The only easy-to-understand guide to the wireless revolution!The easy-to-understand guide to the wireless revolution--fully updated for the latest technologies!New and expanded coverage: broadband fixed wireless, WLANs, wireless Internet, Bluetooth, smart antennas, and moreUpdated coverage of CDMA, GPS, LMDS, and WLL systemsConcepts, terminology, components, and systems--plus new wireless glossaryPerfect for marketers, investors, tech writers, PR specialists, and other non-engineers!There's a wireless revolution underway! With "The Essential Guide to RF and Wireless, Second Edition," you can understand it, join it, and help drive it--even if you don't have a technical background. Leading consultant Carl J. Weisman has thoroughly updated this bestseller to reflect new market realities and breakthrough technologies--from wireless 802.11 LANs to broadband fixed wireless, and beyond. Mr. Weisman covers wireless at every level you need to understand: concepts, terminology, building blocks, and above all, how complete wireless systems actually work. Drawing on his extensive experience training sales professionals, he explains the essence of every key wireless/RF technology--clearly, comprehensibly, and with just the right touch of humor. Spread spectrum and CDMA: how they work and why they're importantNew! Detailed section on broadband fixed wireless: the new "last mile" solution for residential subscribersNew! Satellite Internet deliveryNew! Smart antenna and superconducting filter technologies and their implicationsNew! Wireless Internet, m-commerce, and BluetoothExpanded!Global Positioning Systems: technologies and applications Updated! Preview the future of mobile telephony Updated! Wireless LANs and home networkingFrom its all-new glossary to its extensive collecti

Carl J. Weisman has extensive experience communicating with non-technical people in the sales chain of RF components and subsystems and has done extensive sales training for RF manufacturers' representatives and distributors. He is now a consultant providing marketing communications, technology analysis, and other relevant expertise to high-technology firms

Preface

xvii

Part 1 Fundamentals

Basic Concepts

3

(12)

Introduction

4

(1)

Vocabulary

5

(2)

Prefixes

6

(1)

Basic Electronics Terminology

6

(1)

RF Basics

7

(8)

Transmitters and Receivers

7

(1)

Signals

8

(7)

RF Behavior

15

(20)

Loss and Gain

16

(3)

Devices

16

(1)

Attenuation

17

(1)

Insertion Loss

18

(1)

Decibels

19

(3)

Definition

19

(1)

Decibel Math

19

(3)

Bandwidth

22

(2)

Definition

22

(2)

Wideband and Narrowband

24

(1)

RF in the Environment

24

(4)

Signal Behavior

24

(4)

Match

28

(7)

What Is Match?

28

(2)

Consequences of an Imperfect Match

30

(5)

Part 2 RF Hardware

Basic System Components

35

(42)

Block Diagrams

36

(2)

Receiver

37

(1)

Transmitter

37

(1)

Antennas

38

(11)

Block Diagram

38

(1)

Antenna Characteristics

39

(3)

How Antennas Work

42

(1)

Antenna Performance

43

(2)

Polarization

45

(1)

Antenna Dimensions

46

(2)

Smart Antennas

48

(1)

Amplifiers

49

(8)

Block Diagram

49

(1)

Fundamental Properties of Amplifiers

49

(5)

How Amplifiers Work

54

(1)

Special Amplifiers

55

(2)

Filters

57

(6)

Block Diagram

57

(1)

The Filter's Function

58

(1)

Filter Types

59

(1)

Filter Performance

59

(2)

Special Filters

61

(2)

Mixers

63

(5)

Block Diagram

63

(1)

The Mixer's Function

64

(1)

How Mixers Work

65

(2)

Mixer Configurations

67

(1)

Sources

68

(5)

Block Diagram

68

(1)

How Oscillators Work

69

(1)

Different Kinds of Oscillators

70

(1)

A Special Oscillator--The VCO

71

(1)

Synthesizers

72

(1)

A Quick Review

73

(4)

Transmitter Block Diagram

74

(1)

Receiver Block Diagram

74

(1)

Review

75

(2)

Other Components

77

(26)

Switches

79

(5)

Block Diagram

79

(1)

Switch Function and Performance

79

(1)

Types of Switches

80

(3)

System Use

83

(1)

Attenuators

84

(4)

Block Diagram

84

(1)

The Attenuator's Function

84

(1)

Types of Attenuators

85

(3)

Dividers and Combiners

88

(2)

Block Diagram

88

(1)

The Dividers' and Combiners' Functions

88

(1)

System Use

89

(1)

Couplers

90

(3)

Block Diagram

90

(1)

How Couplers Work

90

(1)

Types of Couplers

91

(2)

Circulators and Isolators

93

(3)

Block Diagram

93

(1)

How Circulators Work

93

(1)

System Use

94

(1)

Isolators

95

(1)

Transformers

96

(2)

Block Diagram

96

(1)

The Transformer's Function

96

(2)

Detectors

98

(1)

Block Diagram

98

(1)

The Detector's Function

98

(1)

Phase Shifters

99

(1)

Block Diagram

99

(1)

The Phase Shifter's Function

99

(1)

Phase Detectors

100

(1)

The Phase Detector's Function

100

(1)

Review of Components

101

(2)

Circuits and Signals

103

(38)

Semiconductors

104

(7)

Materials and Devices

104

(3)

Diodes

107

(1)

Transistors

107

(3)

Integrated Circuits (MMIC)

110

(1)

Circuit Technologies

111

(8)

Lumped and Distributed Circuits

111

(3)

Discrete, Hybrid, and MMIC Circuit Choices

114

(3)

Subassemblies

117

(1)

Cavities

117

(2)

Modulation

119

(9)

What Is Modulation?

119

(1)

Types of Modulation

120

(7)

Modulators and Demodulators

127

(1)

Getting Around

128

(13)

Cables

128

(3)

Connectors

131

(3)

Waveguides

134

(1)

Circuit Traces

135

(6)

Part 3 RF Systems

Older Technology

141

(50)

Broadcasting

143

(10)

What Is Broadcasting?

143

(2)

The Role of Frequency

145

(3)

Tuning In

148

(1)

Television Delivery

149

(4)

Radar

153

(9)

What Is Radar?

153

(2)

How Radar Works

155

(4)

Different Radar Systems

159

(3)

Satellite Communications

162

(25)

Why Satellites?

162

(2)

How Satellites Work

164

(7)

Satellite Systems

171

(3)

A Special Satellite System-GPS

174

(5)

The Next Generation Satellites-LEO

179

(2)

The Internet from Above

181

(6)

Point-to-Point Microwave

187

(4)

What Is Point-to-Point Microwave?

187

(1)

Point-to-Point Operations

188

(3)

Mobile Telephony

191

(34)

A World of Choices

193

(2)

Differentiators

193

(1)

Worldwide Systems

194

(1)

The Cellular Concept

195

(6)

Topology

195

(2)

Infrastructure

197

(1)

Mobility

198

(1)

Adding Capacity

199

(2)

Underlying Technology

201

(8)

Frequency Reuse

201

(2)

Air Interface

203

(3)

Cellular Phone Block Diagram

206

(3)

CDMA Explained

209

(9)

Spread Spectrum

209

(8)

Channels

217

(1)

Cellular Evolution

218

(7)

Different Generations

218

(3)

Paths of Migration to 3G

221

(4)

The New World of Wireless

225

(44)

Broadband Fixed Wireless

227

(13)

Wireless Local Loop

227

(9)

Air Link Transmission Technologies

236

(4)

Wireless Networks

240

(12)

Local Area Networks

240

(7)

Personal Area Networks

247

(2)

Home Networks

249

(3)

The Mobile Internet

252

(4)

Technology

253

(2)

M-Commerce

255

(1)

The Bleeding Edge

256

(13)

Up-and-Coming Technologies

257

(6)

Security Issues

263

(3)

Health Concerns

266

(3)

Glossary

269

(14)

Appendix A-Acronyms

283

(10)

Appendix B-Specifications

293

(4)

Bibliography

297

(2)

About the Author

299

(2)

Index

301

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

Preface A lot has transpired in the world of RF and wireless since I wrote the first edition ofThe Essential Guide to RF and Wireless. It seems as though this wonderful technology, which has actually been around quite a long time, has just begun to take off in the last two years. One thing is certain, there is no doubt that our lives will be forever changed by the wireless revolution we are now experiencing. This book is written for all those who want to understand how this mysterious technology actually works, but did not have the good fortune (?) to get an engineering degree. Toward this end, the book's overriding goal is to simplify RF electronics and wireless technology with analogies, metaphors, and a minimum of mathematics. Many photographs and figures are included to help explain things further. Unlike other books of its kind, however, it takes a distinctly lighthearted approach to the subject by incorporating witticisms and sarcasm, occasionally directed at the book's hypothetical protagonist, the RF engineer. This book is intentionally made humorous because the subject matter is so dry. My feeling is, no matter how brilliantly written or factually correct an introductory book on RF is, if it is too long and boring, you will never get past the first chapter--which is really funny, by the way. The Essential Guide to RF and Wirelesstakes an overly simplistic approach to the subject matter. In this vein, it accomplishes two main objectives: it provides a conceptual understanding of RF components and wireless systems, and it exposes you to the main vocabulary used in the industry. You can hardly expect to understand a topic as complex as wireless communications without first learning itslingua franca. The Essential Guide to RF and Wirelessis intended for non-technical people who know absolutely nothing about RF but need to or just want to. For every engineer working in the field of RF, there are many more non-technical people working in the field who can benefit from understanding and speaking RF. They include non-technical managers, sales administrators, distribution specialists, manufacturer's representatives, buyers, marketing and communications personnel, advertising agents, tradeshow booth staffers, executive recruiters, financial analysts, and technical writers. The first edition was especially popular among investment bankers and venture capitalists. This book can be used three different ways. First, it can be read cover to cover as the book is organized in such a way where each successive chapter builds on the one before it, starting with basic concepts and terminology and ending with the various kinds of wireless systems. Second, each chapter can be read on a stand-alone basis, for those who need to quickly grasp a single subject or concept. Some of the subject matter is repeated in different chapters in an effort to make each chapter understandable by itself. Finally, this book can be used as a reference. The many tables, the Glossary, and Appendices A and B provide quick access to terminology, acronyms, and specifications used in the wireless industry. Regardless of how you use this book, if you are new to the subject of RF, you should read all of Part 1 (Chapters 1 and 2), as the rest of the book builds on the fundamental concepts and vocabulary introduced there. Part 2 (Chapters 3, 4, and 5) is primarily intended for those working in the RF and wireless industry, as it covers the underlying technology of an RF system in great detail. All of the important building blocks used to make RF hardware are explained, as are the different methods used to manufacture them. Also covered is the fascinating topic of modulation, which is how ground-based information gets prepared to enter the wireless world. New items added to Part 2 in the second edition include smart antennas and superconducting filters. Other components new to