RF Engineering and Communications
Radio Frequency (RF) technology is critical to many aspects of modern Electronics. This is because RF engineering is incorporated into almost everything that transmits or receives a radio wave across the whole of the RF spectrum (3 KHz to 300 GHz), including mobile phones, radios and Wi-Fi.
With the Internet of Things and even greater wireless connectedness, there will be increased demand for RF specialists. RF engineering is a highly specialised field falling typically in one of two areas:
- Providing or controlling coverage with some kind of antenna/transmission system.
- Generating or receiving signals to or from that transmission system to other communications electronics or controls.
RF designers and engineers work with devices such as phase and amplitude detectors, modulators, filters, switches, directional couplers, oscillators, amplifiers, attenuators and others. At UKESF, we are keen to raise the profile of RF engineering as there is need for more graduates in this specialised area. We asked a UKESF sponsor and a Scholar about their work in RF – read their interviews HERE.
5G – Wireless Communications
5G stands for the ‘fifth generation’ technology standard for broadband networks, which mobile phone companies started implementing in the UK in 2019. Find out more with our introduction to 5G, including a series of videos and podcasts.
RF Engineering and Communications Competition
The UKESF and the Radio Communications Foundation (RCF) have teamed up to run a competition for students at UKESF partner universities who are focusing on RF engineering and communications in their final year.
Entrants are required to submit a summary of their project – see the competition page for details of what to include and eligibility requirements. First prize is £1,000, with one runner up receiving £500.