RF and Communications Fundamentals

1.  Introduction to RF & Wireless Communications Systems

This tutorial is designed to introduce the basic concepts of RF and wireless communications.


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2. RF and Microwave Spectral Analysis

This set of tutorials will discuss several topics relating to spectral analysis. It covers typical spectral measurements such as power in-band, adjacent channel power as well as concepts such as dynamic range, resolution bandwidth, harmonic distortion as well as noise specifications.

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3. Analog Modulation

This set of tutorials will discuss several topics relating to analog modulation. It covers amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM) and phase-locked loops (PLL).

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4. Digital Modulation

This set of tutorials will discuss several topics relating to digital modulation. It covers frequency shift keying (FSK), phase shift keying (PSK), quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and discusses IQ data as they relate to digital modulation.


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5. Communications Systems

This set of tutorials will discuss several topics relating to communication systems. Some of the topics addressed include pulse-shape filtering, channel coding, OFDM and spread spectrum.

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6. Modulation Measurements

This set of tutorials will discuss several topics relating to modulation measurements. It covers error vector magnitude (EVM) and modulation error ratio (MER).

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7. Communication Standards

Communication applications range from simple RFID transponders and keyless entry systems to cell phones and cognitive radios. By using software-defined modular instruments, you can maximize your equipment investment by creating a test system that is both reusable and adaptable to changes in the test device. Some standards discussed include RFID, GSM/EDGE, ZigBee, AM, FM, RDS, XM, Sirius, Bluetooth, tire pressure monitoring (TMPS), 802.11 and spectral monitoring.

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8. Understanding RF & Microwave Specifications

This tutorial is a continuation and defines typical RF and microwave specifications found on devices and instruments. Terms such as Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR), Frequency Response, Modulation Error Ratio (MER), Error Vector Magnitude (EVM), Third-Order Intercept and more.

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9. RF & Communications Resources

Use this RF and communication resource for information ranging from general RF terminology to specific RF application development. Whether you are developing an advanced RF application, researching different RF test platforms, or simply needing information about RF and communications fundamentals, this document can help you.

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10. See Also - RF Fundamentals 3-Day Training Course

Engineers who are new to RF or looking for a a refresher course can attend a 3-Day National Instruments RF Fundamentals Training Course to explore traditional measurements, learn about digital and analog modulation, examine modern system-level tests such as BER, MER, and EVM, and more.

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