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Articles on RF Engineering
Every noIM₃ article on RF Engineering, newest first. Written by engineers, for engineers.
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RF Engineering How to Calculate an RF Link Budget: A Step by Step Guide with a Worked Example A link budget adds every gain and subtracts every loss between a transmitter and a receiver to predict the received power, then compares it against the receiver sensitivity to see whether the link will work. Here is the formula, an at a glance budget table, a worked example for a 5.8 GHz point to point link, and the engineering considerations, fade margin, propagation and noise, that decide whether the design survives in service. 
RF Engineering dBm to Watts, dBi vs dBd and dBc: Every RF Decibel Explained (with Conversion Tables) 0 dBm is 1 mW and +30 dBm is 1 watt, so every 10 dB is a tenfold change in power and every 3 dB roughly doubles or halves it. Here is what dB, dBm, dBW, dBi, dBd and dBc each mean, how to convert dBm to watts in both directions, a full conversion table, the dBi to dBd offset, EIRP, and the mistakes that trip people up. 
RF Engineering What Is a Good VSWR? VSWR, Return Loss and Reflected Power Explained A good VSWR is usually 1.5:1 or better, and 2:1 is the common acceptance limit. Here is what VSWR actually measures, how it converts to return loss, reflection coefficient and reflected power, a conversion table, target values by application, and the real reasons a high VSWR matters. 
RF Engineering How to Specify a Coaxial Cable for the Job A coaxial cable is not a single part number, it is a specification: impedance, loss at frequency, shielding, power, environment, and a connector chosen independently for each end. Here is how to get it right. 
RF Engineering Designing Leaky Feeder Coverage for Underground Mines A working engineer's guide to leaky feeder design underground: the two loss numbers that decide every layout, how to set amplifier spacing, how to budget downlink and uplink, and how mine geometry like declines, stopes and junctions changes the answer. 
RF Engineering What Is the Best Frequency for Long Range Communication? There is no single best frequency for long range communication. The right choice depends on distance, terrain, antenna size, licensing, noise floor, and required availability. Here is how to pick.