RF Mentor Academy Subscription

A continuously updated collection of courses and tutorials presented by the experts from Besser Associates. Buy your subscription for US$995 for a one-year (365 day) term.

New circumstances call for a new approach to online training!

A full year of access to courses, tutorials, and the RF/Wireless Passport™ program

- all from Besser Associates instructors

- all for one fixed price of $995/year (per person)

- includes our new RF Wireless Passport program - see below!

Value Added

The subscription content includes online courses and short "premium tutorials" from Besser Associates. Topics include EMI/EMC, aerospace, RF power amplifiers, and now with our passport program our most popular fundamental RF/wireless systems, circuits, and PCB courses as well! 

Topics are constantly updated - See current listings, below.

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RF Wireless Passport Program

Included with your RF Mentor Academy subscription!

RF Wireless Passport Logo

Discover the new RF and Wireless Passport program!

  • Learn individual topics from three of our all-time most popular RF/Wireless courses at your own pace - via the RF Mentor Academy subscription from Besser Associates.
  • Topics have been organized into groups using a "Passport" format, allowing you to complete segments of courses and track your completion progress.
  • View lectures by instructor Rick Fornes and answer some basic review questions to "stamp" your passport towards completing the courses. Earn a certificate of completion for a course when all topic groups for that course are completed.
  • Some topic groups appear in multiple courses - earn progress for multiple courses at once! Complete all courses and receive an "RF/Wireless Passport - World of Wireless" certificate.
  • Topic groups rotate through the subscription program approximately every eight months. Take as long as your like - complete up to two courses in one year (over $2,000 value), or all three courses in two years (over $3,000 value).

Currently Available Topics

The diagram below shows a "map" of RF topics taught by instructor Rick Fornes from three popular courses. Starting mid-February 2024 topic groups C and D are available - offering complete coverage of course 267: 5G Radio & Smartphone RF Architecture Fundamentals (available exclusively via subscription!) 

Course 267 5G Radio Smartphone Logo

  • 112 - RF Wireless Circuits, Systems and Test - (Topics in group C only)
  • 267 - RF Smartphone Architecture - Currently Available
  • 042 - RF and High Speed PCB Design - Not Currently Available (coming October 2024, see schedule below)

Available topic groups will be rotated approximately every eight months. Check back for more details or contact the office at info@besserassociates.com. Start your subscription now!

RF Passport Topic Groups

Schedule of Topic Groups

RF/Wireless Passport - Current topic group availability schedule

Topic Group Jun 2023 Feb 2024 Jun 2024 Oct 2024 Feb 2025
Group A        
Group B          
Group C      
Group D        
Group E        
Group F          
Related Course 112 Wireless Circuits Systems Test 267 Smartphone Architecture/5G 042 RF & High Speed PCB

 

Notes:

  • Topic group availability may be subject to change. Please check back for updates.
  • In order to maintain subscription pricing, topic groups B, D, and F will typically be available for four months at a time.

Since the RF/Wireless Passport program is part of our RF Mentor Academy Subscription, not only do you get access for an entire year at a time, but you also get access to all of the other great content that's part of the subscription catalog.

For example:

- let's say you have viewed Rick Fornes' lecture on RF power amplifiers that is part of "topic group C" in the passport program. If you want to dive deeper into that topic you can easily view the "Power Amplifier ABC's" tutorial by Allen Podell - or - take the entire "RF Power Amplifiers and GaN Technology" course by Ali Darwish. Both are already included with your subscription - no need for additional funding/approval requests!
- enhance your understanding of 5G concepts with our "What is 5G" tutorial by Joe Boccuzzi.
As the topics in the RF/Wireless Passport program are rotated through the subscription, our aim is to continue to make tutorials and related short courses that align with those topics available to subscribers at the same time. For example, when the topic groups for the passport program rotate to focus on "RF and High Speed Digital PCB Fundamentals", we aim to offer tutorials and short courses on EMI/EMC related topics to subscribers at the same time.

 

Current Subscription Catalog

Current courses and tutorials available in the RF Mentor Academy Subscription program.

EMC/EMI Shielding/Grounding for Chip & PCB Layout (140)

Subscription Courses
Five 90-minute sessions. This seminar discusses techniques for identifying the sources of unwanted coupling and radiation, and systematic approaches for their minimization. This course is available as part of the RF Mentor Academy subscription. Objectives:Define electromagnetic compatibility.Identify sources of coupling and radiation.Discuss and simulate the effectiveness of various shielding strategies. Target Audience:Product and package design engineers of all expertise levels will benefit from this course. A basic engineering background (BSEE or equivalent) is required....

Impedance Matching Using Analytical Techniques (229)

Subscription Courses
The need for impedance matching is rooted in basic AC circuit analysis principles. In basic terms, maximum power transfer occurs when the current and voltage are in phase. This workshop examines analytical techniques to design impedance matching networks that deliver the most power possible to an RF load. Q factor and its effect on matching network bandwidth are also described.Online WorkbookThe course includes an online workbook exercise to design a single section and broadband matching network using the techniques described in the lecture. The resulting matching network is also demonstrated...

Phase Noise and Jitter

Subscription Courses
Three two-hour sessions. Timing-related problems associated with signal sources are one of the major bottlenecks in designing today’s highly complex systems. Over many decades, jitter has been extensively studied and utilized to characterize timing inaccuracies in both digital and analog systems. Conversely, phase noise has been exclusively used in RF systems to represent frequency or phase inaccuracy. For both timing and frequency sensitive systems, phase noise measurement is emerging to be the most accurate method of characterizing all types of signal sources (RF, analog or digital)....

RF and Wireless Made Simple

Subscription Courses
Learn how to speak engineer…or at least understand them!…and learn at your own pace.…RF & Wireless Made Simple online course can teach a basic understanding of RF and wireless technology in as little as 8 hours, or up to six months whenever you need a "refresher". Frequently used terms will be explained, as well as how to calculate dB. The names and functions of RF system components are discussed and a description of how they interact to generate and process signals is provided. The course explains the basic principles of signal processing and multiple access techniques in wireless...

RF Design: Core Concepts (247)

Subscription Courses
This course presents core concepts essential in understanding RF technology and presents circuit-level designers with the foundation needed to work effectively with high frequency electronics. Participants gain analytical, graphical ( Smith Chart ), and computer-aided techniques to analyze and optimize RF circuits in practical situations. This course reviews traditional circuit definitions based on voltages and current and transitions to power-flow concepts and scattering parameters (S-parameters) used in the wireless domain.OutlineIntroduction to RF Circuits • Linear circuit analysis in...

RF Power Amplifiers & GaN Technology (228)

Subscription Courses
Three two-hour sessions. There are a number of semiconductor technologies being used for power amplifier design. This course introduces students to the GaN transistor, its properties, various structures, discrete and MMIC devices. The properties of GaN will be presented showing the advantage of these devices over other materials for power amplifier applications. Material will be presented on GaN HEMT transistors, geometries, semiconductor processes and structures with associated breakdown voltages, power capability, gain, efficiency, and frequency performance. Guidelines for reliable...

RF Wireless Passport/a la Carte (178)

Subscription Courses
Discover the RF and Wireless Passport program - exclusively on RF Mentor Academy Subscription!Learn the fundamentals of RF and Wireless with three comprehensive courses taught by Rick Fornes - all arranged by topic to avoid repetition and streamline your learning!Wireless Circuits Systems and Test (112) - Future availabilitySmartphone Architecture and 5G (267) - Currently availableRF and High Speed PCB (042) - availabilityInstructor Rick Fornes has trained hundreds of students on dozens of RF and wireless subjects with Besser Associates over the last 20+ years. Now, thanks to the...

Chalk-Talk Tutorials

Subscription Tutorials
A series of tutorials in "chalk-talk" format, similar to courses on the popular "Khan Academy" site.1. Signal Flow Graphs  with Rex Frobenius:Signal Flow Graphs allow RF/Microwave circuit designers to use graphical techniques as an alternative to brute-algebraic approaches. By learning four key tools for working with the graphs, the majority of circuit problems can be analyzed. 

Digital Modulation Webinar

Subscription Tutorials
This seminar covers the basics of analog and digital modulation, including sampling and pulsed signals. The fundamental digital modulation formats such as BPSK, QPSK, and QAM are described. Continuous-phase formats (MSK, FSK) are covered as well.Learning Objectives:identify the benefits of digital vs. analog modulationidentify the symptoms of aliasing caused by under-sampling a signalapply pulse theory to the understanding of frequency and time domain interactionidentify basic digital modulation formats (BPSK, QPSK, etc.)understand tradeoffs between data rate and noise immunity Outline:...

Electronic Warfare: Jammers Tutorial Series

Subscription Tutorials
This tutorial series by instructor Scott Bullock consists of three parts.Part 1 describes the operation of Automatic Gain Control (AGC) systems, a key target of electronic warfare (EW) attack strategies. Topics discussed include:AGC PrinciplesDesignsFeedbackControl SystemLoop filter, Threshold level, IntegratorControl TheoryAGC ResponsesError analysisBode Plots/StabilityAGC Jamming: Burst/PulseCapturing the AGCReducing Burst Jammers Parts 2 and 3 will discuss jammers in more detail. Topics will include:Spot Jammer – jams a single frequencyBarrage – Sends out a barrage of frequenciesCW –...

Integrated Circuits for mmWave

Subscription Tutorials
Explore the unique benefits of mmWave technology for RF applications in this two part (90 minutes total) premium tutorial with Dr. Ali Darwish.Part 1 of 25G/mmWave/Waveguide bandsWhy mmWave?Reason 1: bandwidthReason 2: powerReason 3: sizeReason 4: multi-beamPart 2 of 2What is a MMIC?MMIC vs Hybrid CircuitsCostMMIC vs RFICPros and ConsApplicationsHigh vs Low Frequency Limit

Introduction to RF/Wireless Receivers Webinar

Subscription Tutorials
Besser Associates instructor Scott Bullock presents a tutorial webcast on Introduction to Receivers.Topics covered in the webinar include:Parts of the ReceiverImage FrequencyLNA'sMixer Spur AnalysisHigh/Low Level Mixers and IntermodulationPhase NoiseFilters/Group DelayDynamic RangeAGCMinimum Discernible SignalTangential Sensitivity

Power Amp ABC's Webinar

Subscription Tutorials
One-hour webinar. Instructor Allen Podell gives a brief overview of the basics of RF power amplifier design.

Reflectionless Filters Premium Tutorial

Subscription Tutorials
One hour tutorial on reflectionless filters design by instructor Bob Froelich.Table of contents:00:00 Titles/Introduction05:15 Symmetric Networks06:45 Even/Odd Excitations14:45 Low Pass Design37:25 Numerical Example38:50 Simulation50:00 References, Future Topics

RF/Wireless Small Signal Amplifiers - Webinar

Subscription Tutorials
Instructor Bob Froelich presents a one-hour tutorial webcast on Small Signal Amplifiers.This presentation includes the following topics:Small-Signal ApplicationsSmall-Signal Performance MetricsGainNoise FigureDistortionPower ConsumptionDC BiasIncludes prototype online self study guide

Satellite Communications 101: A Webinar for Beginners and Experts

Subscription Tutorials
In this webinar, you will learn about the unique challenges and opportunities of space-terrestrial communications links. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you will find something useful and interesting in this session.We will cover topics such as:How satellites operate and communicate with each other and with EarthWhat are the different types of modulation and why they matterHow to choose the best satellite orbit for your needsWhat are the key components of a ground station and how they affect performanceHow to calculate G/T, equivalent temperature, and link budgetWhat are the...

Webinar - What Will 5G Be?

Subscription Tutorials
This webinar will provide an overview of areas 5G will address.  We will begin with a discussion on the shortcomings of present day cellular systems to highlight the items needing to be addressed in 5G.  Provide the overall 5G goals and pillar use cases as defined by ITU.  Several deployment options will be provided and summary of the 3GPP scenarios provided.  Key system parameters will be discussed and the impact of 5G to a Cloud-RAN network architecture will be highlighted. Shortcomings of existing Cellular Standards5G Goals & Use CasesDeployments OptionsSystem...

Subscription Latest Updates

Most recent subscription activity.

RF Passport: Topic Group D


Topic group D, which includes the second half of the 5G/Smartphone (267) course materials is now available as part of the subscription program. The subscription/passport program has now "rotated" to a status of having topic groups C and D available. Subscribe now to take this course as part of your passport journey!

New RF Wireless Passport Program in Subscription


Learn individual topics from three of our all-time most popular RF/Wireless courses at your own pace. Topics have been organized into groups using a "Passport" format, allowing you to complete segments of courses and track your completion progress. View lectures by instructor Rick Fornes and answer some basic review questions to "stamp" your passport towards completing the courses. Earn a certificate of completion for a course when all topic groups for that course are completed. Some topic groups appear in multiple courses - earn progress for multiple courses at once!

Subscription Updates June 2022


Course Added: Phase Noise and JitterWaleed Khalil's popular course on Phase Noise and Jitter has been added to the subscription catalog. This short course covers the fundamentals of phase noise and jitter, which ultimately set the limit to PLL performance in applications such as frequency synthesis, serial data communication and clock/data recovery.

Subscription Updates March 2022


Expring Soon - Last Chance!These courses are leaving the subscription program soon. Take advantage of this great content while you can!

Subscription Updates October 2021


New Premium Tutorial: Automatic Gain ControlInstructor Scott Bullock has prepared a premium tutorial  on Automatic Gain Control, Burst or Pulse Jammer Improvement, and Reduce Results  as part of a new Electronic Warfare Tutorial Series.