MCLD 500 - RSL Wireless Communications Lab

Floor plan of MCLD 500

Description

The RSL Wireless Communications Lab is located in the penthouse of the MacLeod building or MCLD 500. It is divided into a 480 sq ft west wing and a 225 sq ft east wing.

• The elevator and stairway (to MCLD 442) that provide primary access to the lab enter onto the west wing. The stairway to MCLD 442 is the lab's primary fire exit. The north door of the penthouse and the path to the fire door atop the north stairway of the MacLeod building is the lab's secondary fire exit. A Worksafe-BC-approved first aid kit, evacuation instructions and a list of emergency telephone numbers are mounted next to the elevator.
• The 40' x 12' west wing includes one 8' and two 12' Arlink 8000 series lab benches (Benches A, B and C), an 8' work table, four Lista vertical storage cabinets, six Lista horizontal storage cabinets with benchtops, and a utility sink. It also includes the control station for the Ka-band beacon receiving terminal.
• The 15' x 15' east wing includes one 8' and one 12' Arlink 8000 series lab benches (Benches D and E), a Lista work bench, a book case, a 4' x 4' white board, and the control station for the outdoor antenna range.
• The passsageway that interconnects the two wings is equipped with two 4' x 12' whiteboards.
• Each of the Arlink 8000 series lab benches is built from 4' sections that include a 32-in. static dissipative work surface, one 16-in. shelf, two 20-in. shelves and a horizontal power beam with eight receptacles. Each bench is connected to the ECE network by a Netgear GS105 Ethernet switch.
• Benches B, C and D are equipped with a CPU holder and a monitor arm.
• Bench D is equipped with a professional grade soldering station.

Documentation

Arlink benches

Soldering station

PCB fabrication gear

History

From 1964-2005, the MacLeod Penthouse lacked code-approved fire exits and could not be occupied for extended periods. As a result, it could only be used to provide limited roof access and as departmental storage space. When Prof. E.V. Jull joined the department in 1972, he acquired a Scientific Atlanta outdoor antenna range from Northern Electric research laboratories in Ottawa and arranged to have it installed on the roof of the east wing of the MacLeod building.

In 2005, in order to provide space for the newly formed Radio Science Lab, the MacLeod Penthouse was extensively renovated with support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the Dean of Applied Science's Office. A code-compliant stairway was constructed from the Penthouse to MCLD 442 for use as the primary fire exit, a secondary fire exit was installed atop the north stairway of the MCLD building, and cement pavers replaced most of the wooden boardwalks on the MacLeod rooftop. The interior of the Penthouse was re-painted and new floor tiles, window blinds, electrical outlets and several white boards were installed,

In 2009, refurbishment of the space was completed with support from Nokia Canada, Syncrude Canada and Western Economic Diversification Canada. Five Arlink 8000 series lab benches, ten Lista storage cabinets and a dual-monitor public display system were installed.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

UBC Radio Science Lab
2356 Main Mall, Room 4034,
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4
Tel: 604.822.3544
Fax: 604.822.5949
E-mail: david.michelson@ubc.ca