(Part 2) Best products from r/rfelectronics

Cut and paste of my other post:

>First do the hand calculations for the patch antenna size, they can be found in many textbooks.
>
>Next, simulate the antenna and see how close it matches your hand calculations.
>
>I can recommend:
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>Microstrip Antenna Design Handbook by Bahl, Bhartia et al.
>
>Good antenna theory textbooks are:
>
>Antenna Theory and Design by Stutzman and Thiele
>
>Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design by Balanis
>
>Older editions can be found on AbeBooks and are just fine.
>
>Antenna-Theory.com is a good online antenna reference.
>
>Try posting in /r/rfelectronics for help later.

I linked directly to patch antenna calculations on the Antenna-Theory website.

You can probably find references like this (not cheap):

https://www.amazon.com/Nonlinear-Microwave-RF-Circuits-2nd/dp/1580534848

In general most RF/microwave is presumed linear. And when it's not it's device-level transistor/diode models exactly like you'd have at low frequencies. E.g. s-parameters and other 2-port parameters are 100% linear only.

Most of an undergrad EE is about "How to keep it linear" where "it" is literally everything.

You do run into nonlinear concerned but often they are handled by things like Class C amplifiers (which are merely filtered to eliminate the introduced nonlinear effects), or "load-pull" testing which look at mismatch effects caused by nonlinearity in the gain cell.

Ditto this.

The second edition is also available and cheaper.

Bowick has the best treatment of smith charts that I have ever read, even better than Pozar or Ludwig.

I like the lichee tang for inexpensive capability and a vibrant user base. 37 bucks on Amazon and a lot of capability in a small package.

[Amazon link] (https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Magic-Development-Microcontroller-Processor/dp/B07K9GV1LF/ref=pd_aw_sbs_147_1/141-6457622-8037064?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07K9GV1LF&pd_rd_r=fbf21290-9c16-11e9-a673-fb6a8bc87493&pd_rd_w=Jv0UY&pd_rd_wg=tM6Vb&pf_rd_p=aae79475-6dc9-4a12-80e8-27b63108fa72&pf_rd_r=X3Q72QTQ4JJNTC7B436R&psc=1&refRID=X3Q72QTQ4JJNTC7B436R)

These:

Proxicast 11 dBi Yagi High Gain 3G / 4G / LTE/Wi-Fi Universal Fixed Mount Directional Antenna (700-2700 MHz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RJQ8RGC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_rFZmDbXA544GP

Allegedly these are very good for the task.

How do you weigh in regarding shorter transmission line with connectors for egress vs, longer transmission line without connectors?

This one has been helpful. You should also learn to know and love smith charts. Very useful in matching impedances, and will make filter design ever so much easier.

Looks like he released the 4th ed recently

He also has Modern Antenna Handbook

And several others, thank you for bringing my attention to him!

RFIC design is the culmination of Analog IC Design, EM, Communication Theory and pretty much everything in EE. If you want a good introduction to the subject try reading Dr Tom Lee's book -

The Design of CMOS Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuits

It is a bit old but its still the gold standard for RFIC design.


Regarding the relationship between Analog and RF design, its the parasitics and Transmission Line Theory. At very frequencies everything is a cap/inductor so modelling those and designing around them is what makes RFIC design challenging.

If you like that, you might like this too: Experimental Methods in RF Design.

Noise Reduction Techniques in Electronic Systems, 2nd Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/0471850683/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GhV1Cb4EFNT1Z

This is a good book. The book deals with understanding and mitigating unintended RF emissions (or noise) generates due to operating electronic systems. In short, currents and voltages in the board caused due to field propagation, if not handled correctly, ends up radiating out.

What if I get one of these 315mhz transmitters and swap the 315mhz crystal for the 295mhz crystal: 315mhz rf module (amazon). It looks almost identical to the 433mhz transmitters that are popular and is only a few mhz off from my target 295mhz.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/160845522X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought this book on FDTD since I won't have good/any internet at times the next few weeks. is there anything else you can recommend

If you're using Sprint don't bother building. Just buy this. I've used two of those and they work wonders.

I have not seen others that are as affordable as the NanoVNA... there is a “miniVNA” on amazon that goes up to 3GHz but its $500


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JNLDJBJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GIkLDbCND1GR9

Check these ones out:

http://www.amazon.com/Radio-Frequency-Integrated-Circuit-Design/dp/1607839792/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

http://www.amazon.com/Design-Radio-Frequency-Integrated-Circuits-Edition/dp/0521835399/ref=pd_sim_sbs_14_4?ie=UTF8&dpID=31M1OSOv3PL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=0AZ8KKGCHTWRYNWFGB7J

http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Circuit-Design-Wireless-Systems/dp/1580535224

https://www.amazon.com/Communication-Receivers-Synchronization-Estimation-Processing/dp/0471502758

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0306457253/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687622&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0471502758&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=V61QAW1JNPABPC551M8E