Outline
  
Day One
Course Objectives and Course Outline
 • Review of RF principles • Wave parameters
			- frequency, amplitude, phase • basics of propagation • 
dB and dBm • Mismatches • 
Conversion between mismatch expressions
			- Reflection coefficient, return loss, mismatch loss, SWR • 
The Smith Chart - an overview • 
S-parametersRF Test Equipment - Principles of Operation
 • 
Cable and connector types/proper care • Signal generators • Power meters and power sensors • Frequency counter • Vector network analyzer • Demonstration: how to setup and calibrate a basic VNA measurement • Vector network analyzer measurements on non-packaged devices
Day Two
 • Spectrum analyzer • Demonstration: how to operate a spectrum analyzer
			- Resolution Bandwidth, Video Bandwidth, Attenuation, Scaling • Noise figure meter • Vector signal analyzer
Measurement Uncertainties
 • Mismatch uncertainty • VNA - motivation for measurement calibration
RF Communication system block diagram
 • Specifications of components to be tested
Transmitter components
Phase locked oscillator
 • principles of operation • measurement of phase noise
			- log/video vs. rms averaging on Spectrum Analyzer
			- Marker noise function
Upconverter
 • Modulation basics • principles of operation • demonstration: measurement of conversion gain using a spectrum analyzer
			- output spectrum of upconverter
Day Three
Power Amplifier
 • principles of operation • demonstration measurement
			- swept gain
			- power sweep/1 dB compression point
			- AM to PM distortion
			- phase on the Vector Network Analyzer • 
Harmonic power using Spectrum Analyzer • checking for distortion products in the test equipment
Receiver Components
Noise and Noise Figure
 • Noise figure measurement • demonstration measurement using Y-factor technique
Filters
 • Principles of operation • Demonstration measurement
			- passband
			- inband loss
			- match
			- group delay on the Vector Network Analyzer
Day Four
Low Noise Amplifiers
 • principles of operation • 
Noise figure • 
intermodulation products • demonstration measurement
			- gain/1dB compression point
			- output power
			- phase using power sweep on Vector Network Analyzer • demonstration measurement
			- S-parameters vs. frequency on the Vector Network Analyzer
Mixer
 • principles of operation
			- conversion gain
			- output power
Intermodulation Products
 • description of intermodulation products • 
Demonstration: IP3/TOI using a spectrum analyzer • 
definition of IP2Overall Receiver Performance
 • Typical overall receiver performance • Calculating system performance
Day Five
Multiple Access Techniques
 • FDMA • TDMA • 
CDMA • OFDMA
Performance of RF components with digital signals
 • 
Block diagram • 
Digital modulation fundamentals • demonstration measurement
			- Adjacent Channel Power (ACP) performance vs. power amplifier nonlinearity with different modulation techniques • zero span function on Spectrum Analyzer
Vector Signal Analyzer Modulation Quality Measurements
 • Principles of operation • 
EVM/Distortion of digital signal due to power amplifier nonlinearity • 
EVM/Distortion of digital signal due to IF filter group delay • 
EVM/Distortion due to LO phase noise with mixer • Troubleshooting digital modulation with a Vector Signal Analyzer
Description of Bit Error Rate (BER)
Review
 • RF Communication System Operation