6.02 Announcements

Week of December 13, 2010

  • 12/17/10: For Quiz 3 solutions, click on the "On-line grades" link on the left to get to Quiz3Solutions.pdf.
    Quiz 3 stats: n=157, avg=71.31, stddev=13.27.

  • 12/17/10: Total score stats: n=157, avg=85.4, stddev=8.33. Your points should be visible on the course web site. Please come to 32-G944 (Sheila Marian's desk) to pick up your quiz between 8.30 am - 3 pm on most working days. We will file the grades with the registrar on Monday, after which you can get it from websis. Please do not directly ask us what your final grade was.

  • 12/14/10: Added Addendum to Recitation 16 (how modulation operates over DTFS).

  • 12/12/10: All grades except the final quiz are in for all 157 students. The mean is about 71/80, the median is around 72.9/80, and the standard deviation is 6.52.

  • Solutions to the problems at the end of Chapters 17-22 and online PSets 7-9 are available if you click on "On-line grades" on the left panel.

  • So what do you need to know from Lectures 12 through 16 for Quiz 3? The answer is:
    • Continuous frequency vs. Discrete frequency.
    • Discrete-Time Fourier Series (DTFS): definition and basic properties (N-periodic nature, time-domain interpretations of X[0] and X[N/2], etc.), calculating the coefficients in simple cases (including just "pattern matching"), plotting them (manipulating between k, Omega_k, and f_k for the horizontal axis), and knowing what bandwidth is.
    • How a channel's frequency response affects Fourier coeffs, specifically in the case of a simple delay.
    • Modulation/Demodulation: drawing spectra associated with the stages of modulation/demodulation, figuring out carrier and demodulation frequencies to shift spectra to desired locations or avoid overlap.
    • Filtering to band-limit a signal or to pass only desired frequency bands and eliminate others.

    We encourage you to study the problem set for Lab 7, and the review problems on this material that have been posted to the web site, as well as the lecture notes/slides for Lectures 14 through 16 (these lectures build on the concepts described in Lectures 12 and 13). You may also wish to consult the recitation notes from Prof. Verghese on Recitations 14-16 that are on the web site, if the other materials aren't sufficient.

    Finally, please plan your study time evenly -- the final quiz has several topics, and the coverage will be balanced. We expect *roughly* 20% of the points on the material listed above. We expect *roughly* 20% on source coding (information & entropy, Huffman coding, LZW). The remaining *roughly* 60% will be on switches, network delays, queues/Little's law; routing protocols (link-state and distance-vector); and reliable transport protocols (stop-and-wait, sliding windows, round-trip time estimation, timeouts). These rough percentages are subject to change, but we don't expect the changes from these percentages to be large.

  • Quiz 3 prep: We have some past quizzes for you to check out. Note, however, that the material for our quiz is somewhat different: digital modulation is included, but not MAC protocols. The practice quizzes from recent previous terms don't have modulation, but cover MAC protocols, so please keep that in mind.

  • Please take a moment to fill out the HKN Survey. We'd very much like get your comments on the course!

  • Quiz #3 information:
    • Time: Thursday, 12/16, 1:30pm - 4:30pm.
    • Location: Johnson Track.
    • Coverage: From L12 through the end of the term (DTFS & modulation; multi-hop networks, delays, and switching; routing; transport; source coding).
    • What you can bring: one "8.5x11" cribsheet, no calculators.

  • For those still confused about how final grades are calculated, please check out the "Course info" link on the left. This information has been in place since Day 1: 50% for the labs (5% each), 50% for the quizzes (Quizzes 1 and 2 are 15% each; Quiz 3 is 20%.

  • This week's to-do list:
    • Thursday, December 16: Quiz 3, 1.30 pm - 4.30 pm, Johnson

  • Next week's to-do list: Enjoy your break!
Week of December 6, 2010

  • Please take a moment to fill out the HKN Survey. We'd very much like get your comments on the course!

  • Solutions to the problems at the end of Chapters 17-22 and online PSets 7-9 are available if you click on "On-line grades" on the left panel.

  • So what do you need to know from Lectures 12 through 16 for Quiz 3? The answer is:
    • Continuous frequency vs. Discrete frequency.
    • Discrete-Time Fourier Series (DTFS): definition and basic properties (N-periodic nature, time-domain interpretations of X[0] and X[N/2], etc.), calculating the coefficients in simple cases (including just "pattern matching"), plotting them (manipulating between k, Omega_k, and f_k for the horizontal axis), and knowing what bandwidth is.
    • How a channel's frequency response affects Fourier coeffs, specifically in the case of a simple delay.
    • Modulation/Demodulation: drawing spectra associated with the stages of modulation/demodulation, figuring out carrier and demodulation frequencies to shift spectra to desired locations or avoid overlap.
    • Filtering to band-limit a signal or to pass only desired frequency bands and eliminate others.

    We encourage you to study the problem set for Lab 7, and the review problems on this material that have been posted to the web site, as well as the lecture notes/slides for Lectures 14 through 16. You may also wish to consult the recitation notes from Prof. Verghese on Recitations 14-16 that are on the web site, if the other materials aren't sufficient.

    Finally, please plan your study time evenly -- the final quiz has several topics, and the coverage will be balanced. We expect *roughly* 20% of the points on the material listed above. We expect *roughly* 20% on source coding (information & entropy, Huffman coding, LZW). The remaining *roughly* 60% will be on switches, network delays, queues/Little's law; routing protocols (link-state and distance-vector); and reliable transport protocols (stop-and-wait, sliding windows, round-trip time estimation, timeouts). These rough percentages are subject to change, but we don't expect the changes from these percentages to be large.

  • Quiz 3 prep: We have some past quizzes for you to check out. Note, however, that the material for our quiz is somewhat different: digital modulation is included, but not MAC protocols. The practice quizzes from recent previous terms don't have modulation, but cover MAC protocols, so please keep that in mind.

  • For those still confused about how final grades are calculated, please check out the "Course info" link on the left. This information has been in place since Day 1: 50% for the labs (5% each), 50% for the quizzes (Quizzes 1 and 2 are 15% each; Quiz 3 is 20%.

  • All labs are past due now. Please remember that all labs must be checked-off in order to receive a passing grade in the course (you can check-off a lab even if you haven't completed all the tasks). Visit your on-line grades page -- any missing checkoffs will be marked in red. The final day for all checkoffs is the last day of classes, Thursday, 12/9/2010.

  • This week's to-do list:
    • Mon: Lecture
    • Tue: Recitation
    • Wed: Lecture
    • Thu: Recitation, final day for lab checkoffs

  • Next week's to-do list:
    • Thursday, December 16: Quiz 3, 1.30 pm - 4.30 pm, Johnson

  • Quiz #3 information:
    • Time: Thursday, 12/16, 1:30pm - 4:30pm.
    • Location: Johnson Track.
    • Coverage: From L12 through the end of the term (modulation, multi-hop networks and switching, routing, transport, source coding).
    • What you can bring: one "8.5x11" cribsheet, no calculators.
Week of November 29, 2010

  • You are welcome to contribute questions for Quiz 3. The deadline to turn in your suggestions is Wednesday, December 8, 2010. An email sent to you by hari on November 30 will have instructions on how you can send your questions to us.

  • Solutions to the problems at the end of Chapter 19 and the PSet associated with Lab 8 are now available. They will show up as links when you click on "On-line grades".

  • Please remember that all labs must be checked-off in order to receive a passing grade in the course (you can check-off a lab even if you haven't completed all the tasks). Visit your on-line grades page -- any missing checkoffs will be marked in red.

    The deadline for all lab checkoffs is the last day of classes, Thursday, December 9, 2010.

  • This week's to-do list:
    • Mon: Lecture
    • Tue: Recitation, Lab #9 problems, tasks and questions due
    • Wed: Lecture
    • Thu: Recitation
    • Fri: Lab #10 problems, tasks and questions due
    • Sun: Complete check-off interview w/ TA for Lab #9

  • Next week's to-do list:
    • Mon: Lecture
    • Tue: Recitation (Quiz review)
    • Wed: Lecture
    • Thu: Recitation (Quiz review)
      Deadline for all lab checkoffs.

  • Quiz #3 information:
    • Time: Thursday, 12/16, 1:30pm - 4:30pm.
    • Location: Johnson Track.
    • Coverage: From L12 through the end of the term.
    • What you can bring: one "8.5x11" cribsheet, no calculators.
Week of November 22, 2010

  • Lab 10 on Huffman coding and its application to fax transmissions is a short lab. The relevant lecture and recitation will be on Monday, 11/29/10, and Tuesday, 11/30/10.

  • Solutions to the problems at the end of Chapter 17 & 18 are now available. They will show up as links when you click on "On-line grades".

  • This week's to-do list:
    • Mon: Lecture
    • Tue: Recitation, Lab #8 checkoffs due
    • Wed: No lecture
    • Thu: Eating turkey / Watching football

  • Next week's to-do list:
    • Mon: Lecture
    • Tue: Recitation, Lab #9 Tasks, problems and questions due
    • Wed: Lecture
    • Thu: Recitation
    • Fri: Lab #10 due
    • Sun: Complete check-off interview w/ TA for Lab #9

  • Please remember that all the labs must be checked-off in order to receive a passing grade in the course (you can check-off a lab even if you haven't completed all the tasks). Visit your on-line grades page -- any missing checkoffs will be marked in red.
Week of November 15, 2011

  • 11/19/10 (9.15 pm): Lab 9 is now available. The problem set, lab tasks, and lab questions are all due Tuesday night, 11/30/10. Please make sure to read Chapter 20, which should be helpful for this assignment. (We're likely to update Chapter 20 from time to time over the next few days.) Lecture on Monday 11/22/10 (and the recitation on Tuesday) will discuss the 6.02 sliding window protocol in detail, which is important for the lab and problem set.

  • 11/19/10: Chapters 17-19 have been updated since their original posting dates, so if you have an old printed version, please refresh them.

  • 11/15/10: Lab #8 interviews must be completed by the day before
    Thanksgiving. Please make sure to schedule a time to meet with your TA.

    • This week's to-do list:
      • Mon: Lecture
      • Tue: Recitation
      • Wed: Lecture,
      • Thu: Recitation
      • Fri: Lab #8 tasks, problems and questions due

    • Next week's to-do list:
      • Mon: Lecture
      • Tue: Recitation
      • Wed: No lecture, lab #8 interviews due
      • Thu: Eating turkey / watching football
    Week of November 8, 2010

    • 11/9/10: Notes for Lecture 18 posted (Lecture 17 was posted earlier).

    • 11/9/10: Short notes for Lectures 14 & 15 posted. Also check out Prof. Verghese's recitation notes.

    • Tania will be holding office hours on Thursday 11/11/10 (don't you love all-binary dates?) from 10 am - 12 noon and 3 pm - 5 pm in 38-246.

    • Quiz 2 solutions.
      Quiz 2 stats: Mean = 74.1; standard deviation = 15.9.
      Median = 75.0; 1st quartile = 65.0; 3rd quartile = 87.0.

    • 11/6/10: Lab #7 finally posted! Lab #7 is due on Friday 11/12/10 (not on Wednesday).

    • This week's to-do list:
      • Mon: Lecture (intro to networking).
      • Tue: Recitation (mostly on modulation).
      • Wed: Lecture (network routing).
      • Thu: Institute holiday (no recitation).
      • Fri: Lab #7 problem set, lab tasks and lab questions due by midnight (FDM).

    • Next week's to-do list:
      • Mon: Lecture (network routing, cont.).
      • Tue: Recitation (network routing).
      • Wed: Lecture (reliable data transport).
      • Thu: Recitation.
      • Fri: Lab #8 problem set, lab tasks, and lab questions due (network routing).
    Week of November 1, 2010
    • 11/6/10: Lab #7 finally posted! Lecture Notes on Modulation coming soon.

    • Nov. 4, 2010: Lab #7 problems, questions and tasks are all due on Friday, November 12.

    • This week's to-do list:
      • Mon: Lecture.
      • Tue: Recitation - Quiz Review, Quiz #2 in 4-270 and 4-370 7:30-9:30 pm.
      • Wed: Lecture.
      • Thu: Recitation. Make-up for Quiz #2 in 36-144 9 am - 11 am.

    • Quiz #2 information:
      • time: Tuesday, 11/2, 7:30p - 9:30p
      • location: 4-270, 4-370
      • coverage: through L13/R13
      • what you can bring: one 8.5"x11" cribsheet, no calculators
      • makeup: Thursday, 11/4, 9:00a - 11:00a, room 36-144
        (email Grace to request makeup)
      • Quiz Review problems can be found in the announcements section of the website

    • Next week's to-do list:
      • Mon: Lecture
      • Tue: Recitation
      • Wed: Lecture
      • Thu: Recitation
      • Fri: Lab #7 Problems, Tasks and Questions due
    Week of October 25, 2010

    • Optional review session for Quiz 2 on Sunday, 10/31/10, 2-pm, in 32-155.

    • Review problems for Quiz 2 posted (updated 10/28/10 12.30 pm correcting some errors). Note that the PDF file above links to a set of online problems on filters. In addition to all these problems, please study the problems at the end of the notes for Lectures 6 and 10 on channel coding and MAC protocols, as well as the online problem sets for Labs 4, 5, and 6. And make sure to read the lecture and recitation notes. The quiz will cover the material on channel coding (block and convolutional codes), MAC protocols, and filters -- i.e., L6 through L13/R13 (labs 4, 5, 6).

    • Answers to review problems for Quiz 2 (Contact 6.02-help or hari if you see any errors.)

    • Lab 6 and Lab 6 problem set due Friday 10/29/10 (meaning 6am Saturday morning). There will be no interviews for Lab 6.

    • Quiz #2 information:
      • time: Tuesday, 11/2, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
      • location: 4-270, 4-370 (pick a room at random)
      • coverage: L6 through L13/R13 (Labs 4, 5, 6)
      • what you can bring: one 8.5"x11" cribsheet, no calculators
      • make-up: Thursday, 11/4, 9:00a - 11:00a, room tba
        (email gracewoo to request makeup)
      • optional review session: Sunday, 10/31, 2PM-4PM, room 32-155
        (TAs will go through practice problems)

    • This week's to-do list:
      • Mon: Lecture, Lab #6 problems not due until Wednesday.
      • Tue: Recitation
      • Wed: Lecture, Lab #6 problems, tasks and questions due.
      • Thu: Recitation
      • Sun: No Checkoff for Lab #6

    • Next week's to-do list:
      • Mon: Lecture
      • Tue: Recitation will be office hours for quiz review. Quiz #2 at 7.30 pm
      • Wed: Lecture
      • Thu: Recitation

    • Recitation on 11/2 (Tu) will be to help with quiz review, in the usual recitation locations.
      Week of October 18, 2010

      • Lab #6 has been posted.

      • Lecture 12 notes posted.

      • Quiz 1 Exam and Quiz 1 Solutions posted. Updated on 10/22/10 correcting an error in the solution to Problem 1D. Please also note that we will add two points to everyone's score because we erred in grading Problem 3B.

      • This week's to-do list:
        • Mon: Lecture. Lab #5 problems due.
        • Tue: Recitation.
        • Wed: Lecture. Lab #5 tasks and questions due.
        • Thu: Recitation.
        • Sun: Complete check-off interview w/ TA for Lab #5.

      • Next week's to-do list:
        • Mon: Lecture. Lab #6 problems NOT DUE UNTIL WEDNESDAY.
        • Tue: Recitation.
        • Wed: Lecture. Lab #6 problems and Lab #6 tasks and questions due.
        • Thu: Recitation.
        • Sun: No check-off interviews for Lab #6 (but know it for the quiz!).
      Week of October 11, 2010

      • Lab #5 (MAC protocols) posted; also see lecture notes for L10-11.

      • Please note that Task 5 on Lab 4 must be finished before the checkoff interview for the lab, when you need to show the BER curves to your TA. But you don't have to submit anything for this task by the Wednesday night deadline.

      • 10/13/10: Quiz 1 solutions will be posted soon. Thanks for your patience.

      • Quiz 1 stats: Mean = 80.6; std. dev = 14.1.
        Median = 83.0; 1st quartile = 74.0; 3rd quartile = 91.0.

      • This week's to-do list:
        • Mon: No lecture (institute holiday).
        • Tue: Recitation. Lab #4 problems due. (Note Tuesday due date.)
        • Wed: Lecture. Lab #4 tasks and questions due.
        • Thu: Recitation.
        • Sun: Complete check-off interview w/ TA for Lab #4.

      • Next week's to-do list:
        • Mon: Lecture. Lab #5 problems due.
        • Tue: Recitation.
        • Wed: Lecture. Lab #5 tasks and questions due.
        • Thu: Recitation.
        • Sun: Complete check-off interview w/ TA for Lab #5.

      • Lab #4 has been posted.
      Week of October 4, 2010

      • Lab 4 posted. Enjoy! (Also check out the lecture notes.)

      • This week's to-do list:
        • Mon: Lecture.
        • Tue: Recitation (Quiz review). Quiz #1, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm.
        • Wed: Lecture. No lab due.
        • Thu: Recitation.

      • Quiz 1 logistics: Where should you go? Go to either of the two rooms, 4-270 or 4-370 (pick it randomly!). If the room you go to is full, we will redirect you to the other one.

      • Monday, 9:20pm - There is a new FAQ section added to the website.
        This section will have questions and answers from students and staff about
        labs, homework and exam questions. Please feel free to submit a question
        to 6.02-help at mit dot edu.

      • Quiz 1 is on Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 7:30-9:30 pm in 4-270 & 4-370. You're responsible for material from the beginning of the term, up to and including L05, R05, and Lab #3. You can bring one 8.5"x11" cribsheet, no calculators.
        Makeup: Sunday, 10/10, 3:00p - 5:00p, room TBA (email white@mit.edu to request makeup).

      • Quiz 1 review problems
      • Spring 2010 Quiz 1:without solutions (try first!) before seeing the solutions.

      • Prof. Verghese has special office hours for Quiz 1 (he's happy to help any 6.02 student, not just the ones from his recitations): Oct 4 10:30-noon in 10-140K, Oct 4 4:30-5:30 pm in 10-140K (knock loudly on the outer door if you come after 5pm and find it locked), and also Oct 4 6.30-8.00 pm in 32-044.

      • Trouble with lab submissions? For some reason upgrading workstations to the latest Ubuntu/debathena causes problems with certificates under Firefox for some folks. To solve this problem, please: (1) delete all the Firefox config info by typing: cd; rm -rf .mozilla (2) reload your certificates from the MIT certificate authority, and (3) restart Firefox.

      • Next week's to-do list:
        • Mon: No lecture (institute holiday).
        • Tue: Recitation. Lab 4 problems due. (Note tuesday due date.)
        • Wed: Lecture, Lab 4 tasks and questions due.
        • Thu: Recitation.
        • Sun: Complete check-off interview w/ TA for Lab 4.
      Week of September 27, 2010

      Week of September 20, 2010

      • Lab #3 has been posted.

      • Lab #2: Bug Fix in channel.py (9/21). Please Redownload.

      • Lab #2 has been posted.

      • We've posted some notes on debugging your lab code, using observations we made from Lab 1. We hope they're useful to you going forward.

      • Lecture Notes for lecture #3 have been posted.

      • TA Lab hours have changed to accomodate the high peak times from Monday to Wednesday. Please double check the schedule to see when they will be available in lab.

      • This week's to-do list:
        • Mon: Lecture. Lab #2 problems due
        • Tue: Recitation
        • Wed: Lecture. Lab #2 tasks and questions due
        • Thu: Recitation
        • By Sun: Complete check-off interview w/ TA for Lab #2

      • Next week's to-do list:
        • Mon: Lecture. Lab #3 problems due
        • Tue: Recitation
        • Wed: Lecture. Lab #3 tasks and questions due
        • Thu: Recitation
        • By Sun: Complete check-off interview w/ TA for Lab #3

      Week of September 13, 2010

      • This week's to-do list:
        • Mon: Lecture, Lab #1 problems due
        • Tue: Recitation
        • Wed: Lecture, Lab #1 tasks and questions due
        • Thu: Recitation
        • Sun: Check-off interview w/ TA for Lab #1 must be completed by today!

      • Next week's to-do list:
        • Mon: Lecture, Lab #2 problems due
        • Tue: Recitation
        • Wed: Lecture, Lab #2 tasks and questions due
        • Thu: Recitation
        • Sun: Complete check-off interview w/ TA for Lab #2

      • If you do not hear from your TA instructor by Wednesday night to schedule an interview, email the staff list! (6.02-staff@mit.edu)

      • Lecture notes for lecture 2 have been posted, in addition to annotated slides.

      • We've finalized the dates for the two evening quizzes this semester:
        Quiz 1: Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 7:30p-9:30p, 4-270 & 4-370
        Quiz 2: Tuesday, November 2, 2010, 7:30p-9:30p, 4-270 & 4-370
        Quiz 3: will be scheduled by the Registrar during Final's week.

      • Lab #1 has been posted on the Handouts page. Note the Monday and Wednesday deadlines.

      Week of September 6, 2010

      • This week's to-do list:
        • Wed: Lecture
        • Thu: Recitation

      • Next week's to-do list:
        • Mon: On-line questions due
        • Wed: Lab #1, lab questions due
        • Thu,Fri: Lab checkoff with your TA

      • Recitation changes: if possible please attend the recitation assigned to you by the registrar. If your schedule requires a change in section, it may be possible to switch recitation sections -- send e-mail to Grace Woo (gracewoo@mit.edu) with your request and wait for her to confirm whether or not you can make the switch. We need to do some load balancing to avoid overcrowded sections or overburdened TAs.

      • The first meeting of the Fall 2010 offering of 6.02 will be at 2p in room 34-101 on Wednesday, September 8, 2010. Please consult the Course Calendar for a detailed schedule of lectures, recitations, labs and quizzes.

      • Please take a moment to read the Course Info page which describes course mechanics and policies.