The Essential Guide to RF and Wireless

by Weisman, Carl J.

• ISBN13: 9780130259622
• ISBN10: 0130259624
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-12-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall Ptr

Summary

The complete, friendly, non-technical introduction to wireless and RF technologies! The Essential Guide to RF and Wireless covers wireless and RF technologies at every level non-technical professionals need to understand, including fundamental concepts, basic terminology, components, system building blocks, and complete systems. Carl J. Weisman introduces each of today's hottest wireless technologies, including spread spectrum, wireless local loop, ISM, LMDS, CDMA -- as well as some of tomorrow's most promising standards. The book is remarkably accessible: written in a light, engaging tone, with extensive use of figures, photographs, and visual analogies proven to make wireless and RF technologies easier to understand. For anyone working in and around the wireless/RF industries who does not have an engineering degree or strong technical background.

Table of Contents

Preface	xxi
Part 1 Fundamentals	1	(30)
Basic Concepts	3	(12)
Introduction	4	(1)
Vocabulary	5	(1)
Prefixes	5	(1)
Basic Electronics Terminology	6	(1)
RF Basics	7	(1)
Transmitters and Receivers	7	(1)
Signals	8	(7)
Analog Signals	8	(1)
Frequency	9	(2)
Digital Signals	11	(4)
RF Behavior	15	(16)
Loss and Gain	16	(1)
Devices	16	(2)
Attenuation	16	(2)
Insertion Loss	18	(1)
Decibels	18	(1)
Definition	18	(4)
Decibel Math	19	(3)
Bandwidth	22	(1)
Definition	22	(1)
Octaves and Decades	22	(1)
Wideband and Narrowband	23	(1)
RF in the Environment	24	(1)
Signal Behavior	24	(3)
Skin Effect	24	(1)
Absorption	25	(1)
Reflection	26	(1)
Match	27	(1)
What is Match?	27	(2)
The Meaning of 50 Ohms	27	(1)
VSWR	28	(1)
Return Loss	28	(1)
Consequences of an Imperfect Match	29	(2)
Impedance matching	30	(1)
Part 2 RF Hardware	31	(94)
Basic System Components	33	(40)
Block Diagrams	34	(1)
Receiver	34	(1)
Transmitter	35	(1)
Antennas	35	(1)
Block Diagram	35	(1)
Antenna Characteristics	36	(3)
Active and Passive	36	(1)
Sizes and Shapes	36	(2)
Signal Strength and Direction	38	(1)
How Antennas Work	39	(1)
Wavelength	39	(1)
Antenna Performance	40	(2)
Antenna Patterns	40	(2)
Polarization	42	(1)
Antenna Dimensions	43	(2)
One-Dimensional Antennas	43	(1)
Two-Dimensional Antennas	43	(2)
Amplifiers	45	(1)
Block Diagram	45	(1)
Fundamental Properties of Amplifiers	45	(5)
Gain	45	(1)
Noise Figure	46	(1)
Output Power	46	(2)
Linearity	48	(2)
How Amplifiers Work	50	(1)
Special Amplifiers	51	(3)
Limiting Amplifiers	51	(1)
Balanced Amplifiers	51	(1)
Variable Gain Amplifiers	52	(2)
Filters	54	(1)
Block Diagram	54	(1)
The Filter's Function	54	(1)
The Role of the FCC	55	(1)
Filter Types	55	(1)
Filter Performance	56	(2)
Frequency Response	56	(2)
Special Filters	58	(1)
Duplexers	58	(1)
SAW Filters	58	(1)
Mixers	59	(1)
Block Diagram	59	(1)
The Mixer's Function	59	(2)
The Mathematics	59	(1)
Changing Frequencies	60	(1)
Other Names for Mixers	61	(1)
How Mixers Work	61	(1)
Three Ports	61	(1)
Conversion Loss	62	(1)
Mixer Configurations	62	(2)
Two-Stage Mixers	62	(1)
Mixer Types	63	(1)
Frequency Doublers	63	(1)
Sources	64	(1)
Block Diagram	64	(1)
How Oscillators Work	64	(1)
Different Kinds of Oscillators	65	(2)
The Reason for the Different Oscillators	66	(1)
What Distinguishes Them	66	(1)
How the Frequency is Determined	67	(1)
A Special Oscillator---The VCO	67	(1)
How They Work	68	(1)
Synthesizers	68	(1)
The Use of Feedback	68	(1)
Phase-Locked Loops	68	(1)
A Quick Review	69	(1)
Transmitter Block Diagram	69	(1)
Receiver Block Diagram	70	(1)
Review	70	(3)
Transmitter	70	(1)
Antenna	70	(1)
Receiver	71	(2)
Other Components	73	(22)
Switches	74	(1)
Block Diagram	74	(1)
Switch Function and Performance	74	(1)
Function	74	(1)
Performance	75	(1)
Types of Switches	75	(3)
Electromechanical Switches	75	(1)
Solid State Switches	76	(1)
Poles and Throws	77	(1)
System Use	78	(1)
Attenuators	79	(1)
Block Diagram	79	(1)
The Attenuator's Function	79	(1)
Types of Attenuators	80	(4)
Fixed Attenuators	80	(1)
Voltage Variable Attenuators	81	(1)
Digital attenuators	82	(2)
Dividers and Combiners	84	(1)
Block Diagram	84	(1)
The Divider's and Combiner's Function	84	(1)
System Use	84	(1)
Couplers	85	(1)
Block Diagram	85	(1)
How Couplers Work	86	(1)
Types of Couplers	87	(1)
Directional and Bidirectional Couplers	87	(1)
Quadrature Couplers	87	(1)
Circulators and Isolators	88	(1)
Block Diagram	88	(1)
How Circulators Work	89	(1)
System Use	90	(1)
Isolators	90	(2)
Transformers	92	(1)
Block Diagram	92	(1)
The Transformer's Function	92	(2)
Impedance Ratio	93	(1)
Detectors	94	(1)
Block Diagram	94	(1)
The Detector's Function	94	(1)
Circuits and Signals	95	(30)
Semiconductors	96	(1)
Materials and Devices	96	(2)
Solid State Technology	96	(1)
Silicon and Gallium Arsenide	96	(1)
Diodes and Transistors	97	(1)
Diodes	98	(1)
Transistors	98	(2)
HEMT Transistors	99	(1)
Integrated Circuits (MMIC)	100	(1)
MMIC Performance	100	(1)
Circuit Technologies	101	(1)
Lumped and Distributed Circuits	101	(3)
Lumped Circuits	102	(1)
Distributed Circuits	103	(1)
Discrete, Hybrid, and MMIC Circuit Choices	104	(3)
Subassemblies	107	(1)
Cavities	108	(1)
Modulation	109	(1)
What is Modulation?	109	(1)
Types of Modulation	110	(5)
Amplitude Modulation	111	(1)
Binary Amplitude Shift Keying	112	(1)
Frequency Modulation	112	(2)
Phase Modulation	114	(1)
Quadrature Amplitude Modulation	114	(1)
Modulators and Demodulators	115	(1)
Getting Around	116	(1)
Cables	116	(2)
Cable Construction	116	(2)
Cable Types and Designations	118	(1)
Connectors	118	(4)
Connectors in Cable Assemblies	119	(1)
Connector Families	120	(1)
Adapters	121	(1)
Waveguides	122	(1)
Circuit Traces	123	(2)
Hybrids and Printed Circuit Boards	123	(1)
Stripline, Microstrip and Coplanar Waveguide	123	(2)
Part 3 RF Systems	125	(70)
Older Technology	127	(38)
Broadcasting	129	(1)
What is Broadcasting?	129	(2)
Characteristics	129	(1)
Constraints	129	(2)
The Role of Frequency	131	(2)
Allocation	131	(1)
Propagation	132	(1)
Tuning In	133	(1)
The Tuner	133	(1)
Television Delivery	134	(4)
Three ways	134	(2)
Breaking News	136	(2)
Radar	138	(1)
What is Radar?	138	(2)
Definition	138	(1)
The Role of Frequency	138	(2)
How Radar Works	140	(4)
The Role of Reflection	140	(1)
How Radar Determines Distance	141	(1)
How Radar Determines Direction	142	(1)
How Radar Determines Velocity	143	(1)
Different Radar Systems	144	(4)
Pulsed Radar Systems	144	(2)
Doppler Radar Systems	146	(2)
Satellite Communications	148	(1)
Why Satellites?	148	(1)
How Satellites Work	149	(7)
Geosynchronous Orbit	149	(2)
Uplink/Downlink	151	(1)
Satellite Dishes	152	(1)
Footprints	152	(3)
RF Electronics	155	(1)
About the Spacecraft	155	(1)
Satellite Systems	156	(3)
Three Topologies	156	(1)
The Role of Frequency	157	(2)
A Special Satellite System---GPS	159	(3)
What is GPS?	159	(1)
Theory of Operation	160	(2)
The Next Generation Satellites---LEO	162	(3)
Why LEOs?	162	(1)
How LEOs Work	163	(2)
The New World of Wireless	165	(30)
Fixed Wireless Applications	167	(1)
Point-to-Point Microwave	167	(3)
What is Point-to-Point Microwave?	167	(1)
Uses for Point-to-Point Microwave	167	(1)
Point-to-Point Operations	168	(2)
Wireless Local Loop	170	(3)
What is the Local Loop?	170	(1)
Why Wireless Local Loop?	170	(1)
Wireless Local Loop Technology	171	(1)
The Perfect WLL Solution---LMDS	172	(1)
A New Technology---Spread Spectrum	173	(4)
ISM---Unlicensed Spread Spectrum	173	(2)
Spread Spectrum---Theory of Operation	175	(1)
ISM Spread Spectrum Applications	176	(1)
Other Applications	177	(2)
FCC Allocations	177	(2)
Mobile Telephony	179	(1)
Mobile Telephony Choices	179	(4)
Different Technologies	179	(2)
A World of Choices	181	(1)
The Next Generation	182	(1)
The Cellular Concept	183	(4)
Topology	183	(1)
Infrastructure	184	(2)
Mobility	186	(1)
Frequency Reuse and Air Interface	187	(4)
Frequency Reuse	187	(1)
Air Interface	188	(3)
Adding Capacity	191	(4)
Within a Cell	191	(1)
Uncovered Areas	192	(3)
Glossary	195	(14)
Appendix A---Acronyms	209	(6)
Appendix B---Specifications	215	(4)
Bibliography	219	(2)
About the Author	221	(2)
Index	223