RF/Microwave Design - RF Simulation Tools (ADS)

Seize the savings! Get 40% off 3 months of Coursera Plus and full access to thousands of courses.

RF/Microwave Design - RF Simulation Tools (ADS)

Instructors: Starweaver

Included with

Learn more

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

4 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

4 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Perform DC, AC, and S-parameter simulations in Keysight ADS to analyze RF circuit performance.
Analyze transmission lines and design impedance matching networks in ADS using Smith charts and transmission line models.
Configure and validate electromagnetic (EM) simulations in ADS Momentum to predict real-world RF component and system behavior.

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

electromagnetics

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

There are 3 modules in this course

Modern RF systems—spanning wireless communications, radar, satellites, and emerging 5G/6G technologies—demand precise circuit design and validation. As frequencies rise, traditional circuit intuition becomes unreliable, making advanced simulation essential for predicting real-world behavior before hardware is built.

This course equips learners with practical, industry-ready skills in RF and microwave design using Keysight ADS. Through guided demos and hands-on labs, you will master S-parameter analysis, transmission-line modeling, impedance matching, and electromagnetic (EM) simulation with Momentum. Real engineering scenarios show how coupling, parasitics, and layout effects influence performance, and how ADS enables accurate prediction and optimization. By the end of the course, you will confidently design RF schematics, evaluate matching networks, analyze antennas and filters, and refine layouts through EM-based validation. Whether you are building wireless front-end modules, optimizing radar components, or modeling high-frequency behavior for next-generation systems, this course provides the applied expertise needed to produce manufacturable, professional-grade RF designs.

Master the fundamentals of high-frequency circuit simulation using Keysight ADS, the industry-standard RF simulation tool. Students will learn to navigate the ADS interface, set up RF circuit simulations, understand S-parameters and frequency domain analysis, and interpret simulation results. This foundational module establishes the skills needed to simulate and validate RF circuit performance before physical prototyping, enabling efficient design iteration and optimization.

What's included

4 videos2 readings1 peer review

4 videos Total 33 minutes

Course Introduction 3 minutes
Setting Up Your First ADS Project and RF Schematic 6 minutes
Running S-Parameter Simulations and Reading Results in ADS 8 minutes
Time-Domain and AC Analysis for RF Circuits in ADS 16 minutes

2 readings Total 10 minutes

Welcome to the Course: Course Overview 5 minutes
A/RF Circuit Analysis: Simulation Across Frequency Spectrums 5 minutes

1 peer review Total 20 minutes

Hands-On-Learning: Designing a Simple Matching Network in ADS 20 minutes

Master transmission line simulation and impedance matching using Keysight ADS. Students will learn transmission line fundamentals, understand impedance concepts and the Smith chart, and design impedance matching networks. This module emphasizes how proper impedance matching ensures signal integrity, maximizes power transfer, and enables optimal RF system performance in wireless communications, radar, and satellite applications.

What's included

3 videos1 reading1 peer review

3 videos Total 25 minutes

Simulating Transmission Lines with Different Impedances in ADS 5 minutes
Advanced Impedance Matching Techniques for Broadband Circuits 5 minutes
Smith Chart and Filter Design Applications in ADS 15 minutes

1 reading Total 5 minutes

Transmission Line Analysis: Cable Health Case Study 5 minutes

1 peer review Total 20 minutes

Hands-On-Learning: Building and Analyzing a Bandpass Filter Circuit 20 minutes

Master electromagnetic simulation using Keysight ADS to evaluate component behavior and RF system performance. Students will learn when and why to use EM simulation, understand how to set up 3D electromagnetic simulations, and interpret EM simulation results. This module emphasizes how EM simulation reveals coupling effects, radiation patterns, and component interactions that circuit-level simulation cannot capture, enabling accurate prediction of real-world RF system performance.

What's included

4 videos1 reading1 assignment2 peer reviews

4 videos Total 24 minutes

Introduction to Electromagnetic Simulation with Momentum 6 minutes
Simulating Antennas and Antenna Arrays with EM Tools 7 minutes
Advanced EM Analysis: Coupling and Cross-Talk in Complex Circuits 8 minutes
Course Wrap-Up 3 minutes

1 reading Total 5 minutes

Why RF Engineers Need EM Simulation for Designing RF Circuits 5 minutes

1 assignment Total 20 minutes

RF/Microwave Design - RF Simulation Tools (ADS) 20 minutes

2 peer reviews Total 80 minutes

Hands-On-Learning: Designing and Optimizing an RF Component with EM Simulation 20 minutes
Project: Complete RF Circuit Design Project: From Specification to EM Validation 60 minutes

Instructors

Starweaver

Coursera

550 Courses 1,011,499 learners

Offered by

Coursera

Explore more from Design and Product

Status: Preview
Coursera
RF/Microwave Design - S-parameter Analysis
Course
Status: Preview
Coursera
RF/Microwave Design - Antenna Design
Course
Status: Preview
Eindhoven University of Technology
RF and millimeter-Wave Circuit Design
Course
Status: Preview
Coursera
RF/Microwave Design - Impedance Matching
Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Learn more

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Explore degrees

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.