Experimental Methods in RF Design (WITH CD)

Written for Anyone with a Driving Curiosity about State-of-the-Art Equipment!

This work (published in 2003) is heir to the widely popular Solid State Design for the Radio Amateur, which left an indelible mark on radio communication in the decades following its release in 1977.

“It was not that it talked about transistors instead of tubes. Rather, the book was accepted because it cut to the chase and talked about the devices of the day in a way that allowed the reader to actually do his or her own design. We’ve approached Experimental Methods in RF Design with the same fundamental viewpoint of the subject material.” —Wes Hayward, W7ZOI

Experimental Methods in RF Design explores wide dynamic range, low distortion radio equipment, the use of direct conversion and phasing methods as a serious communications architecture, and a hands-on embracing of digital signal processing. The amateur bands up to 2 meters are considered, and are illustrated with CW and SSB gear. The book uses some mathematics where appropriate. It is, however, kept at a basic level.

DESIGN
Models and discussion allow the user to design equipment at both the circuit and the system level. Problems specific to radio communications equipment are discussed.

EXPERIMENTATION
Users are immersed in the communications experience by building equipment that contributes to understanding basic concepts and circuits. Presented to illustrate the design process, the equipment is often simple, lacking the frills found in commercial gear.

MEASUREMENT
Measurement is a vital part of an experiment. Users are encouraged to perform measurements on gear as it is being built. Techniques to determine performance and the measurement equipment needed for the evaluations are discussed in detail, including circuits that the reader can build.

Basic Investigations in Electronics
Amplifiers, Filters, Oscillators, and Mixers
Superheterodyne Transmitters and Receivers
Measurement Equipment
Direct Conversion Receivers
Phasing Receivers and Transmitters
DSP Components
DSP Applications in Communications
Field Operation, Portable Gear, and Integrated Stations

Disclaimer: This Classic Reprint Edition of a previous ARRL publication contains outdated content and references that may no longer be relevant or valid. Software referenced throughout the book is not included and not available.

Download is included with two additional Classic Editions written by Wes Hayward, W7ZOI.
Solid State Design for the Radio Amateur (1986) and Introduction to Radio Frequency Design (1994)
Instructions to access the additional online material are included in the book.