring Break. The goal is simple: design and build a directional antenna that will sustain a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal over a minimum distance of 100 yards (300 ft or ~92m).

The stretch goal is a little more complex: design and build a directional antenna that will extend that 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal as far as possible.

  1. Use the links I have provided to learn about do-it-yourself directional antenna designs. There are many designs to choose from, so do your research and select the design that you think will be most effective in extending and sustaining the Wi-Fi signal over the longest range.
  2. You may work with a partner, or choose to go it alone. If you choose to work with a partner, you will need to pick up and complete both a Project Team Contract and a Project Team Work Plan (available in the Student Pickup Folder in the Marmolejo NetOp 1-2 subfolder on the StudentsTempFiles network share).
  3. Even if you are working by yourself, use the Project Team Work Plan to identify and prepare for the steps of this project (i.e. research, acquisition of materials, installation, configuration, building, testing, modification and upgrades). Submit a completed Project Team Work Plan to the instructor as soon as it is completed.
  4. Proceed with the first identified steps in your Project Team Work Plan. Do your best to follow the plan, but don’t be afraid to amend or alter the plan as the need arises.
  5. You may work in either Room 225 or Room 212, but you will need to notify the instructor if you need access to Room 212.
  6. All tools and equipment are located in Room 212. The wireless network cards are located in the cabinet closest to the Teacher Workroom door in Room 212. You will need to request a wireless network card when you are ready to install it in your PC. (We only have four 802.11g network cards, so you will need to share unless you are willing to provide your own).
  7. Please use this time to make progress on your project. We have time provided to complete the project, but no time to waste. It is highly likely that your first antenna design may not be your final design, and you will need time to test and make adjustments to your design to achieve optimal results. Use the time given to build, test, modify and retest to get the best results!
  8. We will conduct final tests the week of February 22nd. To be considered a success (and receive credit for the project), your antenna design must be able to sustain at least a one-bar wireless signal over a 100 yard distance (the length of the football field).
  9. The team (or individual) that produces the antenna that can reliably sustain the highest gain signal over the longest distance will receive a personal pizza and wings party, to be held while everyone else writes a four paragraph personal reflection describing their participation in this project.

Good luck, and remember: the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.

Posted: February 9th, 2016
Due Date: February 19th, 2016

Networking and Operating Systems

Chap. 10: Building Systems & Applications

Objective:

Students will identify and explain key concepts of Software Development, Programming and Programming Languages.

Topics Discussed:

  • Systems Development
  • Software Project Development Lifecycle
  • Programming
  • Five-Step Programming Process
  • Programming Languages
  • Five Generations of Programming Languages
  • Object Oriented Programming
  • Visual Programming
  • Markup & Scripting Languages
Assignment:

  1. Visit https://connect.mheducation.com and read Chapter 10 on Building Systems and Applications. For those of you with programming experience, much of this will be review, but bear in mind that this chapter deals with theoretical software development as it pertains to the business environment, so there will be some terms and procedures that will be completely new to you. In this regard, I urge you to keep an open mind.
  2. Complete the Chapter 10 LearnSmart Practice assignment, due Friday of this week. The Practice assignment consists of 80 questions. Don’t forget to check your score afterwards, and if you got less than 80 percent, try, try again.
Assigned: January 26th, 2016
Due Date: January 29th, 2016
Networking and Operating Systems

Chap. 8: Big Data, Information Systems and Artificial Intelligence – Practice

Objective:

Students will identify and explain the concepts of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, and the databases and information systems that support them.

Topics Discussed:

  • File Management
  • Databases
  • Data Mining
  • Big Data
  • Information Systems
  • Artificial Intelligence
Assignment:

  1. Visit https://connect.mheducation.com and read Chapter 8 on Big Data, Information Systems and Artificial Intelligence. Even for those of you with a lot of computer experience, there’s most likely a good deal of stuff in here that you’re not familiar with, so be sure to at least give it a once-over.
  2. Complete the Chapter 8 LearnSmart Practice assignment, due Friday of this week. The Practice assignment consists of 60 questions. Don’t forget to check your score afterwards, and if you got less than 80 percent, try, try again.
Assigned: January 4th, 2016
Due Date: January 8th, 2016
Networking and Operating Systems

Spring 2015 – Chap. 13 – Operating System Fundamentals

Objective:

  • I can identify key characteristics, functions, interface methods and features of common operating systems.
Links:

Please access the class textbook on StudentsTempFiles in the NetOp 1-2 Student Pickup Folder.
Topics Discussed:
  • Chapter 13, Objective 13.01: Characteristics of the Operating System
  • Chapter 13, Objective 13.02: Common Operating System Functions
  • Chapter 13, Objective 13.03: Operating System Interfaces
  • Chapter 13, Objective 13.04: Common Microsoft Windows Features

Assignment:

  1. Read Objective 13.01 – 13.04 on pages 343 – 368.
  2. Review the Checkpoint quiz answers on pages 370-373.
  3. We will be in the lab later next week to look at Microsoft Windows Features and the Command Line Interface.

Assigned: February 6th, 2015
Due Date: February 9th, 2015

Networking and Operating Systems

Spring 2015 – Objective 12.05 – Maintaining and Troubleshooting Portables

Objective:

  • I can properly maintain and troubleshoot Portable Computers.
Links:

Please access the class textbook on StudentsTempFiles in the NetOp 1-2 Student Pickup Folder.
Topics Discussed:
  • Chapter 12, Objective 12.05: Maintaining and Troubleshooting Portables

Assignment:

  1. Read Objective 12.05 on pages 333 – 338.
  2. Review the Checkpoint quiz answers on pages 338-341.
  3. We will be in the lab later this week to look at laptop disassembly and repair.

Assigned: February 2nd, 2015
Due Date: February 3rd, 2015

Networking and Operating Systems

Spring 2015 – Chap. 10 – Adapters/ Peripherals Quiz

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

Objective:

  • I can demonstrate my understanding of adapters and peripherals through a summative quiz.

Links:

D2SC Website: https://puhsd.d2sc.com/

Topics Discussed:

  • Chapter 10: Adapters and Peripherals

 

Assignment:

  1. Click the D2SC link to connect to the online testing website. Log in with your student number as both the username and the password.
  2. Navigate to your Assignments and click the “Quiz 10 – Adapters/Peripherals Quiz”.
  3. The quiz is 15 questions, all multiple choice.
  4. Please put away all notes, study guides and other materials before starting the quiz.
  5. Please close all other documents and webpages and do not open any new tabs or windows until after you have submitted the quiz.
  6. Please remain silent until everyone has completed the quiz.
  7. Submit your test answers before the end of the class period today.
  8. When you have completed your quiz, begin reading Chapter 11 on Printers in the online textbook located on the StudentsTempFiles (10.4.22.58) network share.

Assigned: January 14th, 2015
Due Date: January 14th, 2015