Frequently Asked Questions for Emona ETT-202 DATEx: Part 1
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- What is DATEx?
- What does DATEx stand for ? What is the ETT-202 ?
- What courses and students is DATEx designed to teach?
- How does DATEx fit into an electronics engineering course? because in telecommunications we use real applications such as telephone lines, microwaves, satellites, LANS, etc?
- What is the "block diagram approach"?
- How is DATEx used?
- How does a student or professor make experiments with DATEx?
- How does a student relate DATEx "modules" to block diagrams? Why are there "round" and "square" marking around the connectors on both sides of each module? Why don't gain and adjustment control knobs have calibration or scale markings?
- Why can DATEx be used by both technical college students, and university students?
- What manuals are included with DATEx?
What is DATEx?
DATEx is an add-in board for the NI ELVIS platform. It is designed specifically for telecommunications and signal processing courses and covers a broad range of introductory analog & digital modulation schemes.
What does DATEx stand for ? What is the ETT-202 ?
DATEx stands for Digital Analog Telecommunications Experimenter. ETT-202 is the specific EMONA part number. ETT stands for Emona Telecoms-Trainer.
What courses and students is DATEx designed to teach?
DATEx is designed for courses including:
- Introduction to modern analog and digital telecommunications;
- Introduction to electrical/electronic engineering;
- Programming LabVIEW to control hands-on hardware;
- Introduction to Signals and Systems;
DATEx is and ideal hands-on learning system for:
- First and second year university students in introduction to telecommunications theory courses;
- First year university students in introduction to electrical engineering courses;
- Technical college/community college students learning telecommunications theory;
- High school students in fundamental technology courses;
How does DATEx fit into an electronics engineering course? because in telecommunications we use real applications such as telephone lines, microwaves, satellites, LANS, etc?
DATEx gives students hands-on experience with the theories and concepts involved in the specific area of "transmission theory". "Transmission" involves an original message being carried from one point to another, using either analog or digital modulation. DATEx will allow the students to learn about the concepts of the many sub-sections of a major telecommunications system: e.g. sampling and reconstruction; coding; modulation and demodulation; etc. After a student has learnt and grasped these fundamental concepts, it is much easier for them to take this knowledge and apply it to HF electronics, microwaves, telephone lines, computer local area networks, and so on.
What is the "block diagram approach"?
It is common for telecommunications engineers to interpret mathematical equations and theories as a diagram of the signal flow: this is called the block diagram approach. The block diagram approach assists engineers in understanding how to implement complex theory as real hardware.
Telecommunications textbooks are a rich source of "block diagrams", many of which can be implemented on DATEx.
How is DATEx used?
DATEx is used to implement block diagrams, which are used to model mathematical equations, or the hardware realizations of telecommunications systems.
The individual circuit blocks on DATEx are patched together using 2 mm patching leads according to the block diagram being studied. All patching is done on the front panel of the DATEx board.
How does a student or professor make experiments with DATEx?
Experiments are made by patching together DATEx modules. Each module represents a fundamental telecommunications system building block. The block diagram of the text book can be quickly realised by patching together DATEx modules in accordance with the block diagram.
This is analogous to the way LabVIEW function blocks are wired together to create systems, and is known as the "block diagram approach" to making experiments.
How does a student relate DATEx "modules" to block diagrams? Why are there "round" and "square" marking around the connectors on both sides of each module? Why don't gain and adjustment control knobs have calibration or scale markings?
All DATEx modules follow a very strict and consistent "front panel convention". Once a user has been introduced to the DATEx conventions, they will find it very easy to use any DATEx module. The DATEx "front panel conventions" ensure that DATEx modules relate very closely to the Block Diagram representations that are commonly used in telecommunications and signal processing.
The key conventions are as follows:
- DATEx inputs are always on the left hand side of the module's panel.
- DATEx outputs are always on the right hand side of the module's panel.
- Analog inputs & outputs are always marked with a "circle".
- TTL level inputs & outputs are always marked with a "square".
Gain and adjustment control knobs do not have scale markings intentionally, as engineering students are expected to measure the amplitude (using either the scope or RMS METER) and frequency of each module's output (with the scope or DYNAMIC SIGNAL ANALYZER), and relate or adjust these values in accordance with the block diagram or equation they are modelling.
DATEx effectively stops the "cookbook" approach to making experiments.
Why can DATEx be used by both technical college students, and university students?
DATEx is valuable to all these users because DATEx actually models mathematical equations and telecommunications block diagrams. DATEx is much more than just a waveform or experimental "demonstration system".
What manuals are included with DATEx?
DATEx includes two manuals:
- DATEx User Manual: this manual provides a brief description of the use and operation of each DATEx functional block.
- DATEx Lab Manual Volume 1: this manual includes 20 fundamental experiments frommodelling mathematical equations, basic analog modulation and demodulation schemes,sampling and reconstruction, as well as a range of digital modulation and demodulation schemes.
Additional volumes of the Lab Manual will be released in the future.
Additional Resources
Developer Zone: Emona ETT-202 DATEx for NI ELVIS Product Page
Developer Zone: Emona ETT-202 DATEx for NI ELVIS Resource Page
Developer Zone: Emona ETT-202 DATEx for NI ELVIS FAQ: Part 2
Developer Zone: Emona ETT-202 DATEx for NI ELVIS FAQ: Part 3
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