2 RF Behavior

In this chapter…

Loss and Gain

Decibels

Bandwidth

Wideband and Narrowband

RF in the Environment

Match

This chapter describes the behavior of RF energy, whether it is a signal in a circuit or a wave in the air. You are introduced to two fundamental concepts affecting all RF energy: loss and gain. RF energy is constantly changing as it moves around: it gets bigger, it gets smaller, and it gets distorted. Sometimes these changes are intentional and sometimes they are just an unwanted fact of life in the world of RF.

You will learn how the concept of frequency can be expanded to describe a very important parameter of all RF items called bandwidth. The performance of any RF item depends on its bandwidth. Bandwidth can also be used ...

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