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Do RF modules eliminate the need for RF Engineers?

Chris_Pinter

Do we need RF engineers now that radio modules are available?

 

Is designing a radio today as easy as plopping down an RF module onto a board and expecting it to work, assume it will pass FCC testing?   Or do we still need to consider RF testing, communication theory, conditions that promote unintentional radiation?  

 

What about propagation theory and antenna radiation?   Are these topics still relevant?

 

I believe many engineers who do not have a strong background in RF theory would hope this to be true.   As an RF engineering consultant I am seeing many small and medium sized companies (5 to 50 employees) using a condensed product development process in order to get product to market on time.  Often times I see the development process go from design to certification testing with verification testing focused on software and application testing with very little sound scientific RF testing and only limited RF propagation testing.

 

This has become a problem as product development engineers rely on the RF module manufacture to solve all of their RF problems.  To be honest this is not practical, The RF module manufacture has provided the module to reduce the emissions and provide a simple solution to creating an RF link.  The layout and placement of the module and antenna are critical and will affect the performance of circuits.

 

Testing is still very important to the success of the project and its ability to pass certification and perform as expected within the worst case conditions of the environment.

 

What do you think?

 

 

Chris Pinter

 

http://www.element-14.com/community/people/Chris_Pinter

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  • Nice post Chris, and plenty to think about.

     

    I've talked to a lot of these module makers, and they all say the same thing, that a real shortage of RF engineers created the market. There were many more companies wanting radio capabilities in their design than there were engineers to employ. Some companies chose the outcourcing route, especially the ones that needed a bespoke solution. Others went the modular route. Modules are great for low production runs, especially where low NRE costs are important to  the success of the project. The modules are already certified, software is included and design in is a lot easier than a discrete solution. Even final testing is often outsourced to the CEM buiding the final design.

     

    I think all topics are still relevant, and RF engineers are very much in demand from what I have seen, either to be employed intenally by larger companies doing discrete design, or by consultants like yourself.

     

    In my opinion the study of RF theory is more important than ever before as many more new products will include radio capability. The first few generations of these products may use off-the-shelf modules, but I believe manufacturers would like to move to bespoke solutions if they can find the expertise

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  • Nice post Chris, and plenty to think about.

     

    I've talked to a lot of these module makers, and they all say the same thing, that a real shortage of RF engineers created the market. There were many more companies wanting radio capabilities in their design than there were engineers to employ. Some companies chose the outcourcing route, especially the ones that needed a bespoke solution. Others went the modular route. Modules are great for low production runs, especially where low NRE costs are important to  the success of the project. The modules are already certified, software is included and design in is a lot easier than a discrete solution. Even final testing is often outsourced to the CEM buiding the final design.

     

    I think all topics are still relevant, and RF engineers are very much in demand from what I have seen, either to be employed intenally by larger companies doing discrete design, or by consultants like yourself.

     

    In my opinion the study of RF theory is more important than ever before as many more new products will include radio capability. The first few generations of these products may use off-the-shelf modules, but I believe manufacturers would like to move to bespoke solutions if they can find the expertise

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