Radio-frequency (RF) engineering is a subset of electrical engineering that deals with devices that are
designed to operate in theradio frequency spectrum. These devices operate within the range of about 3 kHz up
to 300 GHz.
RF engineering is incorporated into almost everything that transmits or receives a radio wave, which includes,
but is not limited to,mobile phones, radios, Wi-Fi, and two-way radios.
RF engineering is a highly specialized field falling typically in one of two areas;
1. providing or controlling coverage with some kind of antenna/transmission system
2. generating or receiving signals to or from that transmission system to other communications
electronics or controls.
To produce quality results, an in-depth knowledge of mathematics, physics, general electronics theory as well
as specialized training in areas such as wave propagation, impedance transformations, filters, microstrip circuit
board design, etc. may be required. Because of the many ways RF is conducted both through typical
conductors as well as through space, an initial design of an RF circuit usually bears very little resemblance to
the final optimized physical circuit. Revisions to the design are often required to achieve intended results.
Contents
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1 Radio electronics
2 Duties
3 Early RF engineers
4 See also
5 References
Radio electronics[edit]
Radio electronics is concerned with electronic circuits which receive or transmit radio signals.
Typically such circuits must operate at radio frequency and power levels, which imposes special constraints on
their design. These constraints increase in their importance with higher frequencies. At microwave frequencies,
the reactance of signal traces becomes a crucial part of the physical layout of the circuit.
List of radio electronics topics:
RF oscillators: PLL, Voltage-controlled oscillator
Transmitters, Transmission lines, RF connectors,
Antennas, Antenna theory, List of antenna terms
Receivers, Tuners
Amplifiers
Modulators, demodulators, detectors
RF filters
RF shielding, Ground plane
PCB layout guidelines
DSSS, Noise power
Digital radio
Duties[edit]
RF engineers are specialists in their respective field and can take on many different roles, such as design,
installation, and maintenance. RF engineers require many years of extensive experience in the area of study.
This type of engineer has experience with transmission systems, device design, and placement of antennas for
optimum performance. An RF Engineer at a broadcast facility is responsible for maintenance of the stations
high-power broadcast transmitters, and associated systems. This includes transmitter site emergency power,
remote control, main transmission line and antenna adjustments, microwave radio relay STL/TSL links, and
more.
In addition, an RF design engineer must be able to understand electronic hardware design, circuit board
material, antenna radiation, and the effect of interfering frequencies that prevent optimum performance within
the piece of equipment being developed.
Early RF engineers[edit]
Main articles: Invention of radio and Timeline of radio
Many notable individuals[citation needed] have contributed to the advancement of RF engineering theory and design,
including the following:
Heinrich Hertz, demonstrated the existence of radio waves and developed the unit of measure to
describe frequency of a wave.
Nikola Tesla, known for his high-voltage, high-frequency power experiments in New York and Colorado
Springs. Tesla's primary interest was wireless power transmission through a medium (primarily the Earth)
with demonstrations in 1893 in St. Louis, Missouri, the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and
the National Electric Light Association but saw communication as a side aspect.[1]
Guglielmo Marconi, who developed the first successful commercial wireless telegraphy system based
on air-born radio frequency waves (called Herzian waves at the time) [2]and transmitted the first radio signal
across the Atlantic.
Phillip H. Smith, who developed a graphical method of calculating impedances, admittances, reflection
coefficients and scattering parameters.
