I am extremely pleased to know a few of the TECHNEX developments in ECE department and I am pretty sure that others would also like to get updates !

• LAB

  Last year batch has been able to "win" a student lab in ECE dept. ECE has given the old "microwave office" to the students of EcE. Microwave office was in a small building outside EcE main building just near the back shutter entry of the department. The keys of the lab remains with the student and they can come/work anytime. More exciting is to know that department has donated many basic equipment for students lab --- like a CRO, Function Generator, Bread-Board etc. People who tried to make big projects would understand that what a big achievement it is! (Someone from the 97 batch had made a PC based CRO and function generator -- just so that he could work in hostel on other projects :)) Kudos to 99-2003 batch for their efforts.

• PROJECTS

  In the last two TECHNEXes, a "huge" number of hardware projects were presented. Kudos to Milind/Vinayak/Pawan etc. EcE won the all over first prize. A vehicle which could track a pre-laid road was build with some innovative feedback system (without using a microcontroller!).

• EFFORTS

  Rajeev Srivastava ('99) and his gang (!) started the effort in 99. As far as I know, that was probably first good effort in getting more hardware projects in TECHNEX. Situation before that was just pathetic. Ajit Sharma from my batch was instrumental in getting this good initiative pick moomentum. And then Millind Gupta and his gang took charge for two years. I was informed that another "ignited" soul from 2003 is now all set take charge :)

• Corporate-Support

  I think one important thing missing is the corporate support. ("Funding" is not necessarily a part of "support"). We are thinking on the lines of Hughes/Talisma lines. These companies have organized software comp in campus in past. Can people out there in Motorola/TI/ST etc work with their Managers if they can through out a few circuit design competitions on campus ? It can either be part of TECHNEX or as a pre-cursor. Students would be certified. Companies would be able to recognize good talent whom they may want to offer trainings/jobs. They would also get a chance to give a talk on what the their companies are up to. Suggestions ???

• Alumni Funding

  Till students only think of small-circuits -- like "hobby electronics" kind of stuff. One of the reasons is funds. No one can afford to buy a micro-controller or DSP kit. Funding a few good projects should not be difficult for alumni. I guess funding 4-5 projects wouldnot cost more than 25-30K (<1000$). Students would send proposals and people can pick up a few of them. Suggestions ???

• Components

  Getting components in Benares is really a horrible task. Bharat Electronics used to sell them for at least 5 times the cost! Department deals directly with a few vendors from Delhi for the dept labs. We were thinking on the same lines. Student-lab can be the official entity that can deal directly with vendors. With a small funding source assured they can order components on regular basis. Unused components can either be acquired by dept labs or the students-lab can keep them. A few percent can be returned. Suggestions ???