_Experimental Methods_ is oriented toward the advanced amateur, so you
won't find the depth and level of math you would in a college text or a
specialized text on one of the many topics covered in that book.
However, there's a lot more depth than you'll find in something like the
_ARRL Handbook_. Another thing is that the authors are all experienced
and professional engineers who've spent years doing RF design, and all
know a very great deal about the covered topics. In my opinion, only
someone with a very deep and basic understanding of the fundamentals can
accurately explain theory in an intuitive and easy to understand way.
The authors have that understanding. I have no doubt you'll be very
pleased with the book.

Re test equipment: how about devices for measuring RF power, impedance,
frequency, inductance, capacitance, Q, spectra, noise figure, and
crystal characteristics?

I don't believe there's an example of a wideband VCO. The authors
concentrate a lot on keeping phase noise low, so use other methods to
achieve wideband operation than with a wideband VCO.

If you're looking for a more theoretical treatment of oscillators and
other RF circuits, I recommend Hayward's _Introduction to Radio
Frequency Design_, now also published by the ARRL. (You might find a
used first edition, published by Wiley as I recall.) After reading the
chapter on oscillators, you'll know enough to get a good start at least
at designing your own VCO.

There are a lot of practical tips and observations about oscillators in
_Oscillator Design and Computer Simulation_ by Randall Rhea (Noble
publishing, ISBN1-884932-30-4), although in my opinion it doesn't convey
as fundamental understanding of oscillator operation as Hayward's books.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

James Fenech wrote:
Hi Roy,

thanks for the suggestion. I am considering buying this book. Can I ask how
much theory, and how deep does it go? I am an engineer (digital electornics
and software background) and actually like some theory to help me understand
what I am doing.

I already have some "real" test equipment, 50MHz CRO, signal generator,
multimeter, etc. So "simple" test equipment may not be too much of an
improvement.

I've looked over the internet, and some books that I have, but found no real
example circuit on wideband VCOs. The only "sort of close enough" circuit I
found is at:
http://www.newwaveinstruments.com/resources/rf_microwave_resources/sections/oscillator_vco_theory_design_circuit.htm#Voltage%2 0Controled%20Oscillator%20(VCO)%20Circuits
The second one down - Colpitts. Are there any such examples in this book?

Thanks,
James.


"Roy Lewallen" wrote in message
...

I highly recommend _Experimental Methods in RF Design_, by Hayward,
Cambell, and Larkin. It's published by the ARRL and available from them
and numerous other sources. Besides theory and a lot of real, practical,
tested circuits and projects, it includes simple test equipment you can
build yourself.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL

James Fenech wrote:

. . .
I have the ARRL handbook (1997 or so) but this doesn't have much in the

way

of theory. Is there any other reference anyone can recommend?
. . .