Over the years, everything RF has published over 1,000 articles on the website, featuring RF & Microwave content from our editorial team as well contributions from industry-experts from leading companies. These company-contributed articles showcase their expertise in various specialized areas. Below, we’ve highlighted the most-read articles contributed by these companies.
Navigating the L1, L2 and L5 Band Options for GNSS
Every GNSS constellation has multiple signals, each operating at its own frequency. This design maximizes accuracy because receivers can use two frequencies to minimize errors created by the ionosphere. Two frequencies also increase the likelihood that signals will be available when the receiver needs them. Some systems use the second or a third frequency to provide correction data to further enhance accuracy. For higher accuracy, the receiver needs to receive signals from as many satellites as possible.
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Heterogenous Networks (HetNet) and their Role in 5G
One of the solutions to meet the ever-increasing data rate requirements in 5G and beyond is the deployment of heterogeneous networks (HetNets). HetNets consist of macro, micro, pico and femto-cells. This type of solution significantly improves network coverage inside and in areas like large venues. Localized HetNets are not new, however, 5G HetNets will utilize new technologies, with new frequency bands and will require new techniques to test the heterogeneous network effectively and efficiently.
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RF GaN: A World of Potential, But at a Critical Crossword
Over the last two decades, RF GaN technology has evolved, initially finding its roots in defense applications and now exploring new frontiers in meeting the demands of telecom infrastructure and satellite communications. As GaN-on-SiC technology reaches maturity, it is emerging as a standard for various applications, steadily gaining market share over competing technologies such as Si LDMOS and GaAs. With a focus on power efficiency, reliability, and space optimization, GaN technology is becoming indispensable. The telecom infrastructure market is witnessing a significant shift in power amplifier (PA) requirements, paving the way for GaN-on-Si technology introduced by Infineon on an 8-inch platform in 2023. This strategic move not only intensifies competition with GaN-on-SiC but also could unlock new prospects, especially in the handset market.
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Antenna Measurements with Drones: All About Raster Scans
A raster scan is a measure of the radiation diagram on a 2D plane. It provides a clear view of the antenna's main beam and the first few sidelobes. The measured data is captured by measuring the received signal power on a sequence of equally spaced lines, which is afterward interpolated to be represented as a heatmap or a 3D image. This method provides a great deal of data points, and it is critical that users are able to interpret and use the data.
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MMIC Filters: Revolutionizing RF Systems with Compact Design and High Performance
As next-generation technologies push towards higher frequencies, technologies are capitalizing on wider available bandwidths and higher channel densities, enabling increased data throughput. Consequently, RF market trends for filters are starting to prioritize higher frequency capabilities and size, weight and power (SWaP) and scalability. In contrast to competing filter technologies, Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit, or MMIC, planar filters are uniquely suited to meet the demands of next-generation systems.
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Overcoming the Challenges of Passive On-Wafer Load Pull Measurements at Millimeter Wave Frequencies for 5G Applications
Millimeter wave frequencies have a shorter range compared to lower frequencies, and their signals can be more easily blocked by obstacles like buildings and trees. To address this, each element in 5G infrastructure must be optimized for maximum performance. An essential component of the infrastructure necessary to unlock the advantages of 5G millimeter-wave technologies is the power amplifier (PA). The PA's design plays a crucial role in ensuring optimal performance, where the primary goals are to maximize power and efficiency while maintaining appropriate linearity and small size. During the design phase, PA engineers must carefully consider these expectations. To aid in achieving optimal performance, PA engineers have a valuable tool in their arsenal known as Load Pull.
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Exploring Antenna Remoting Using RFoF: Revolutionizing Communication Technology
This article explores antenna remoting in RFoF, discussing its significance, underlying principles, and diverse range of applications across various industries. RFoF technology converts RF into optical signals for transmission over fiber optic cables, and subsequently reconverts it back to RF signals at the receiving end. The process involves using electro-optic modulation techniques to convert the RF signal into an optical waveform suitable for transmission over single-mode or multi-mode fiber optic cables, which offer low attenuation and high bandwidth capabilities. At the receiving end, the optical signal is converted back into an RF signal using photodetection techniques such as direct detection or coherent detection. This conversion process restores the original RF waveform, preserving signal integrity and fidelity (i.e. signal to noise ratio) over long distances that simply cannot be accomplished by its most common alternatives coaxial cable or waveguides.
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Pioneering the Wireless Frontier: The Evolution and Future Horizons of Software-Defined Radios
In the expansive realm of modern communication, Software Defined Radios (SDRs) represent a revolutionary leap forward. Unlike traditional radios reliant on fixed hardware components, SDRs offer unparalleled flexibility and adaptability through programmable software-defined capabilities. Beyond mere communication systems, SDRs have found indispensable roles in radar, spectrum monitoring, signals intelligence, test and measurement, GPS/GNSS, and beyond. This article embarks on a comprehensive journey to unveil the historical origins, evolutionary trajectory, and future prospects of SDR technology, underscoring its transformative impact on the landscape of radio communication.
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The Evolution of Design in Low-Earth Orbit Satellite Communications Systems
GEO satellites orbit the Earth along the equatorial plane at an altitude of 35,786 km (22,236 mi) and appear not to move in the sky to an observer on the Earth’s surface. However, the introduction and proliferation of fast-moving Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites has significantly reduced the financial barrier to launch satellites and opened avenues for novel applications. This economic benefit is due to two factors: 1) the satellites’ size - the latest Starlink LEOs from SpaceX are as small as a kitchen table – and 2) multiple LEOs can be launched simultaneously. However, while LEOs make satellite communications systems more economically viable, they introduce complexity and require engineers to manage higher Doppler shifts, interference, and network complexities.
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The Millimeter-Wave Spectrum: A Critical Asset for Defense
Semiconductor technology has come a long way. As the 5G standards added millimeter-wave frequencies into the mix, there is finally a financial incentive to focus more intensely on technologies and fabrication techniques that will propel millimeter-wave and terahertz frequencies forward for defense systems in the coming years. Consequently, the military today is embracing millimeter-wave frequencies more intensely, leading to advances in high-resolution radar, high-data-rate communication systems, electronic warfare, drone detection, and other applications essential to ensuring future battlefield success.
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