New Radio Frequency Communications summer course in Surrey
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They’re everywhere around us and play a crucial role in everyday life, but most people would be hard-pressed to explain how radio frequencies work and how they’re used.
A new Surrey Schools summer course called RF (radio frequency) Communications aims to help dispel the myths and pre-conceptions surrounding radio frequency operations, introducing students to a technology that’s come a long way from simple AM/FM frequencies.
“A lot of people view RF communications as this antiquated HAM (amateur) radio type of thing, but it isn’t,” explained course founder Adam Drake, who also serves as Head of ADST and the robotics/electronics teacher at Kwantlen Park Secondary. “Everything we use today uses radio frequencies; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular communication, all of that is included under RF communications.”
On top of learning about the science and theory behind RF transmissions, students will explore the internal workings of radios and other transmission equipment, how to use different frequencies to reach ever-expanding distances and even how to use frequencies to triangulate a specific location.
“For that we’ll head out to a nearby forest or park and have something emitting a signal for the students to locate,” said Drake.
Upon completion of the course, students will receive an Electronics 11 credit, and Drake is hopeful the course will inspire future generations to consider a career in RF communications.
“We have had a huge focus on trades, which is also very important, but something like RF communications is rarely ever mentioned,” he said. “With this course, we want to expose students to the ideas and concepts behind this technology and maybe inspire a few to consider something in RF engineering.”
Having previously taught the district’s Film Academy summer program, Drake said that program will continue on with another instructor, but he wanted to create something new.
“This kind of tech is so essential to our modern world but interest in the industry has just sort of flown under the radar,” he joked.
The program has also received buy-in from several key industry organizations, including E-Comm 9-1-1, Surrey Amateur Radio Communications (SARC) as well as the Radio Amateurs of Canada.
“E-Comm for example, is excited to be involved because they, as an industry, can’t get enough RF engineers,” said Drake. “There simply aren’t any, and so there are all these job opportunities in the field, but nobody knows that this is even a career option.”
During the course, students will also have the opportunity to get their Amateur Radio Certification, which will allow them to legally transmit in Canada.
“Once you’ve got that certification, you have it for life,” said Drake. “So this is something they can take with them forever.
The Surrey Schools RF Communications course will run all of July, 2024 and is open to students going into Grades 9–12. Course admission is free, and students interested in signing up are asked to contact Adam Drake at drake_a@surreyschools.ca.
