Course 511: RF Fundamentals

Radio Frequency (RF) provides a thorough overview of the principles behind RF engineering. The course covers the basics of RF theory such as modulation techniques, channel coding, capacity, propagation and frequency planning.

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Explain the Basics of RF
• Understand the engineering tools and procedures required for RF engineering and planning
• Understand existing and emerging standards for RF
• Understand RF Propagation and Antenna Principle
• Describe and understand a broad spectrum of antenna types
• Discuss RF Modulation Techniques
• Review RF System Design Considerations
• Review RF System Budget Profiles
• Calculate propagation lossess and link budgets.
• Explain RF performance and Optimization considerations
• Analyze system degradation due to RF components
• Evaluate the performance of differing RF wireless system architectures
• Explore project planning process of RF
• Review successful RF deployments
• Discuss successful and unsuccessful RF deployments
• Step through a practical process for managing RF networks
• Explore the current and future market trends

RF Overview

• History of RF
• Characteristics of a Radio Signal
• Basic Problems of Radio
• Basic Building Blocks in Radio Design
• Mixers, Amplifiers, Filters and Antennas
• Eb/No vs. SNR, BER vs. noise, Bandwidth Limitations
• Modulation Schemes and Bandwidth
• Technology Fundamentals
• Types of Modulation: AM, FM, FSK, QAM, PSK & QPSK
• RF Engineering Principals applied
• Cellular and Mobile RF (GSM, GPRS, EDGE/W-CDMA and UMTS)
• Cellular and Mobile RF (CDMA and CDMA2000)
• Fixed Wireless RF (802.11, 802.16, HF, UHF, Microwave, Satellite)

RF Technologies and Deployment

• Radio Propagation
• Introduction to Microwaves
• Definition of RF/microwave
• Frequency Bands Signal Principles
• Modulation, Bandwidth, Interference, Performance
• Fundamentals of Digital RF Communication
• Multiple Access Methods and Comparative Capacities
• Link Structure
• Call Processing
• Design Engineering
• Performance Engineering
• Traffic Engineering
• System Noise Management
• Propagation modes
• Transmission line aspects
• Smith Chart
• Scattering parameter analysis
• Microwave filters
• Matching networks
• Power flow relations
• Unilateral and bilateral amplifier designs
• Stability analysis
• Oscillators circuits
• Mixers
• Antennas
• RF Regulatory Considerations

RF Propagation Principles

• Physics and Propagation Mechanisms
• Propagation Models and Link Budgets
• Practical System Design Considerations
• Frequency and Wavelength
• The Physics of Propagation: Free Space, Reflection, Diffraction
• Local Variability: Rayleigh fading and multipath cancellation
• Area Propagation Models: Okumura, HATA, Cost 231
• Point-to-Point Models: techniques and commercial software
• Analyzing measured data to produce models
• Reliability of Service: using statistics to design for reliability
• Macro-cell Indoor Penetration Considerations and reliability
• Micro-cellular systems and techniques
• Propagation Prediction Tools and Measurement Tools
• Propagation Losses
• Free space path loss
• Reflection and scattering loss
• Multipath
• Rayleigh fading models
• Link Budgets and High-Level System Design
• Link Budget basics and application principles
• Traffic Considerations

Types Of Propagation Models And Their Uses

• Simple Analytical models
• General Area models
• Point-to-Point models
• Local Variability models
• The Okumura Model
• The Hata Model
• The EURO COST-231 Model
• Morphological Zones
• Walfisch-Betroni/Walfisch-Ikegami Models
• Commercial Propagation Prediction Software

Antennas

• Antenna Basics
• Basic Antennas: Isotropic and Dipole radiators
• Concept of Antenna Gain and gain references
• Effective Radiated Power
• Antenna Patterns and Pattern Features
• How Antennas achieve Gain
• Reflector techniques, array techniques
• Families of Antennas used in Wireless: architecture, characteristics
• Collinear vertical antennas
• Horizontal arrays: yagis, log-periodics, etc.
• Implications of propagation driving antenna selection
• Multipath scattering in mobile clutter environment
• Beamwidth and tilt considerations for base station antennas
• Radiation Pattern
• Gain Antenna types, composition and operational principles
• Antenna gains, patterns, and selection principles
• Antenna system testing

Basic Principles of Traffic Engineering and Optimization

• Trunks, Circuits, Voice Paths
• Offered Traffic vs. Carried Traffic
• Blocking Probability, Grade of Service
• Basic Operational Concepts
• Using Traffic Calculators (Voice, Data, Video and VoIP)

System Design Considerations

• Eb/No vs. SNR
• BER vs. Noise
• Bandwidth Limitations
• RF System Design
• Noise Figure
• Receiver Sensitivity
• Desensitization and Blocking
• Dynamic Range
• Intermodulation Distortion
• Power Output
• Spectral Efficiency and System Limitations
• Sample Link Budget Calculations

Labs and Hands-on Exercises