RF Amplifier Questions

[joblessalex]

Hello everyone out there on the forum! Someone is going to yell at me for this one I'm sure, but I've looked all over Google on and off now for a few months and can't find any tutorial on theory behind a simple RF amplifier! I have tried designs and had success with many of them working, but I still don't understand how or why they work, and the calculations behind the choosing of components. Perhaps there is a cover all circuit calculator or a diagram that you just change values to match frequency/transistor? Where is the best place to start learning how to do this? Before you ask, yes I have an amateur radio license so I can legally use what I build. 

[michaelym]

It's black magic...

[joblessalex]

It's black magic...

Yup. Guess I'll never learn until I go through years and years of college!

[fcb]

google Class C amplifiers

[jerry507]

Buy the handbook. RF amps are a reasonably complex subject and there are a lot of differences between something in the HF region to VHF and UHF and up.

Years and years of school won't cut it either, need lots and lots and lots of practice

[PA4TIM]

Experimental methods in RF design by Hayward is probably the most easy.
There are many books on RF design, but most assume a good knowledge about electronics. But RF at 80 meters or 23 cm ?
Bowick has a nice book, the old books from Terman, and the art of electronics is a good base.
Together with maybe The ARRL radio handbook for the basics.

[kg4arn]

Ditto on Experimental methods in RF design by Hayward.

Introduction to RF design by Hayward is a great introduction to
the theory. Sadly it just went out of print so it may be hard to find.

[joblessalex]

Thank you to everyone who posted! I found the book and from just the first few pages I am already on my way to understanding what I needed to learn!