A Clear and Concise Overview
Radio frequency (RF) system design forms the basis of wireless communications. This course provides an overview of the principles of radio frequency (RF) system design, including the use of antennas, propagation models, and interference mitigation. The course provides a classification of RF systems and then covers the basic functions of antennas, including the near and far fields, antenna gain, directivity, and radiation characteristics. Important RF propagation mechanisms are reviewed, such as the curvature of the ray beam, surface (ground) wave, space wave, sky wave (ionospheric propagation), scatter propagation, and earth-space propagation. RF propagation impairments are described and how multipath fading, interference, and noise will impact the threshold received power. Transmitter issues, crosslink Interference, and remote interference and management are also covered. The models governing free-space propagation, outdoor propagation models, and smoothness criteria are studied, together with link budget calculations.
What you’ll learn
- Understand the concepts of radio system design.
- Be able to specify and design a radio system.
- Understand the theories and models used.
- Learn the antenna types and near/far fields.
- Calculate the link budget and review the propagation impairments.
Course Content
- Introduction –> 1 lecture • 13min.
- RF Propagation –> 1 lecture • 16min.
- RF Propagation Modeling and Antenna Systems –> 1 lecture • 12min.
- Propagation Loss, Link Budget, and RF Impairments –> 1 lecture • 19min.
- Noise Effects, Radio Link Calculations, and RF Performance Metrics –> 1 lecture • 9min.
Requirements
Radio frequency (RF) system design forms the basis of wireless communications. This course provides an overview of the principles of radio frequency (RF) system design, including the use of antennas, propagation models, and interference mitigation. The course provides a classification of RF systems and then covers the basic functions of antennas, including the near and far fields, antenna gain, directivity, and radiation characteristics. Important RF propagation mechanisms are reviewed, such as the curvature of the ray beam, surface (ground) wave, space wave, sky wave (ionospheric propagation), scatter propagation, and earth-space propagation. RF propagation impairments are described and how multipath fading, interference, and noise will impact the threshold received power. Transmitter issues, crosslink Interference, and remote interference and management are also covered. The models governing free-space propagation, outdoor propagation models, and smoothness criteria are studied, together with link budget calculations.
Key Learning Outcomes
- Specify and design a radio frequency system.
- Study the basic functions of antennas and various antenna systems.
- Identify different RF propagation mechanisms and transmission modes.
- Understand the RF communications impairments.
About the Instructor
The instructor was a technical editor for the IEEE Wireless Communications Magazine for 10 years and has also guest edited for the IEEE Communications Magazine (2 issues) and the IEEE Journal on Selected Areas on Communications. His IEEE online tutorials were sponsored 8 times by industry. His research has appeared in the IEEE Spectrum and he received 2 IEEE best paper awards. He was invited by the National Science Foundation to participate in a workshop on Residential Broadband and received the National Association of Broadcasters Technology Innovation Award. He has also served as an IEEE Communications Society Distinguished Lecturer with 10 invited lectures worldwide as well as an expert witness.