Complete RF Technician's Handbook

Rating:
Summary: THE book for the wireless technician or student!
Review: "The Complete RF Technician's Handbook" is THE book for the radio communication's beginner, student, or experienced technician, and supplies priceless information on not only wireless fundamentals, but also the advanced concepts vital to a successful career in RF communications. ***Included are over 400 informative ILLUSTRATIONS and tables*** The handbook includes everything a technician needs to know in real-world RF electronics -- from the fundamental concepts to the more advanced explanations of modern ANALOG and DIGITAL RADIO circuits and modulation methods. Furthermore, operational instructions on RF TEST EQUIPMENT, as well as identifying proper and improper signal waveforms, and AM, FM, PM, and SSB theory are included. In addition, transmitter and receiver testing methods and TROUBLESHOOTING TECHNIQUES are solidly covered

Rating:
Summary: Field Engineer recommendation
Review: Excellent troubleshooting section, concise, simple, to the point.

Rating:
Summary: hits the spot
Review: I love this book, just the right level of detail for me. (an software engineer interested in radio). I gained a pratical understanding on the magic works.

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Summary: THE BEST WIRELESS BOOK IN MY LIBRARY
Review: I was looking for a wireless book that explained RF in a simple and concise manner. The RF Handbook fits that bill perfectly: no complicated formulas, just easy-to-understand text, diagrams and schematics for beginners to experts. It is a perfect reference book for all wireless people as well. I wish all technical books were like this. I hope the author writes another book on similar technical subjects soon... Keep up the good work!

Bill

Rating:
Summary: A Must-Read for anyone working with RF technology!
Review: Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: The Basics
Chapter information includes: Reactance, Impedance, Phase
Angle Decibels, Sensitivity, Semiconductors, Filters, and Toroids.

CHAPTER 2 : Amplifiers
Chapter information includes: Amplifier Circuit Configurations,
Classes of Operation, Amplifier Biasing, Amplifier Coupling, Distortion
and Noise, Voltage Amplifiers, Power Amplifiers, DC Amplifiers
Vacuum Tubes, and Amplifier Frequency Limitations and Compensation.

CHAPTER 3 : Oscillators and Frequency Synthesizers
Chapter information includes: Sine-Wave Oscillators and Frequency
Synthesis.

CHAPTER 4 : Amplitude Modulation
Chapter information includes: AM Fundamentals, AM Receivers, AM
Transmitters, and AM Disadvantages

CHAPTER 5: Frequency Modulation
Chapter information includes: FM Fundamentals, FM Receivers,
FM Transmitters, Selective Calling, Pre-Emphasis and De-Emphasis,
and FM Transceivers.

CHAPTER 6 : Single-Sideband Suppressed Carrier
Chapter information includes: SSB Fundamentals,
SSB Receivers, and SSB Transmitters.

CHAPTER 7: Other Communication Applications
Chapter information includes: Multiplexing, Data
Communications, Satellite Communications, Spread
Spectrum, Cellular Communications, CW Communications,
and Repeaters.

CHAPTER 8: Microwaves
Chapter information includes: Microwave Semiconductors,
Microwave Tubes, and Microstrip, Stripline, and Cavity
Resonators.

CHAPTER 9: Antennas and Transmission Lines
Chapter information includes: Antennas, Transmission
Lines and RF Propagation.

CHAPTER 10: Troubleshooting
Chapter information includes: General Troubleshooting,
Intermittents, Parts Failure and Their Indications, Linear
IC Troubleshooting, Amplifier Self-Oscillation Troubleshooting,
Transmitter Troubleshooting, Common Tests, Test Equipment,
Soldering, Digital Troubleshooting, Electromagnetic
Interference, and Important Troubleshooting Notes.

CHAPTER 11: Support Circuits
Chapter information includes: Speech Processing, Mixers,
Automatic Frequency Control, Automatic Gain Control, Squelch,
Power Supplies, Digital Signal Processing, and Miscellaneous
Circuits.

APPENDICES
Appendix A: Schematic Symbols
Appendix B: Important Digital Gates and Circuits
Appendix C: Miscellaneous
Appendix D: Common Electronic Components
Appendix E: Important Reference Tables
Appendix F: Important Formulas

GLOSSARY
BIBLIOGRAPHY


Rating:
Summary: A good book to learn wireless and troubleshooting techniques
Review: This book answered a lot of detailed questions I had about troubleshooting electronics. Not only that, but now I know exactly how a lot of the radio equipment we use every day works.

I feel more confident in becoming a wireless technician after I graduate. I read the first edition also. I liked both books very much.

Rating:
Summary: A must-read for anyone interested in wireless & electronics!
Review: This is my third copy of the RF Handbook. My technician friends in electronics all ask to borrow it -- and never want to return it!

I highly recommend this book for anyone in wireless electronics. It answered all my questions in regards to RF communications and troubleshooting in a concise, detailed, easy-to-understand language. One of the great books in electronics.

It's a keeper!

John Favour

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Summary: THE COMPLETE RF TECHNICIAN'S HANDBOOK, 2ND EDITION
Review: This is THE handbook for the RF or wireless communication's beginner, student, experienced technician, or ham radio operator! This book furnishes the reader with valuable information on the fundamental and advanced concepts important to the study and application of RF wireless communications.

In the Second Edition of "The Complete RF Technician's Handbook" all chapters have been expanded, enhanced, and/or updated, including the addition of forty-five new explanatory drawings, along with an enlarged and comprehensive glossary with every need-to-know radio communication's term clearly defined.

All to often electronic books are loaded with theory, but contain precious little practical knowledge. As well, many of these books refer to test equipment and circuits that have not been used by industry in over twenty years. "The Complete RF Technician's Handbook", however, includes only those circuits that you will find in the majority of modern RF devices. Additionally, current test equipment and their applications are covered in order to help the technician become familiar with their basic functions.

Troubleshooting of RF, digital, and audio circuits down to the component level is heavily stressed, as this is what most competent technicians will be required to do.

Since digital circuits and modulation techniques have become such an important part of many electronic devices, digital methods and their real world circuits are discussed as they apply to wireless communications. RF voltage and power amplifiers, in addition to their classes of operation, configurations, biasing, coupling techniques, frequency limitations, noise and distortion are all included, as are the major types of LC, crystal and RC oscillators. Up-to-date frequency synthesis procedures are included as well.

Of course, all of the RF modulation and detection methods are explained in detail -- AM, FM, PM, and SSB -- as are their associated circuits; such as automatic gain control, squelch, selective calling, frequency multipliers, speech processing, mixers, power supplies, digital signal processing, and automatic frequency control circuits. Various multiplexing methods and data, satellite, spread spectrum, cellular, and microwave communication technologies are discussed.

"The Complete RF Technician's Handbook" will supply the working technician or student with a solid grounding in the latest methods and circuits employed in today's RF communication's gear, as well as the ability to test and troubleshoot transmitters, transceivers, and receivers with absolute confidence.

Rating:
Summary: THE book for the RF communication¿s beginner or pro!
Review: This is the most COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO CURRENT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS available for the RF technician, as well as the ham radio operator. It includes everything a technician needs to know in REAL-WORLD RF ELECTRONICS -- from the fundamental concepts to the more advanced explanations of MODERN ANALOG AND DIGITAL RADIO CIRCUITS and modulation methods. Furthermore, operational instructions on RF TEST EQUIPMENT, as well as IDENTIFYING PROPER AND IMPROPER SIGNAL WAVEFORMS, and AM, FM, PM, and SSB theory are included. In addition, TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER TESTING METHODS AND TROUBLESHOOTING TECHNIQUES are solidly covered. INCLUDED ARE OVER 400 INFORMATIVE ILLUSTRATIONS AND TABLES. THIS VALUABLE BOOK SUPPLIES PRICELESS INFORMATION ON NOT ONLY THE RF FUNDAMENTALS, BUT ALSO THE ADVANCED CONCEPTS VITAL TO A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN RF COMMUNICATIONS.