100641 - HLSI-001 Introduction to Wireless Communication Fundamentals and the Radio Frequency Spectrum

Overview

HLSI-001 Introduction to Wireless Communication Fundamentals and the Radio Frequency Spectrum provides an overview of fundamental concepts for wireless communications and an introduction to the radio frequency spectrum and approaches for achieving efficient spectrum use.

Participants explore concepts in depth through interactive simulations to apply and extend knowledge gained through video lectures, text notes, example videos, and more.

The course also includes links to selected external learning resources including additional interactive simulations, tutorial documents, and videos of a major radio frequency spectrum sharing competition.

Participants will earn 1.0 CEU upon completion this course.

Agenda/Schedule

Course Content:

1. Wireless communication links

Systems and subsystems: transmitters, receivers, antennas
Wireless channels, noise and interference
Signals and their properties
Information capacity of a channel
Analog and digital modulation
Multiplexing, duplexing, and multiple access
Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)
Decibels and how to use them to simplify calculations

2. The RF spectrum, frequency agility, and spectrum management

Frequency-domain representation of signals
Wireless communication link performance metrics
Transmitter settings that can be adapted to optimize wireless link performance
Software defined radio (SDR): Applications, Enabling Technologies, and Examples
RF spectrum management
Spectrum sharing/dynamic spectrum access with examples
Primary and secondary users
Spectrum sharing approaches: overlay, underlay, and interweave
Spectrum access systems (SAS), TV white space (TVWS) database
Defense-related RF spectrum concepts: electromagnetic battlespace, electromagnetic spectrum operations, electromagnetic maneuver warfare

Additional Information

The Hands-on Learning for Radio Frequency Spectrum Innovation program includes two courses:

• HLSI-001: Introduction to Wireless Communication Fundamentals and the Radio Frequency Spectrum
• HLSI-002: Intelligent Control of Frequency-Agile RF Systems

Purchase both as a bundle for a discounted price of $450 total ($225 per course).

Hands-on Learning for Radio Frequency Spectrum Innovation | Virginia Tech Continuing and Professional Education

Speaker(s)/Instructor(s)

Dr. Carl Dietrich is a research faculty member who is also with the Bradley Department and Wireless atVirginia Tech. His research interests encompass multiple aspects of wireless communications including software defined radio, spectrum sharing, and application of multi-antenna systems, as well as engineering education and workforce development, Dietrich also provides educational and consulting services through SDRS Wireless.

Other

If you have not received the email from Virginia Tech Guest Management Service to set up your Canvas account within 3 business days, please reach out to Siwen Yin (sy4167@vt.edu) immediately and provide your First Name, Last Name, and an alternate email address.

Applies Towards the Following Certificates/Programs

Hands-on Learning for Radio Frequency Spectrum Innovation : Courses

Enroll Now - Select a section to enroll in

100641 - 569963A

2025

Available

Course #1 - Introduction to Wireless Communication Fundamentals and the Radio Frequency Spectrum and Spectrum Management (RFS)

Discussion

May 01, 2025 to Sep 30, 2025

10.0

569963A Registration

$250.00

Test Code

1 CEUs

Section Notes

This course will utilize the Canvas learning management software to house digital course materials. No paper materials will be provided for this course. If registering with a .edu or .gov email address, please provide a secondary email for Canvas log-in credential set up.

Course Timeline: The registration link is available until Nov 30, 2025. The course material will expire on Aug 31, 2026. We recommend at least 30 days to complete the course.

Set up your Canvas account
You will receive an email from “Virginia Tech Guest Management Service” with the subject “Virginia Tech Guest Account Invitation.” Use this email to create your “Virginia Tech guest account,” which you will use to log in to Canvas. Your email address will be your log-in name.
If you cannot find this email in your inbox, please try these steps:

- Look in your spam folder (Click the links for: how to find spam folder in Gmail, how to find spam folder in AOL, how to find spam folder in Yahoo)
- Search your email for “Virginia Tech Guest Account Invitation”
- Search your email for “You have been invited to create a Virginia Tech guest account”

After creating your account, it may take 6 hours for your account to become active. You likely will not be able to log in right away.

After waiting 6 hours, go to https://profdev-lms.tlos.vt.edu/ to view your Dashboard. You should see the HLSI course. You can click into that course to proceed.

Can’t remember if you already set up your guest account?
If you can’t remember whether or not you already set up your Canvas/Virginia Tech guest account or if you can’t remember your password, try going to https://profdev-lms.tlos.vt.edu/ and logging in. You may use the “I forgot my username or password” option to recover your forgotten username/password. Your username is your full email address you signed up with in registration.

If you have not received the email from Virginia Tech Guest Management Service to set up your Canvas account within 3 business days, please reach out to Siwen Yin (sy4167@vt.edu) immediately and provide your First Name, Last Name, and an alternate email address.

Refund and Cancellation Policy:
Refund requests must be received 14 calendar days prior to the program start date. A $30 administrative fee will be deducted from all refunds. Requests should be sent by email or by initiating a drop request through the student portal in our online registration system. Please note: refunds will not be issued for no-shows or for cancellations received on or after the program start date. In the unlikely event that this program is cancelled or postponed due to insufficient enrollments or unforeseen circumstances, the university will fully refund registration fees but cannot be held responsible for any other expenses, including cancellation or change charges assessed by airlines, hotels, travel agencies, or other organizations.

Anyone requesting special requirements for this program should contact cpeinfo@vt.edu.