RF, Microwave, Analog Design Consultancy

Career

I am an experienced RF engineer with a PhD (Surrey, 2007) and MSc (Surrey, 2002) in Satellite and Mobile Communications, and a BSc (Essex, 1989) in Electronic Engineering (Telecommunications).

It all started as a boy in the 70s and 80s, where I enjoyed building audio and radio circuits (on Veroboard) and making the enclosures. I made a 50W stereo hi-fi power amplifier and a pre-amplifier, FM and AM tuner, ZX81 computer, HF/VHF/UHF antennas, SW radios, and many other projects. I didn't understand the theory back then so studied AO, A and undergraduate level Electronics (plus Maths, Physics, Computers). Upon graduation I became an RF circuit designer for 10 years working on mobile communications equipment. At that point, age 30, I wanted to increase my understanding in RF Systems and satellite communications, so returned to university. After obtaining a doctoral degree I secured positions designing radio systems for commercial airliners, satellites, satcom terminals and ground stations, frequently in clients' "advanced development" or "skunk works" groups.

Here are my project reports put here for personal nostalgia:

I'm now retired after decades of commuting up to 4 hours a day, living in budget hotels, and providing expertise up to 120 hours a week!

Here are details about my career and consultancy business - a 35 year career providing RF expertise to over 60 clients globally, including:

  • AceAxis (Mobile MIMO remote radio heads)
  • Airspan (Mobile remote radio heads)
  • AST SpaceMobile (Mobile access from space)
  • Cambridge Consultants (Iridium terminals)
  • AAC Clyde Space (Satellite payloads)
  • European Space Agency (various)
  • European Commission research projects (various)
  • GEC-Marconi (In-flight entertainment)
  • Intellian (Iridium terminals)
  • ISD (Satellite systems)
  • ITT (Mobile radios)
  • Lacuna Space (Satellite payloads)
  • Lucent (Mobile basestations)
  • Microsoft Research (Power amplifiers and modulators)
  • Nortel (Mobile basestations and RF cable modems)
  • Plextek (Microwave link)
  • Racal (HF radios)
  • Raven Research (HF/VHF multicouplers and switches)
  • Roke (Mobile handsets)
  • Samsung (Mobile handsets)
  • Satellite Applications Catapult (Inmarsat L and Ka terminals)
  • Thales (Inmarsat and EAN terminals for aircraft)
  • TMD (Microwave power amplifiers)
  • Trend Networks (VNA test equipment)
  • TTP Com (Mobile handsets)
  • University of Surrey (Radio propagation)

35 years experience working on the following:

INDUSTRIES:
  • Satcom
  • Mobile
  • Aerospace
  • Microwave
  • HF/VHF/UHF
RF SYSTEMS ENGINEERING:
  • e2e systems modelling DAC > ADC
  • Link budgets (HF to QV)
  • Levels plans (ADC/DAC <> antenna)
  • Interference analysis
  • Signal integrity analysis
  • Dynamic range analysis
  • ADC/DAC levels plans
  • Radio propagation measurement campaigns
  • Channel modelling / programming emulators
  • Technical management
RADIO TRANSCEIVER DESIGN:
  • Array antennas
  • Inter satellite links
  • Satellite payload
  • Satcom terminal
  • Satellite gateway
  • Commercial airliners
  • Microwave link
  • 5G NR, LTE, WiMax, UMTS, CDMA, EDGE, GPRS, GSM UE and BS
  • Channel sounder
  • Custom ASIC/RFIC/MMIC/module specification
RF CIRCUIT DESIGN:
  • Discrete component level design (DC-20GHz)
  • Receivers
  • Transmitters
  • Phase locked loops
  • Power amplifiers
  • PA linearisation
  • AGC, APC, RSSI, TSSI
  • Associated control circuitry - SPI, I2C, GPIO
PROTOTYPES and PCBA:
  • Schematic capture
  • PCB layout (working with partners)
  • PCB assembly (working with partners)
  • PCBA bring-up
  • Test and performance optimisation
  • Performance characterisation
  • Factory yield analysis and optimisation
  • Cost reduction
  • Metalwork and heatsinks (working with partners)
Feedback received from Clients:
  • "Peter has many strengths, including RF systems analysis and architectural design. Pete produced some excellent analyses making difficult things seem simple. I found Pete very approachable and easy to work with. He communicates extremely well and is flexible in his attitude." Senior Director
  • "I worked with Pete when preparing RFI/RFQ responses for Radio Access Systems. He was always extremely responsive and his input was of an exceptionally high quality under tight timescales. I trusted Pete to interface directly with our strategic OEM partners and customers and this resulted in winning some key accounts." SVP
  • "Pete is a very talented RF Engineer with expertise at all levels of the RF Design, theoretical and hands on. He is a cool minded Engineer and very easy to get on with." Principal RF Engineer
  • "Pete is a very competent RF Designer. He was given a high level of design responsibility in his roles. Pete worked for the department several times and was usually the first contractor to be considered if a first role arose, especially if it was a complex task." Project Manager
  • "On the RFU, I think we are where we are because of you and thanks a million for that, I can't praise you enough for what you're doing! Your great knowledge and understanding of RF and analogue electronics have allowed us to develop the RFU in record time, almost fully matching the requirements first time! This is a real achievement and something to be very proud of!" Senior Director