This is a restricted access course.  Click on more info for access limitations.

Learn to design, build, and test radio frequency prototype hardware using easily obtainable commercial off-the-shelf electronic components. Understand fundamental RF engineering principles and apply them to efficiently design RF prototype circuits for your radar, receiver, transmitter, or jammer project. Focus on the most important aspects of RF circuit design and return home with practical knowledge to begin developing RF systems or test sets. Participate in laboratory demonstrations using modern test equipment and RF hardware to enhance understanding of RF components.

• Engineers and scientists working in RF engineering who want to learn practical skills and gain experience developing prototype hardware such as receiver, radar, communication or RF electronic warfare systems
• Designers new to the RF and microwave field or those needing a refresher on the basics of RF design and an overview of what is available in RF component technology

• Explore RF chain analysis techniques applicable from 1 MHz to 100 GHz
• Learn what technologies are appropriate for any given frequency band
• Save countless hours in identifying the right vendors for RF components
• Avoid common mistakes made by first-time designers
• Learn what is important to test and what is not necessary to test

RF Design Fundamentals

• Power Management: Gain/Loss Budgets, Dynamic Range
• Noise Issue Management: Noise Figure, Bandwidth, Noise Floor
• Impedance Concerns: Voltage Standing Wave Ratio
• Third Order Intercept
• Frequency Conversion: Planning, Harmonics, and Spurs

Component Primers: Learn the Basics of All Common RF Parts

• Antennas
• Cables, Connectors, Adaptors
• Power Combiners, Dividers, and Couplers
• Circulators and Isolators
• Switches
• Frequency Mixers, Multipliers, Dividers
• Filters, Multiplexers
• Detectors, Limiters
• Amplifiers: LNA, Tube, MPM, Log Amp
• Modulators, Amplitude, Phase
• Local Oscillators and Sources

Use of RF Test Equipment

• Oscilloscope
• Spectrum Analyzer
• Synthesizers
• Power Meter

RF Design Examples

• X and Ku Band Receiver
• DRFM RF Up/Down Translator

Prototype Construction Techniques
Test Planning

Participants receive a complete set of handouts from the lectures and a CD-ROM of all presentations.

None is required, though students should have a basic familiarity with radio frequency concepts and electromagnetic wave propagation theory.

• Aram Partizian
• Bill Wilson
• Jeff Kemp
• Lamar Gostin
• Stan Sutphin

Participants must be employees of U.S. Government agencies or their contractors as well as be U.S. citizens. To meet this requirement, you must submit the Access Eligibility Form.

This course is an elective for:

• Radar Systems Certificate
• Electronic Warfare Technology Certificate