Preface xvii
Part 1 Fundamentals
1 Basic Concepts 3
Introduction 4
Vocabulary 5
Prefixes 6
Basic Electronics Terminology 6
RF Basics 7
Transmitters and Receivers 7
Signals 8
2 RF Behavior 15
Loss and Gain 16
Devices 16
Attenuation 17
Insertion Loss 18
Decibels 19
Definition 19
Decibel Math 19
Bandwidth 22
Definition 22
Wideband and Narrowband 24
RF in the Environment 24
Signal Behavior 24
Match 28
What Is Match? 28
Consequences of an Imperfect Match 30
Part 2 RF Hardware
3 Basic System Components 35
Block Diagrams 36
Receiver 37
Transmitter 37
Antennas 38
Block Diagram 38
Antenna Characteristics 39
How Antennas Work 42
Antenna Performance 43
Polarization 45
Antenna Dimensions 46
Smart Antennas 48
Amplifiers 49
Block Diagram 49
Fundamental Properties of Amplifiers 49
How Amplifiers Work 54
Special Amplifiers 55
Filters 57
Block Diagram 57
The Filter's Function 58
Filter Types 59
Filter Performance 59
Special Filters 61
Mixers 63
Block Diagram 63
The Mixer's Function 64
How Mixers Work 65
Mixer Configurations 67
Sources 68
Block Diagram 68
How Oscillators Work 69
Different Kinds of Oscillators 70
A Special Oscillator--The VCO 71
Synthesizers 72
A Quick Review 73
Transmitter Block Diagram 74
Receiver Block Diagram 74
Review 75
4 Other Components 77
Switches 79
Block Diagram 79
Switch Function and Performance 79
Types of Switches 80
System Use 83
Attenuators 84
Block Diagram 84
The Attenuator's Function 84
Types of Attenuators 85
Dividers and Combiners 88
Block Diagram 88
The Dividers' and Combiners' Functions 88
System Use 89
Couplers 90
Block Diagram 90
How Couplers Work 90
Types of Couplers 91
Circulators and Isolators 93
Block Diagram 93
How Circulators Work 93
System Use 94
Isolators 95
Transformers 96
Block Diagram 96
The Transformer's Function 96
Detectors 98
Block Diagram 98
The Detector's Function 98
Phase Shifters 99
Block Diagram 99
The Phase Shifter's Function 99
Phase Detectors 100
The Phase Detector's Function 100
Review of Components 101
5 Circuits and Signals 103
Semiconductors 104
Materials and Devices 104
Diodes 107
Transistors 107
Integrated Circuits (MMIC) 110
Circuit Technologies 111
Lumped and Distributed Circuits 111
Discrete, Hybrid, and MMIC Circuit Choices 114
Subassemblies 117
Cavities 117
Modulation 119
What Is Modulation? 119
Types of Modulation 120
Modulators and Demodulators 127
Getting Around 128
Cables 128
Connectors 131
Waveguides 134
Circuit Traces 135
Part 3 RF Systems
6 Older Technology 141
Broadcasting 143
What Is Broadcasting? 143
The Role of Frequency 145
Tuning In 148
Television Delivery 149
Radar 153
What Is Radar? 153
How Radar Works 155
Different Radar Systems 159
Satellite Communications 162
Why Satellites? 162
How Satellites Work 164
Satellite Systems 171
A Special Satellite System--GPS 174
The Next Generation Satellites--LEO 179
The Internet from Above 181
Point-to-Point Microwave 187
What Is Point-to-Point Microwave? 187
Point-to-Point Operations 188
7 Mobile Telephony 191
A World of Choices 193
Differentiators 193
Worldwide Systems 194
The Cellular Concept 195
Topology 195
Infrastructure 197
Mobility 198
Adding Capacity 199
Underlying Technology 201
Frequency Reuse 201
Air Interface 203
Cellular Phone Block Diagram 206
CDMA Explained 209
Spread Spectrum 209
Channels 217
Cellular Evolution 218
Different Generations 218
Paths of Migration to 3G 221
8 The New World of Wireless 225
Broadband Fixed Wireless 227
Wireless Local Loop 227
Air Link Transmission Technologies 236
Wireless Networks 240
Local Area Networks 240
Personal Area Networks 247
Home Networks 249
The Mobile Internet 252
Technology 253
M-Commerce 255
The Bleeding Edge 256
Up-and-Coming Technologies 257
Security Issues 263
Health Concerns 266
Glossary 269
Appendix A Acronyms 283
Appendix B Specifications 293
Bibliography 297
About the Author 299
Index 301