RF Measurement Basics For The Non-RF Test Engineer

Robert Green, Keithley Instruments, Inc.

Engineers working with wireless designs and products for the first time need to understand the basics of making fundamental RF measurements. Often times, this involves helping engineers who've spent their careers in low-frequency applications to recall the RF theory they learned in school and giving them a dose of practical information on RF concepts and test instrumentation.

Introduction

Wireless communication products that depend on RF principles are everywhere these days, and the growth rate is astonishing. From cell phones and wireless PDAs to WiFi-enabled laptops, Bluetooth headsets, RF ID tags, wireless medical devices, and Zigbee sensors, the RF device market is booming. This year alone, over 850 million cellular phones will be manufactured and sold around the globe.

For thorough product testing and high test throughput, test engineers need to understand the basics of RF technology, what to test for, and which instruments are best suited for the job. Most engineers whose experience is in low-frequency applications (products operating below 1MHz) will likely not be familiar with high-frequency applications.