What do i need for making and design RF circuits?

[PA4TIM]

You forget the most important part. You need to sacrifice virgins under a full moon (we use deep-frozen versions if we can not find fresh ones) 

[free_electron]

silver plated wire, copper foil board, rf transistors, non-inductive resistors and lots of small value caps... and a good soldering iron..

that'll get you started. oh, and excercise your dead-bug construction skills...

[edavid]

You live in Iran, and you post in a public forum about your desire to build radio transceivers?  Wow.

[BravoV]

rozeh, please answer this question honestly, do you know how to bias a transistor properly ?

Once you've answered that, I believe many generous members here will able to give you the correct answer to your question depending on the answer of my question, trust me. 

[rozeh]

@PA4TIM
Thanks friend for sharing your knowledge. So, i'm at the first of the way. yes, i know i should exercise sooooooo much untill succeed make a transceiver. now, i just want to find some primary thing about RF.
@KJDS
Thanks for reply
then for software, first i should to learn RFSim99.
@AcHmed99
thanks for software.
@olsenn
 
@free_electron
interesting this part of your remark!

... and a good soldering iron..

can you more explain about this part of your statement?
also, i think it's correct completely!
@edavid
unfortunately many friend from USA think that the iran is like north korea or afghanistan!
@BravoV
 

do you know how to bias a transistor properly ?

this is the funniest thing that i heard at recent month!
well, as i already said, i'm a nwebie.
the answer of this question is this;
no totally!
ok, i trust you!
i hope to get the best suggestions!

------------------------------------------------------------
guys,
what's the best program for design the PCB for RF circuit?

[w2aew]

do you know how to bias a transistor properly ?

this is the funniest thing that i heard at recent month!
well, as i already said, i'm a nwebie.
the answer of this question is this;
no totally!
ok, i trust you!
i hope to get the best suggestions!

Please don't take this the wrong way, but asking for advice for designing RF circuits when you are unsure how to bias a transistor is similar to asking how to write a book when you don't know the language.  There really isn't a substitute for learning the basics first - no shortcuts to designing successful and effective RF circuits until you understand the basics of components, circuit design, layout, parasitics, etc. 

Simulation tools do NOT teach you how to design.  When used properly, they can be effective to help in the design process.  When used improperly, they'll often lie to you.  YOU have to be smart enough to recognize the lie.

Simple example:  A simulator will have no problem putting 1000 amps through a 1N914A diode.  It does not know, and won't tell you, that you'd vaporize the diode if you tried this same thing in real life.

My best advice - learn the basics of analog components and design first.  Only after you've mastered the basics will you begin to have the ability to understand the nuances of RF design.

[PA4TIM]

I worked with sonnet one time. I could get the result I wanted but it was very much work befor I found out how and what. And I know a little about (uWave) RF so I mostly had to learn to operate the software and used some books to calculate the filter first. If you have no clue about the simple electronics basics, transmission lines, wave theory you will have no clue what to do in such a simulator. Even something like qucs will be to difficult.

To make an other compare, you now want to design and build a formula 1 car but you can not drive, do not know how a wrench looks, or how to operate a lath or a drill. You do not know how a normal car is build, how a piston looks and never have seen a formula car  other then in a flash passing by on TV in a race.
Do I need to say more ;-)p

Just start with blinking a led by a wienbridge or a 555. Build a simple one transistor headphone amplifier. Then Build a audion receiver or a crystal radio if you want some RF exerience and connect your little amp to it etc.
But please, forget the RF desiging stuff for the first couple of years (and study on it a few hours a day)

[w2aew]

I worked with sonnet one time. I could get the result I wanted but it was very much work befor I found out how and what. And I know a little about (uWave) RF so I mostly had to learn to operate the software and used some books to calculate the filter first. If you have no clue about the simple electronics basics, transmission lines, wave theory you will have no clue what to do in such a simulator. Even something like qucs will be to difficult.

To make an other compare, you now want to design and build a formula 1 car but you can not drive, do not know how a wrench looks, or how to operate a lath or a drill. You do not know how a normal car is build, how a piston looks and never have seen a formula car  other then in a flash passing by on TV in a race.
Do I need to say more ;-)p

Just start with blinking a led by a wienbridge or a 555. Build a simple one transistor headphone amplifier. Then Build a audion receiver or a crystal radio if you want some RF exerience and connect your little amp to it etc.
But please, forget the RF desiging stuff for the first couple of years (and study on it a few hours a day)

sage advice.

[IanB]

Perhaps there is a language problem here...?

Let's suppose you are just starting out with electronics, and maybe you would like to build a simple AM or FM receiver as a educational project. That's not so hard to do given suitable instructions, yet technically it counts as an "RF" application. We wouldn't call it RF design in English since we think RF design means something more complicated than building simple radios, but that nuance may not be apparent to a non-native speaker.

So if you wanted to build a radio from a kit or set of instructions, and you wanted to set it up and tune it correctly for optimum operation, what would you need apart from a basic meter? What are the hobby tools that would help?

[ElectroIrradiator]

The most useful piece of gear for a beginner starting out working with radio, would be a calibrated FET dipper covering at least 1-30MHz. Doubly so, if it is coupled to a simple frequency counter, good for 3 or 4 digits of precision. A buffered 50 ohm output may also come in handy.

A calibrated FET ('grid') dipper can act as a LC resonance checker, a power meter for low power signals, as a simple signal generator (usually not very stable, but...) and it can evaluate unknown capacitors and inductors when combined with components of known value. If it is very sensitive, then it may also act a bit like a simple spectrum analyzer, allowing you to hunt for parasitics and harmonics.

That, a solid DMM plus a few good books to give the basics on components and proper RF construction techniques (no prototype boards!), will get you pretty far. A scope is not likely to be too useful for more than audio work, unless you happen to have deep pockets for active probes. Without those it will be difficult to directly inspect signals, without disturbing the circuit due to excessive capacitive loading.

[PA4TIM]

Yep, one pof my first instruments was a heathkit griddipper.
http://www.pa4tim.nl/?p=804 My most beautifull griddipper.

[M0BSW]

And if it's for amateur Radio get licensed what ever rules yo have in your country,  here in the UK  If caught transmitting they would search you out, bust you , fine you , and if bad enough throw you in jail plus take all your equipment.

[PA4TIM]

Yeah, that is in Europe, we have very strickt rules and are not allowed to do anything. They trow you dead with stones if you only think of douing something wrong. But not in those regions where the TS lives, they have total freedom of speaking and writing, everybody is equal and the authorities are very gentle and forgiving. No risk at all ( I hope  )

[M0BSW]

Yeah, that is in Europe, we have very strickt rules and are not allowed to do anything. They trow you dead with stones if you only think of douing something wrong. But not in those regions where the TS lives, they have total freedom of speaking and writing, everybody is equal and the authorities are very gentle and forgiving. No risk at all ( I hope  )

Your right, I know a Ofcom officer and although we a fellow Radio amateurs, if my station was out of the band limits he'd bust me that's for sure, I got the 5Mhz variation and theirs another one I think it's 430Mhz's, despite the fact I may not use them I got they just to make sure I'm covered, so I'm OK for everything my HF licence covers me for. Is it strict over your side to.

[PA4TIM]

In my country it is not very strickt anymore. Pirate stations are mostly located in the northern counties overhere and  work the 3 meter band with many kW . There has been a time they stopped looking and only took action if to many people complained. The next step was only a warning , later they allowed them to even keep the transmitters.

HAM radio is almost left to self/social-control over here. 

There are some SW and AM pirates but those bands are allmost empty and QRM is so high they do not cause troubles so they leave them  . But 3 meter became a problem so at last they sharpened control and raised the fines a lo, but many pirate stations collect a lot of advertisement money and use that to buy gear and pay the fine, some even had/have spare transmitters hidden somewhere so they could be back on air the same day.

[M0BSW]

In my country it is not very strickt anymore. Pirate stations are mostly located in the northern counties overhere and  work the 3 meter band with many kW . There has been a time they stopped looking and only took action if to many people complained. The next step was only a warning , later they allowed them to even keep the transmitters.

HAM radio is almost left to self/social-control over here. 

There are some SW and AM pirates but those bands are allmost empty and QRM is so high they do not cause troubles so they leave them  . But 3 meter became a problem so at last they sharpened control and raised the fines a lo, but many pirate stations collect a lot of advertisement money and use that to buy gear and pay the fine, some even had/have spare transmitters hidden somewhere so they could be back on air the same day.

Oh Dear that doesn't sound so good, I pleased they are strict over here, and have a grip on the pirates, Ofcom and us amateurs do have a good relationship , long as you stay within the law, the morse code test to gain the full licence is not so strict now, when I took mine back in 97 it was 10 wpm, I don't think it's anything like that now, I think its 5 wpm or an understanding of morse what ever that means. I have noticed looking though my computer logging, I've only spoken with 5 different PA stations in 3 Years.

[edavid]

And if it's for amateur Radio get licensed what ever rules yo have in your country,  here in the UK  If caught transmitting they would search you out, bust you , fine you , and if bad enough throw you in jail plus take all your equipment.

OP is in Iran, which does not issue amateur radio licenses.

[M0BSW]

And if it's for amateur Radio get licensed what ever rules yo have in your country,  here in the UK  If caught transmitting they would search you out, bust you , fine you , and if bad enough throw you in jail plus take all your equipment.

OP is in Iran, which does not issue amateur radio licenses.

So does this mean you can operate, or do you have to risk get caught.

[G7PSK]

The first prosecution for illegal possession of radio equipment in the UK was during WW1. a scout master was convicted of being in possession of 2 tent poles and a piece of wire which might be used for communicating with the enemy he was jailed.   

[PA4TIM]

http://www.qsl.net/ep2fm/AmateurRadioInIran.htm

They have a HAM organisation and callsigns  (EP ) and must do exams.

The new regulation called for amateur radio examinations to be held at least 2 times a year by the Directorate and provided for 3 levels of licenses, starting with the Novice grade requiring elementary electronic and radio knowledge and a 5 WPM morse code
proficiency.
The Novice license is a morse-only license with restrictions on transmitter power and renewable only for 2 years before requiring a higher level exam.
...
We hope that this, along with the news that another examination is to be held in near future, is a prelude to issuance of new station licenses to the successful candidates and actually restarting the activity in this country...

Sounds like it is not easy but maybe there is no control. We will hear what our future Iran Ham member will have to say about this. It's seems to be very hard to log EP calls so maybe he can change that ;-)

[marshallh]

You need to start by reading this: Experimental Methods in RF Design. Also available at Amazon and many other outlets.

Thanks for that tip. I picked up the book.

[rozeh]

Sorry for delay
@AcHmed99
Thanks again!
@w2aew
Great!
Ok! then, first i start to learn basic.
Thanks for good advice.
indeed, your YouTube channel is good. i think it's good that i see your clips.
@PA4TIM
Thanks for interesting advice.
Ok!
Blink! oh god! for learn MCU first blink program, for analog first blink circuit for....
why don't you use of MCUs(like AVR) for making measurment tools?
@IanB

Perhaps there is a language problem here...?

No, i don't think, i want to learn making RF transceiver(professional).
@ElectroIrradiator
Thanks, good point.
@M0BSW
 
i always say, the all britains are very cool. (like jeremy clarkson )

then i will be careful.

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Sounds like it is not easy but maybe there is no control.

it's incorrect! we have an organisation for controlling.
i uploaded the rules of radio(a pdf file):
http://www.mediafire.com/download/esa003wsokikjky/radC2601.pdf
enjoy of it!

[KJDS]

There's some interesting looking starter projects here that could be worth putting together.

http://www.electroschematics.com/radio/

[rozeh]

Thanks KJDS