About the Labs

To get access to Keysight Advanced Design System (ADS), follow the steps below:

1. Connect to campus VPN (we recommend you to use TunnelAll option so the connection is more stable).
2. Follow the guide at https://go.illinois.edu/fastx to log into FastX
3. Follow the guide at https://answers.uillinois.edu/illinois.engineering/81201 to open ADS
   • Open the Applications menu in the top-left and select Terminal
   • Type module load ads and press Enter
   • Type ads and press Enter to open ADS
4. If you enconuter any set-up issues, contact ews@illinois.edu.

Special Instruction for Fall 2024

In the Fall 2024, the online lab instruction option will be available in addition to the in-person labs. We strive to deliver the best experience to the students by preparing the lab exercises so that you can do it at home, with the help of your TA. Students must have the following equipment:

• Component kit (more details below) : contains all electronics parts (resistors, capacitors, transistor, IC, PCB boards etc.) and instruments (Signal Generator, Portable Spectrum Analyzer, RF Mixer) needed to build circuits in the lab exercises.
• DC power supply : we will only use 12V DC power supply to power all of our circuits. Voltage regulator (VRM) will be used to down convert to different DC levels requires by the IC or sub circuitry. Some thing like this will work. If you own a adjustable power supply like this one, that's even better. Make sure that the DC adaptor comes with a female barrel so you can solder/connect power rail and ground rail to your circuits.
• Solder kit and Safety Glasses : If this is the first time you solder, we strongly recommend you go through the introduction to solder note on the course website first. It will provide you an overview about the solder kit and accessories (such as flux, soldering wire, de-soldering gun/wick etc.) as well as important safety information about soldering.
• SMA cable (male connectors)

Besides, other instrument such as portable Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) like this one or Oscilloscope like this one are good gears to have. 

Note: All links included above are for reference only. As long as your equipment have the same capability, you should be able to do the lab exercises.

Component kits

You will need the following parts

Additional Information and Links

ECE supply center catalog: https://my.ece.illinois.edu/storeroom/catalog.asp

Agilent Spectrum Analyzer Mode Measurement Guide: http://courses.engr.illinois.edu/ece453/lab_files/N9060-90035.pdf

Oscillator video #1: https://uofi.box.com/s/t9vebusvtj274e4jk43ebcx136tsp0vv

Oscillator video #2: https://uofi.box.com/s/cubtgy4sw6fo3skkh2j7v0gyvodeywtx

Oscillator video #3: https://uofi.box.com/s/ekt9y6nx1kym84qs7vxgyqujos3ld9nh

FM quadrature demodulation slides: http://courses.engr.illinois.edu/ece453/lab_files/FM_demod_slides.pdf

ECE453 Eagle supplemental part library: http://courses.engr.illinois.edu/ece453/lab_files/ece453.lbr

Additional Eagle use notes: http://courses.engr.illinois.edu/ece453/lab_files/Eagle_Use_Notes_JCG2.txt

Eagle schematic design tutorial video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AXwjZoyNno

Eagle layout design tutorial video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCTs0mNXY24