Module 1 — Foundations & Equipment Build
Platform setup, embedded Linux configuration, cellular backhaul, VPN infrastructure, and containerized deployments.
Module 2 — LoRa Mesh Networking
Encrypted mesh communications, device roles and radio tuning, RF site planning, security hardening, remote administration, and CLI automation.
Module 3 — MQTT & Messaging Integration
Broker deployment, publish/subscribe patterns, mesh-to-MQTT bridging, map services, and privacy considerations.
Module 4 — Alternative Mesh Architectures
Path-based routing vs. flooding, repeater infrastructure, asynchronous messaging, and head-to-head reliability comparison testing.
Module 5 — LoRaWAN: Gateway to Dashboard
Network server deployment, gateway provisioning over LTE, device enrollment for 9+ commercial sensor types, MQTT data pipelines, Python scripting, and interactive Node-RED dashboards with maps, gauges, and alerts.
Module 6 — Wi-Fi HaLow (802.11ah)
Sub-GHz Wi-Fi across multiple hardware platforms — access point, station, 802.11s mesh, Layer 2 mesh overlays, packet capture and analysis, and throughput/range testing.
Module 7 — Advanced Integration & Field Operations
Video streaming and NVR, WiFi-to-HaLow bridging, situational awareness tools, point-to-point LoRa links, sensor-triggered automation, and structured field operation procedures.
Module 8 — Capstone
Students integrate all course technologies into a unified field deployment combining mesh communications, sensor networks, long-range video, and team coordination.