 The RF Desk Reference
For Wireless Communications
By R. Harold Kinley, WA4GIB
Filling the void of RF
Technology and techniques
not learned in schools and colleges
 he
intention of this book is to provide practical information about RF
technology to amateur radio enthusiasts as well as practicing wireless
technicians. Learning is a lifelong process and we believe you will find this manual a useful tool in the process of your
continuing education in this field for fun and profit.
It is unfortunate that RF technology and techniques are
not being properly presented in many schools and colleges. Therefore, it is
up to the individual to pursue avenues of independent study in order to fill
the void on RF training. It is the author’s hope this manual will help fill that void. However, this
extensive manual is not a entire panacea for filling that need. At the end
of this book under References you will see listed many books and papers that
you should consider as resources in the further study of RF technology.
The more than 335 pages of 11 Chapters in the book
provides the newcomer with a solid grounding in things RF. The practicing
engineer or amateur radio operator or seasoned professional is provided with
essential material to bridge knowledge gaps and fill in blanks. As found
throughout, illustrations of concepts and practical examples are part and
parcel of the book as it unfolds making for an easy and comprehensible read.
The book is a compendium of standards to reference no matter your role
pertaining to RF. It should be considered an important part of one's
reference library!
As one customer/reader testifies:
"....In my experience as a broadcast engineer and almost forty years of
Amateur Radio, I have been exposed to most, if not all, of the subject
matter in this book at one time or another and find it to be “spot on” in
both content and delivery, within the limitations of keeping the material as
relevant as possible given size constraints of the manuscript, as previously
noted. As a new or old technician, I believe you will find this book
enlightening and of practical use — the acid test of any reference
material...."
And FREE software as a companion!
The Author Notes:
“....Thanks to Nathan Iyer for answering questions about his software
QuickSmith
for use in this manual. His software, QuickSmith, is freeware and can be
downloaded from www.nathaniyer.com . Several practical examples of using
QuickSmith to design impedance-matching networks and to design small-signal,
low-noise RF amplifiers are included in this manual. QuickSmith is in
itself, very educational and intuitive and provides great insight into RF
techniques...."
A screenshot of Quicksmith
This
circuit utilizes a shorted stub to match the 60 - j50 ohm load to 50 ohms.
The circle around the center of the Smith chart represents a VSWR of 1.5:1.
In the summer of 2010, QEX published a two-part article that Harold wrote
about using QuickSmith. This is quite a versatile program Nathan has been
kind enough to provide absolutely free of charge. Nathan is an engineer with
RF Microdevices.
Publisher Note:
This book is a revision and expansion of a book originally published by
Noble Publishing Company. The book has been completely revised and expanded
to become a true RF desk reference for wireless communications. You will
find many practical applications along with supporting theory and practical
examples. We are pleased to add this useful and valuable volume to our Shopping Shack
BookShelf.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR