6.02

6.02 Announcements

Week of December 12, 2011

The 6.02 lab (38-530) has changed its hours, closing earlier starting December 14th. The TA office hours are posted online, as well as Piazza. Please check the location before going to office hours.
Past Quizzes and Practice Problems for Quiz 3 are now available.
Quiz 3 information:
- when: Monday, 12/19/11, in the afternoon exam slot, 1:30p - 3:30p (the exam is 2 hours long)
- where: Johnson
- coverage: L17–end, PSet #8–PSet #10 (chapters 16-end).
- please bring a calculator
- the exam is closed-book, but you may use two 8.5"x11" cribsheets.
Conflict exam for Quiz 3: If you received an email from the registrar about taking the conflict exam, please come to 34-302 by 10 am on Monday, 12/19/11. The conflict exam will be from 10 am through noon.
Please note: All PSets must be submitted and checked-off by 5 pm on Friday Dec 9 (i.e., all extensions end on that date). Under extenuating circumstances, your TA may be able to grant an extension to this date, but you need to contact her or him about it. Regardless, all checkoffs must be completed by 5 pm on Thursday December 15.
Students who do not complete all checkoffs cannot pass the class. If you think you may be in trouble on that front, please contact Prof. Balakrishnan asap (email to hari is the best way), if you haven't done so already.
We'd like to ask a favor: please give us your feedback on the course via the HKN Underground Evaluation for 6.02. We value your thoughts on the course's activities and material and hope you help us improve 6.02 for future semesters. Thanks!
This week's to-do list:
- Mon, Wed: lecture (one of these will be Quiz 3 review)
- Tue: Quiz 3 review in recitation
- Thu: No recitation
Next week's to-do list:
- Mon: Quiz 3, 1:30p-3:30p, Johnson Ice Rink

Week of December 5, 2011

11/29/11: PSet #10 is now online. It will be due on Wednesday night, 12/7/11, i.e., at 6 am on Thursday, 12/8/11.
Please note: All PSets must be submitted and checked-off by 5 pm on Friday Dec 9 (i.e., all extensions end on that date). Under extenuating circumstances, your TA may be able to grant an extension to this date, but you need to contact her or him about it. Regardless, all checkoffs must be completed by 5 pm on Thursday December 15.
Students who do not complete all checkoffs cannot pass the class. If you think you may be in trouble on that front, please contact Prof. Balakrishnan asap (email to hari is the best way), if you haven't done so already.
We'd like to ask a favor: please give us your feedback on the course via the HKN Underground Evaluation for 6.02. We value your thoughts on the course's activities and material and hope you help us improve 6.02 for future semesters. Thanks!
11/26/11: Solutions to chapters 17, 18, and 19 are now online. Chapter 20 on reliable transport protocols (including problems at the end of the chapter), as well as online practice problems on this material, are now online.
This week's to-do list:
- Mon, Wed: Lecture.
- Tue, Th: Recitation.
- Wed: PSet #10 due.
- Th, Fri: PSet #10 checkoff with your interviewer.
Next week's to-do list:
- Mon, Wed: lecture (one of these will be Quiz 3 review)
- Tue: Quiz 3 review in recitation
- Thu: No recitation
Quiz 3 information:
- when: Monday, 12/19, in the afternoon exam slot, 1:30p - 3:30p (the exam is 2 hours long)
- where: Johnson Ice Rink
- coverage: L17–end, PSet #8–PSet #10 (chapters 16-end).
- please bring a calculator
- the exam is closed-book, but you may use two 8.5"x11" cribsheets.

Week of November 28, 2011

11/29/11: PSet #10 is now online. It will be due on Wednesday night, 12/7/11, i.e., at 6 am on Thursday, 12/8/11.
Please note: All PSets must be submitted and checked-off by 5 pm on Friday Dec 9 (i.e., all extensions end on that date). Under extenuating circumstances, your TA may be able to grant an extension to this date, but you need to contact her or him about it. Regardless, all checkoffs must be completed by 5 pm on Thursday December 15.
Students who do not complete all checkoffs cannot pass the class. If you think you may be in trouble on that front, please contact Prof. Balakrishnan asap (email to hari is the best way), if you haven't done so already.
11/26/11: Solutions to chapters 17, 18, and 19 are now online. Chapter 20 on reliable transport protocols (including problems at the end of the chapter), as well as online practice problems on this material, are now online.
11/22/11: PSet #9 is now online. It will be due on the Wednesday night after Thanksgiving, 11/30/11, i.e., at 6 am on Thursday, 12/1/11.
This week's to-do list:
- Mon, Wed: Lecture.
- Mon, Tue: PSet #8 checkoff with your interviewer.
- Tue, Th: Recitation.
- Wed: PSet #9 due.
- Th, Fri: PSet #9 checkoff with your interviewer.
Next week's to-do list:
- Mon, Wed: Lecture.
- Tue, Th: Recitation.
- Wed: PSet #10 due.
- Th, Fri: PSet #10 checkoff with your interviewer.

Week of November 21, 2011

11/26/11: Solutions to chapters 17, 18, and 19 are now online. Chapter 20 on reliable transport protocols (including problems at the end of the chapter), as well as online practice problems on this material, are now online.
11/22/11: PSet #9 is now online. It will be due on the Wednesday night after Thanksgiving, 11/30/11, i.e., at 6 am on Thursday, 12/1/11.
Quiz 2 solutions are online; please check them out.
With all the grades entered:
PSet #8 is now online. It will be due on Wednesday night (11/23/11), i.e., at 6 am on Thursday, 11/24/11 (Thanksgiving day, so we hope you get it done before then).
This week's to-do list:
- Mon: Lecture
- Tue: Recitation.
- Wed: PSet #8 due, lecture cancelled. (Prep for thanksgiving!)
- Th: No recitation. Happy Thanksgiving!
Next week's to-do list:
- Mon, Wed: Lecture.
- Mon, Tue: PSet #8 checkoff with your interviewer.
- Tue, Th: Recitation.
- Wed: PSet #9 due.
- Th, Fri: PSet #9 checkoff with your interviewer.

Week of November 14, 2011

This note has some details about Quiz 2, including our plan for quiz review.
Quiz 2 on November 17, 7.30-9.30 pm (note: we will start at 7.30 pm sharp, not adopting the "MIT-standard 5-minute slack"), in 4-270 and 4-370 (pick a room at random!). Material includes L10-L16/R11-16/PSet#5-7. (The Shannon capacity lecture will not be on the quiz).
We have put together a collection of previous quizzes and practice problems for Quiz 2. Please check them out. Some of the questions on previous quizzes don't apply this term, so we have specified the ones that are more relevant. These include online practice problems on:
PSet #8 is now online. It will be due on Wednesday night (11/23/11), i.e., at 6 am on Thursday, 11/24/11 (Thanksgiving day, so we hope you get it done before then).
This week's to-do list:
- Mon, Wed: Lecture
- Mon, Tue: PSet 7 checkoff with your interviewer
- Tue: Recitation
- Th: Quiz 2 7.30-9.30 pm in 4-270 & 4-370 (pick a room at random). No recitation.
Next week's to-do list:
- Mon: Lecture
- Tue: Recitation.
- Wed: PSet #8 due, lecture cancelled. (Prep for thanksgiving!)
- Th: No recitation. Happy Thanksgiving!

Week of November 6, 2011

This note has some details about Quiz 2, including our plan for quiz review.
Quiz 2 on November 17, 7.30-9.30 pm (note: we will start at 7.30 pm sharp, not adopting the "MIT-standard 5-minute slack"), in 4-270 and 4-370 (pick a room at random!). Material includes L10-L16/R11-16/PSet#5-7. (The Shannon capacity lecture will not be on the quiz).
We have put together a collection of previous quizzes and practice problems for Quiz 2. Please check them out. Some of the questions on previous quizzes don't apply this term, so we have specified the ones that are more relevant.
Nov 7, 2011: We added some notes on modulation and some notes with useful formulas and expressions for frequency response and time-frequency conversions. You can also get them (and the revised Chapter 10, 11 notes) by clicking on the Handouts link on the left.
Nov 7, 2011: "A student who is unable to take the test owing to a conflict with a scheduled academic exercise or extracurricular activity shall be allowed to do so at another time", according to MIT faculty rules and regulations. A student who has an S^3 letter can also take the make-up exam, or make separate arrangements with Professor Balakrishnan.

To take the Quiz 2 make-up, you must email Ruben (id madrigal) by 5 pm on 11/11/11, stating a reason for the make-up. Please also provide a few two-hour slots on the following days you are available to take the make-up:
- Thursday, 11/17/11 between 9 am - 11am and 1 pm - 5 pm and
- Friday, 11/18/11 between 9 am - 5 pm
Please note that 6.006 conflicts must take the 6.006 make-up, not the 6.02 make-up, per our quid pro quo arrangement with the 6.006 professors.
Check out these online practice problems on modulation and demodulation. These should be useful for PSet #7 and Quiz 2.
Check out these online practice problems on frequency domain and filters. These should be useful prep for Quiz 2.
Check out these online practice problems on LTI channels. These should be useful for Quiz 2.
PSet #7 is now online. It will be due on Thursday night, i.e., 6 am on Friday, 11/11/11 (one day later than the usual day-of-week when 6.02 PSets are due). That date was too cute to resist having something due then! (Actually, the one-day-later-than-usual is to give you all enough time to do the PSet, while also giving you enough prep time for Quiz 2 on the 17th.)
This week's to-do list:
- Mon, Wed: Lecture
- Tu, Th: Recitation
- Th: PSet #7 due
Next week's to-do list:
- Mon, Wed: Lecture
- Mon, Tue: Lab checkoff with your interviewer
- Tue: Recitation
- Th: Quiz 2 7.30-9.30 pm in 4-270 & 4-370 (pick a room at random). No recitation.

Week of October 30, 2011

Check out these online practice problems on modulation and demodulation. These should be useful for PSet #7 and Quiz 2.
Check out these online practice problems on frequency domain and filters. These should be useful prep for Quiz 2.
Check out these online practice problems on LTI channels. These should be useful for Quiz 2.
We have put together a collection of previous quizzes and practice problems for Quiz 2. Please check them out. Some of the questions on previous quizzes don't apply this term, so we have specified the ones that are more relevant.
PSet #7 ~~will be available in the morning on Friday 11/4/11~~ is now online. It will be due on Thursday night, i.e., 6 am on Friday, 11/11/11 (one day later than the usual day-of-week when 6.02 PSets are due). That date was too cute to resist having something due then! (Actually, the one-day-later-than-usual is to give you all enough time to do the PSet, while also giving you enough prep time for Quiz 2 on the 17th.)
This week's to-do list:
- Mon, Wed: Lecture
- Tu, Th: Recitation
- Wed: PSet #6 due
- Thu, Fri: Lab checkoff with your interviewer
Next week's to-do list:
- Mon, Wed: Lecture
- Tu, Th: Recitation
- Th: PSet #7 due

Week of October 24, 2011

PSet #6 is now online.
Quiz 1 solutions are now online.
This week's to-do list:
- Mon, Wed: Lecture
- Tu, Th: Recitation
- Wed: PSet #5 due
- Thu, Fri: Lab checkoff with your interviewer
Next week's to-do list:
- Mon, Wed: Lecture
- Tu, Th: Recitation
- Wed: PSet #6 due
- Thu, Fri: Lab checkoff with your interviewer

Week of October 17, 2011

PSet 5

This week's to-do list:
- Wednesday: Quiz #1 Make-up, 7:30-9:30PM in 34-101
- Mon: Lecture (as usual)
- Tue (10/18): No recitation.
  Quiz 1 from 7.30 - 9.30 pm in Walker. One 2-sided "crib sheet" and a calculator allowed. Material from the beginning through Lecture #8 / Recitation #9 / PSet 4. The quiz will cover the following topics, with the points more-or-less equally distributed among them:
  - Information, entropy, and source coding (compression).
  - Digital signaling and noise.
  - Channel coding for error correction: linear block codes.
  - Channel coding with convolutional codes and Viterbi decoding.
  Please note that a really good way of preparing is to have solved the problems on PSets 1 through 4. Some of you have taken extensions for PSet 4 (and some also for PSet 3). It would be highly desirable for you to have solved the problems on these PSets, because they will be very helpful for Quiz 1.
- Wed: Lecture
- Thu: Recitation
10/17/2011 1.00 am: Posted Chapter 4 finally!
10/14/2011 10.30 pm: Updated Chapter 6 posted.
10/9/2011 11 pm: Updated Chapter 8 posted.
Some review and practice problems for Quiz 1 are now available. Please also note that the problems at the end of some of the chapters and the problem sets are excellent ways to prepare. The link to the review and practice problems contains quizzes from recent terms, but the course organization this time is a little different, so the quiz coverage is different.
Next week's to-do list:
- Mon, Wed: Lecture
- Tu, Th: Recitation
- Wed: PSet #5 due
- Thu, Fri: Lab checkoff with your interviewer

Week of October 10, 2011

The optional quiz review session will be on Sunday 10/16/11 from 8.30 - 10.30 pm in 34-101 (note: time changed from before by popular demand).
10/14/2011 10.30 pm: Updated Chapter 6 posted.
10/9/2011 11 pm: Updated Chapter 8 posted.
Some review and practice problems for Quiz 1 are now available. Please also note that the problems at the end of some of the chapters and the problem sets are excellent ways to prepare. The link to the review and practice problems contains quizzes from recent terms, but the course organization this time is a little different, so the quiz coverage is different.
This week's to-do list:
- No classes on M and Tu
- Wed: Lecture (as usual). PSet #4 due
- Thu: Recitation
- Thu, Fri: Lab checkoff with your interviewer
- Sun (10/16): Optional Quiz 1 review session from 8.30 - 10.30 pm in 34-101. Note time change from earlier announcement (time changed by popular demand).
Next week's to-do list:
- Mon: Lecture (as usual)
- Tue (10/18): No recitation. Quiz 1 from 7.30 - 9.30 pm in Walker. One 2-sided "crib sheet" and a calculator allowed. Material from the beginning through Lecture #8 / Recitation #9 / PSet 4. The quiz will cover the following topics, with the points more-or-less equally distributed among them:
  - Information, entropy, and source coding (compression)
  - Digital signaling and noise
  - Channel coding for error correction: linear block codes
  - Channel coding with convolutional codes and Viterbi decoding
- Wed: Lecture
- Thu: Recitation
If, for some reason, you cannot make Quiz 1 at its scheduled time (Tu, 10/18/11, 7.30-9.30 pm), please contact madrigal (mit.edu) by Monday, 10/11/11, to request permission to attend the makeup exam. If you have already contacted hari, then you don't need to re-send your email. Unless there is an email from S^3, we won't be able to accommodate late makeup requests.

Week of October 3, 2011

This week's to-do list:
- Wed: PSet #3 due
- Thu, Fri: Lab checkoff with your interviewer
Next week's to-do list:
- Wed: PSet #4 due
- Thu, Fri: Lab checkoff with your interviewer
If for some reason you cannot make Quiz 1 at its scheduled time (Tu, 10/18/11, 7.30-9.30 pm), please contact madrigal (mit.edu) by Monday, 10/11/11, to request permission to attend the makeup exam. If you have already contacted hari, then you don't need to re-send your email. Unless there is an email from S^3, we won't be able to accommodate late makeup requests.

Week of September 26, 2011

This week's to-do list:
- Wed: PSet 2 due
- Thu, Fri: Lab checkoff with your interviewer
Next week's to-do list:
- Wed: PSet #3 due
- Thu, Fri: Lab checkoff with your interviewer
9/27/2011 (11 pm): We have posted a fairly major revision to the Chapter 5 notes ("Noise" chapter). This update will not affect anything in PSet #2, but if you have printed out a version, we suggest that you please re-print the current version. The revised chapter will be more informative and useful for PSet 3 and the rest of the term.
Please also note that almost all the other chapters have been updated as well. The Last update date mentioned at the top of each chapter will tell you if you have the latest version. Most of these updates have been to fix bugs of various kinds.
See the SW installation notes for information about how to set up the 6.02 code environment on your own machine. Additional instructions are provided as part of PSet #3; the last Python task will involve experimenting with the audio communication capabilities of commodity computers and laptops.

Week of September 19, 2011

This week's to-do list:
- Wed: Student holiday
- Tu, Th: recitation
Next week's to-do list:
- Wed: PSet 2 due
- Thu, Fri: Lab checkoff with your interviewer
Last week, some of the recitations ended up with a much larger number of students than expected, while some got fewer. Please attend the recitation to which you have been assigned by the registrar, unless you have severe constraints that prevent you from doing so. This week, we will reassess the recitation balance and make decisions for the rest of the term, so please bear with us while we figure it out.
See the SW installation notes for information about how to set up the 6.02 code environment on your own machine.
Your assigned interviewer will be in touch to find a mutually convenient time for this week's checkoff interview. The interviews are in the 6.02 lab (38-530), unless specified otherwise by your interviewer. You should come prepared to run the Python tasks due this week, either on your laptop or on one of the debathena workstations in the lab. Interviews are approximately 10 minutes long.

Week of September 12, 2011

This week's to-do list:
- Wed: PSet #1 due
- Thu, Fri: Lab checkoff with your interviewer
Next week's to-do list:
- Nothing due (Wed is a student holiday).
Last week, some of the recitations ended up with a much larger number of students than expected, while some got fewer. Please attend the recitation to which you have been assigned by the registrar, unless you have severe constraints that prevent you from doing so. This week, we will reassess the recitation balance and make decisions for the rest of the term, so please bear with us while we figure it out.
Lab staffing starts Sunday, 9/11. Please see the Lab Hours (link on the left nav bar) for a detailed staffing schedule.
See the SW installation notes for information about how to set up the 6.02 code environment on your own machine.
Your assigned interviewer will be in touch to find a mutually convenient time for this week's checkoff interview. The interviews are in the 6.02 lab (38-530), unless specified otherwise by your interviewer. You should come prepared to run the Python tasks due this week, either on your laptop or on one of the debathena workstations in the lab. Interviews are approximately 10 minutes long.

Week of September 5, 2011

This week's to-do list:
- Wed: First Lecture
- Thu: First Recitation
Next week's to-do list:
- Wed: PSet #1 due
- Thu, Fri: Lab checkoff with your interviewer
If you're registered for the course but are unable to get to the PSet on the web site, it means we don't have you in our student database. Please email hari from your mit.edu account and send your student ID in your email and we'll add you.
The first meeting of 6.02 will be at 2p in room 34-101 on Wednesday, 9/7. Consult the Course Calendar for a detailed schedule of lectures, recitations, labs and quizzes. Recitation meetings start Thursday, 9/8.
Recitation assignments: As a starting point, please attend the section assigned to you by the Registrar.
Please carefully read the Course Info page, which describes course mechanics and policies.
We'll use the 6.02 piazza forum for Q&A and other discussions on PSets and the course. Please take a moment to sign up.
Portions of this web site require MIT certificates. For some reason, those portions don't work correctly with the Chrome web browser. We suggest using a recent version of Firefox or Safari.