Block 10 — basic electronics and KiCad workflow¶

This block connects the SDR course to practical electronics: passive networks, attenuators, safe levels, simple filters and schematic documentation in KiCad.

Engineering chain¶

flowchart LR
    REQ[Measurement requirement] --> SCHEMATIC[Schematic]
    SCHEMATIC --> CALC[Component calculation]
    CALC --> BREAD[Breadboard / prototype]
    BREAD --> MEAS[Measurement]
    MEAS --> KICAD[KiCad schematic]
    KICAD --> REPORT[Electronics report]

Why an SDR engineer needs this¶

Even a digital SDR project depends on the analog part:

signal levels must be safe;
the receiver input must not be overloaded;
the useful band must be separated from interference;
cables, load impedance and attenuators affect measurements;
the schematic must be documented so another engineer can reproduce it.

Main block topics¶

Topic	Engineering meaning
RC filter	basic bandwidth limitation
Attenuator	safe connection of RF/SDR devices
Voltage divider	signal-level control
50-ohm load	measurement-chain matching
KiCad schematic	reproducible hardware documentation
Safety checklist	protection of SDR board and receiver

Minimal artifacts¶

Each lab should produce:

component calculation;
connection schematic;
expected-parameter table;
measurement checklist;
conclusion on whether the circuit is suitable for the SDR bench.

Connection to the course¶

Block	Connection
Block 6	RF safety, gain staging, attenuation
Block 7	TX/RX loopback levels
Block 9	real IQ capture quality
Block 11	integrated SDR project hardware setup