Welcome to the
Gamma
Instruments Handy RF
Info Page. Below is an index of documents that
contain interesting RF-related
topics such as Common Mode and Differential Mode chokes,
Distortion Measurement, Baluns and Ununs, Stripline and Microstrip
Info, simple Vector Impedance Measurements, use of the Smith Chart, and
simple Reflection Coefficient Measurements. There
is no emphasis on any particular RF topic, nor
complete coverage of any particular subject. Basically it's an
ever-expanding collection of
various things that might come in handy.
Index of Handy
RF Information
1.
Complex Impedance, VSWR, Skin Depth, Wire
Inductance
2.
Complex Impedance Measurements
with a
'scope, VSWR circles (see more details in 13. below)
3.
Common Mode and Differential
Mode Chokes, Basic Idea, Windings
4.
Distortion Measurement with a
6-dB Hybrid and Spectrum Analyzer
5.
Loss Tangent and Power
Dissipation in RF Capacitors, Capacitance Function of Loss Tangent and
Frequency
6.
Deriving the RF Current
Capacity of a Wire (see 12. and 19. below)
7.
Various Baluns, Ununs,
Transmission Lines, Microstrips, and Tricks
8.
Wheeler Formulas for
Air-Core Inductors, Pancake Inductor
9.
Recommended Magnetic Flux
Density for Iron and Ferrite Cores, Good Windings
10.
Some Stripline and Microstrip
Information
11.
Some Hints on Planning a PCB
12.
A Table of Recommended RF
Current Capacities of Wire (see 6. above and 19. below)
13.
Complex Impedance
Measurements Using a 'Scope and a (1) Dual Directional Coupler, or (2)
Return Loss Bridge
14.
Notes on Building a Magnetic Flux
Density Probe
15.
HP-41 RPN Program for
Calculating Complex Z Around a VSWR Circle
16.
Nice PDF of a Smith Chart
17.
QST Article on the Smith
Chart, Part 1
18.
QST Article on the Smith
Chart, Part 2
19.
Deriving the RF Current
Capacity of a Wire - Long Version (see 6. and 12. above)
20.
Simple Circuits for Reflection
Coefficient Measurements (basis for Vector Impedance Meter)
21.
Matching Help on a Smith Chart
22.
Tin
Whiskers
(an interesting NASA Goddard review)
23.
Corona Visual Critical
Voltage Calculations of Air between Two Parallel Wires Using Peek's Law
(spreadsheet)
24.
Calculations for Breakdown
Field Strength of Air of Spherical Electrode above Conducting Surface
(spreadsheet)
25.
Why 50 Ohms is Such a
Common Coaxial Cable Impedance