Radio Frequency engineering is one of those fields that humbles even experienced engineers. Once you reach frequencies above a few hundred MHz, the rules change rapidly. Traces stop behaving like wires, impedance becomes a moving target, and your PCB layout quietly decides the fate of your entire design. This article, the first in a multi-part series on “Mastering RF Engineering,” by Mouser Electronics, explores how RF technology is designed, built, and tested, highlighting the principles, compo

Radio-frequency (RF) technology is the invisible backbone of wireless communication. Every message sent through the air — from Wi-Fi to satellite links — starts with one simple action: an alternating current flowing through an antenna. That current creates oscillating electric and magnetic fields, forming electromagnetic waves that travel through space and carry information with them. Once an antenna is energized at a specific frequency, something remarkable happens. A standing wave pattern form