RF Survival Guide - Part 1

Basic Antenna Concepts

Working as a Radio-Frequency (RF) Engineer, I know first hand that the world of RF can seem like a maze of jargon and complex concepts. Whether you’re an amateur radio enthusiast or just someone curious about how wireless communication works, understanding some of the basic terminology can feel like a daunting task. In this guide, I’ll break down some of the most common RF concepts and explain them in plain language, making it easier to navigate this crazy and complex world of electromagnetic waves and to ease the understanding of much of the RF content posted here on Medium.

Knowledge Disclaimer: Although this article is directed to RF newbies, I assume the reader is well versed in basic electrical concepts such as impedance, resistance and reactance.

Photo by on

Resonant Frequency

Frequency is the number of times a wave oscillates per second. It is measured in Hertz (Hz). Radio frequencies officially go up to 3THz, but, truly, this is a kind of arbitrary value defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as terahertz wireless communications are currently in the early research and development stage rather than widespread commercial deployment. Frequencies higher than 3THz are considered to be in the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum and beyond…