Design of High Performance RF Transceivers

Master the Art and Science of RF Transceiver Design

Designing high-performance RF transceivers is a critical skill in today’s rapidly evolving wireless landscape—powering everything from smartphones and IoT devices to satellite communications and 5G infrastructure. As systems become more complex and spectrum demands intensify, the ability to translate high-level RF specifications into practical, high-performance designs is more essential than ever.

The Design of High-Performance RF Transceivers course is designed to bridge the gap between wireless communication theory and the real-world challenges of radio system design. With a strong focus on practical applications, this course empowers you to confidently design receivers and transmitters that meet modern compliance and performance standards.

Through simulation-based learning, industry datasheets, and real-world component examples, you gain hands-on experience with the tools and methodologies used by RF professionals today. The course is ideal for you if you are looking to sharpen your system-level thinking, optimize radio architectures, and stay competitive in the wireless communications and semiconductor industries.
 

Course Highlights

• Deep Dive into M-Ary QAM Radios: Understand spectral efficiency, modulation formats, and the SNR requirements driving modern communication systems.
• Hands-On Simulation Experience: Apply concepts using MATLAB/Simulink to model, simulate, and evaluate RF system performance.
• End-to-End Radio System Design: Learn how to move from link specifications to complete high-level architecture decisions.
• Receiver and Transmitter Architecture: Explore practical design methodologies for both sides of the transceiver, including analog and RF front-end considerations.
• Real-World RFIC Case Studies: Examine commercial receiver and transmitter components through datasheet analysis and design trade-offs.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
 

• Translate high-level RF transceiver specifications into detailed, optimized radio architectures.
• Gain a comprehensive, system-level perspective on modern RF receiver and transmitter design.
• Utilize simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink) to model and evaluate radio performance.
• Analyze real-world RFIC components using practical examples and datasheet references.
• Apply critical thinking to design trade-offs and performance bottlenecks in transceiver systems.

Course Details and Next Steps

• Course Typically Offered: Online during Winter and Summer quarter. 
• Next steps:  Upon completion of this course, consider taking other courses in the RF Engineering Certificate.
• More information: Contact unexengr@ucsd.edu to learn more about Anteena Engineering and course offerings.