Wifi Lab

Welcome to Wifi Lab! In this event, teams must construct an antenna device prior to the tournament that is designed to transmit a signal at 2.4 GHz and complete a written test on the principles of electromagnetic wave propagation.

The information below should not be interpreted as an extension of the rules. You can find free online copies of the current rules for download on the 2022 Rules page of the Science Olympiad website. The official rules in the current Rules Manual take precedence.

Resources & Links

• WiFi Lab Video - This video shows how to conduct the device testing portion of the event at either in-person or remote tournaments.
• WiFi Lab Participant Tips - Guidance from Virginia Science Olympiad (VASO) on how to construct and test your antenna prior to competing in a Science Olympiad tournament
• Official Rules Clarification 
• Official Rules Clarification 
• WiFi Lab Transmitter Construction & Setup Guide - Follow the instructions here to create a WiFi Lab transmitter that meets event specifications to test your device. This transmitter can also be used by Event Supervisors at tournaments.
• Sample WiFi Lab Graph 

Science Olympiad Store Materials 

• WiFi Lab Digital Download DVD
• 2019 National Test Packet

Practice Problems & Tests

• Practice Test - 2021 UT Austin Invitational
• Practice Test - 2021 BirdSO Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 National Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 SOLVI Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 MIT Invitational
• Practice Test - 2022 UChicago Invitational

Event Supervisor Resources

In addition to the resources on the Event Supervisors page, Wifi Lab Event Supervisors should be sure to use the following resources:

• Score sheet and team checklist
• Event Logistics Manual 
• Science Olympiad Mathematics Guidelines for Physics Events - The Science Olympiad Physics Rules Committee has prepared these guidelines to help Event Supervisors target their questions to the mathematical ability that students bring to the events. This information may be useful to teams as they assign team members to Physics Events as well as they prepare for those events.

Career Connections

• US Bureau of Labor Statistics - Mechanical Engineer
• CareerOneStop: Electrical Engineers
• CareerOneStop: Radio, Cellular and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers
• STEM Session on Circuits