Radio Electronics for Amateur Radio Operators: Volume 4: Transmission Lines, Antennas and RF Propagation
Language: English
Published by Ham Radio Base Publishing, 2026
- Softcover
- New
Seller: California Books, Miami, FL, U.S.A.California Books
AbeBooks seller since October 27, 2023
Condition: New
£ 37.40
Quantity: Over 20 available
Add to basketSeller Inventory # I-9798256209001
- Title
- Radio Electronics for Amateur Radio Operators: Volume 4: Transmission Lines, Antennas and RF Propagation
- Author
- Barlet, Terry L
- Publisher
- Ham Radio Base Publishing
- Publication year
- 2026
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Soft cover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 13
- 9798256209001
Volume 4: Transmission Lines, Antennas and RF Propagation moves beyond electronic circuits and explores how radio-frequency energy is transferred, radiated, propagated, and efficiently delivered between transmitters, antennas, and receivers. Building on the electronic principles developed in the previous volumes, this book provides the practical knowledge needed to design, install, analyze, and optimize complete amateur radio antenna systems.
Readers begin by mastering transmission line theory, learning how characteristic impedance, velocity factor, electrical length, and standing waves influence the performance of every radio installation. The book explains coaxial cable construction, open-wire and ladder line systems, feedline loss, impedance transformation, reflections, SWR, reflection coefficient, matched and mismatched loads, stub matching, quarter-wave transformers, baluns, and common-mode chokes. Each concept is presented through practical examples that connect theory directly to real-world amateur radio installations.
The second section explores antenna fundamentals, explaining how antennas convert electrical energy into electromagnetic waves and how antenna design influences radiation patterns, efficiency, bandwidth, polarization, and gain. Readers study dipoles, vertical antennas, ground-plane antennas, directional beam antennas, antenna loading techniques, radiation resistance, near-field and far-field behavior, and antenna tuning systems. Practical discussions help readers understand why antenna placement, height, orientation, and matching networks have such a significant effect on station performance.
A comprehensive section on RF propagation explains how radio waves travel through the Earth's atmosphere and beyond. Topics include ground-wave propagation, sky-wave communication, ionospheric layers, maximum usable frequency (MUF), lowest usable frequency (LUF), skip distance, tropospheric ducting, Sporadic-E propagation, meteor scatter, Earth-Moon-Earth communication, path loss, and link-budget analysis. Readers learn how changing atmospheric conditions influence communication distances and why different amateur radio bands perform differently throughout the day, season, and solar cycle.
The final portion of the volume examines filters and impedance matching techniques used throughout modern RF systems. Readers learn the operating characteristics of Butterworth, Chebyshev, elliptic, crystal, helical, and cavity filters before exploring impedance-matching networks including Pi-L networks, gamma matches, beta matches, stub matching, and practical Smith Chart applications. These chapters demonstrate how proper filtering and impedance matching improve efficiency, reduce unwanted emissions, and maximize transmitter performance.
Throughout the book, engineering concepts are presented through clear explanations, detailed illustrations, worked examples, practical calculations, review questions, and hands-on exercises that reinforce both theoretical understanding and practical application. Mathematical concepts are introduced gradually and always tied directly to real amateur radio situations, making even complex RF topics approachable for readers with varying levels of experience.
Designed specifically for amateur radio operators, electronics students, experimenters, and RF enthusiasts, Volume 4 bridges the gap between electronic circuit design and complete radio communication systems. Whether installing an HF station, optimizing a VHF antenna system, improving feedline efficiency, designing matching networks, or understanding long-distance propagation, readers gain the knowledge needed to build higher-performing stations and make more effective use of the radio spectrum.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
California Books
Miami, FL, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since October 27, 2023
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 3 to 7 business days | 2 to 5 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 0.00 | £ 9.08 |
Payment methods
Store description
We have 20 years experience selling books worldwide! Friendly customer support. Your satisfaction guaranteed!
Specialty
All authorized categoriesSeller's business information
Miramar International Services LLC
FL, U.S.A.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to California Books, Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.