Foundational RF Theory

Module 1 - Fundamental Concepts: This module introduces the foundational theories of RF and electromagnetetics, covering basic antenna theory, radio wave propagation, and an overview of common radio bands and network topologies.

Module 2 - Modulations & Architectures: Students will gain an in-depth understanding of various modulation schemes and explore the common architectures and applications of Software Defined Radio (SDR), supported by the mathematical foundation of complex numbers and sampling theory.

Module 3 - Protocols & Wireless Technologies: This module provides an overview of essential wireless communication protocols for the Internet of Things (IoT), such as LoRa, Zigbee, and HaLow, alongside a review of established technologies like cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

Module 4 - Foundational Assessment: A written test will be administered to assess student comprehension of all foundational material covered in Modules 1 through 3.

SDR Interactions & Signals Analysis

Module 5 - Introduction to SDR Hardware: This module focuses on the practical use of SDR hardware, including setup, interfacing, and a review of IQ sampling, Nyquist theory, and aliasing, culminating in hands-on practical demodulation and signal reception.

Module 6 - Signals Analysis: Students will delve into signal analysis techniques, including the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and comparison of time- vs. frequency-domain analysis, applying these skills to classify, analyze, and extract data from various modulated waveforms.

Building DSP Toolchains

Module 7 - GNU Radio Basics: This module introduces GNU Radio, covering its dataflow-based signal processing model and the fundamental components used in flow graphs, such as sources, sinks, filters, demodulators, mixers, and resamplers.

Module 8 - DSP Pipe-lining Methodology: Building upon the basics, students will learn to develop fully-functional RF receivers by constructing and utilizing modular Digital Signal Processing (DSP) blocks within the GNU Radio environment.

Module 9 - Extending GNU Radio: This module covers advanced GNU Radio customization by introducing Out-of-Tree (OOT) modules and teaching students the basics of custom block development for complex signals processing tasks.

RF Transmission & Attack Methodologies

Module 10 - RF Transmission (TX): This module introduces the principles and considerations for Radio Frequency transmission, focusing on the practical steps of building and scripting signal files for FSK and ASK signals.

Module 11 - RF Attack Methodologies: Students will learn about various RF attack types, including jamming, replay attacks, and spoofing/protocol attacks, to understand common security vulnerabilities in wireless systems.

Capstone Project

Module 12 - Exploitable IoT Transceiver: This multi-faceted capstone project requires students to apply all learned skills (from signals identification and capture to reverse engineering and RF attacks) against a vulnerable, real-world RF device.

Module 13 - Assessment & Conclusion: The course concludes with a final comprehensive exam to assess the overall understanding of all material covered throughout the curriculum, and provides time to address individual learning gaps and targeted review of challenging concepts.