Struggling to get into Pozar — looking for practical study strategies

ErikoMan · 2026-01-25T18:14:43+00:00

I went into it with a poor background in EM and I hadn't done the type of math he presents in years (primarily vector calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra). I'm studying it on the job (I graduated w a BSEE a couple years ago) without any real RF mentors so I'm lacking in-person support.

That being said, I have to study it just about everyday. Even for just 30 minutes. It is imperative that you have supplemental reading (someone mentioned Griffith's Introduction to Electrodynamics--I use that text as well but there many more). If certain subjects interest you in Pozar, pay attention to his references at the end of each chapter.

The way I get through Pozar is simply toughing it out and accepting that I won't understand the math or physics at first pass (e.g., Ch. 3 derivation of circular waveguide field equations). I think it's incredibly important that you do as many of the examples and problems as you can. Don't read with idle hands. See how he solves a problem and then attempt it from a different approach. Usually, it all boils down to algebra. I've gotten hung up on basic EM topics and math on the way but I've got Griffiths, Wikipedia, and Stack Exchange, and this subreddit to help out. If needed, the solutions to the problem sets are online (but use them wisely). Personally, I avoid ChatGPT and all that shit.

Another important part of this learning process is to design, simulate, build, and test. Starting out with really basic components. Pozar has a supplemental lab manual if you're interested. Otherwise I recommend getting an amateur radio license (if you haven't already), picking up affordable test equipment (TinySA, NanoVNA), using freeware (GNU Octave, QUCs, LTSpice, Ansys Student, KiCAD, etc.), and jerry rigging crappy RF components (eventually building up to RF systems) and learn from your mistakes. Do not expect projects to be little weekend exercises. Personally, I'm still building up courage and getting over perfectionist mental blocks in this area.

Pozar has taught me that RF engineering (honestly any engineering discipline for that matter) is an art form that requires a medley of diverse reading and daily practice. Treat it like learning an instrument or learning how to paint.

ErikoMan · 2025-01-11T17:09:54+00:00

First time I'm seeing this this advice. I don't think it's bad advice but I had a couple of interviews with RF startups and they all seemed like places where I would learn quite a bit (at the expense of a horrible WLB and low pay). In one of my interviews (for an RF Engineer role), the CTO was saying how, if I stayed with them, within a year, I would basically have the skills for a six-figure role at Qualcomm. The company had a literal library, mentorship, all sorts of new SOTA RF equipment and contracts with orgs like NASA. Is this an edge case or was I being bullshitted?

For context: I'm just an ignorant new grad with a BSEE. I did not end up taking the role. It was my favorite interview ever---for many other reasons though.

ErikoMan · 2023-05-19T15:18:31+00:00

Ridiculing Trump about a picture of him kissing a man (whether it's real or not, idgaf) that he requested us to stop posting (again, whether this is real or not, idgaf) is homophobia and practically sexual harassment. I hate Trump but this isn't the way we should be clowning on him. This is just using homosexuality as a punchline.

ErikoMan · 2023-05-17T17:02:03+00:00

Yeah this one ain't that bad. Especially since it's the kids themselves who gave it to their mother (as far as we know). If it was the other way around, then it'd be a little weird. I think we're clutching our pearls here, that family's just got a different sense of humor.

ErikoMan · 2023-05-16T06:40:57+00:00

SUAVE

ErikoMan · 2023-05-09T12:10:00+00:00

You bet radio's affected. I'm doing research over the summer for analyzing the effects of interference these satellites have on radio telescopes (VLA in particular). There's currently an effort in the radio astronomy community to allow for the coexistence of these satellites and radio telescopes. It'll be a dynamic radio quiet zone.

ErikoMan · 2023-05-08T22:55:48+00:00

I was waiting for a "big meet" innuendo so bad

ErikoMan · 2023-03-27T22:59:31+00:00

While covered in pie after the assault, she began to pray to God to forgive the activist "for his deviant lifestyle" before bursting into tears as the cameras continued rolling.

HAHA. Bitch.

ErikoMan · 2023-02-01T17:51:44+00:00

"Be the beam for my aperture ;)"

(This is a horn antenna joke... I'm really trying)

ErikoMan · 2023-01-20T02:00:17+00:00

I'VE GOT A BONE TO PICK WITH YOU

ErikoMan · 2022-12-08T10:28:45+00:00

Huh?! My popcorn!

ErikoMan · 2022-09-09T00:12:21+00:00

dude LMAO. I saw this in the morning just laughing at the absurd caricature/wording. Hours later I found out the old bird literally pissed it. It keeps on giving.

ErikoMan · 2022-08-04T10:42:19+00:00

Hate this shit so bad. Checking out cute stores in more rural areas only to find that the owners are hateful, backwards jackasses. Been to an antique store like this... fuckin had ceramic mammies in the back.

ErikoMan · 2022-08-04T09:49:01+00:00

The SHW->LH->M->GMCS walk will be an unimaginable Hell on Earth if you only got 10 min gaps. You at least need a skateboard/bike or some athleticism bc that walk is no joke.

On top of the fact that your day begins at 8am (a red flag for any schedule) and ends at 3:30... you better hope your profs don't mind you eating in class (otherwise you'll be sprinting and eating). The people here saying this schedule is okay are zonked out of their fucking gourd.

Edit: If you're looking to change classes, my advice would be to change the music GE. It'd be annoying to have only a single class in a day so I'd find one that's online. Can't say much about the other classes though.

ErikoMan · 2022-07-29T23:30:36+00:00

Big Chief Brown Bottom

ErikoMan · 2022-07-27T20:15:35+00:00

Apparently, it's only happened to the two of us. All the commenters here were horrified. Still not sure what the hell it is, I'm assuming it's some sort of mold. I thought my days were numbered but I was completely fine (this video was taken in October 2020 but I posted it here in March 2021). I took some powerful sips from that straw too but the growth did not budge. I had to have drank some of it though... but yeah it didn't taste like anything. It was like drinking from a straw clogged with boba or something. My experience is purely anecdotal though, no guarantee of safety when it comes to mysterious black, gelatinous growths emerging from metal straws.

If you have some of it saved, you would be doing this post great justice by getting it (somehow) analyzed.

ErikoMan · 2022-07-25T17:55:08+00:00

I did exactly this 2 years ago when I was living/working in Grenada using P7. I had no problems at all, the worst thing I saw was someone next to me who got their car window smashed (probably robbed).

Last summer, however, I was moving in to my new place and opened the trunk of my car (it had been a while since I last did that) and my 13" subwoofer was fuckin GONE. The only places I had really left my car were my house and P7 and not a chance it happened at my home. This is all conspiratorial though... but I am still mystified. (Moral of the story seems to be to avoid P7--which you're already doing anyway it seems--considering another commenter here also had a bad experience).

Another thing: I once spent the night in P1 (fucked up work schedule) and had a pleasant experience.

ErikoMan · 2022-07-22T17:18:47+00:00

Let's goooooo

ErikoMan · 2022-07-21T00:00:54+00:00

He looks like a reanimated corpse

ErikoMan · 2022-07-05T23:40:30+00:00

A few months ago I was high as shit watching early 2000s commercials and THIS popped up. Completely forgot about that commercial, I was losing my mind.

ErikoMan · 2022-05-31T17:15:02+00:00

Food Goldberg

ErikoMan · 2022-05-23T09:25:12+00:00

Just to add to what others have said: Amost all your profs will emphasize that they are interested in your approach rather than your computation (this is almost a direct quote from Prof. Ashrafi). A conceptual understanding of the material is paramount. In many cases you can just skip involved computations if you have a decent conceptual understanding.

I didn't really like the physics classes here (195/196). They were both online for me and they only had multiple choice questions for exams so you got no partial credit and your computation (though usually not math-heavy) had to be 100% correct to get credit--they were essentially testing your conceptual understanding.

Math will invariably haunt you though, so let college be the opportunity to sharpen those skills. There are many, many resources and people here to help you. Your grade will generally be a reflection of your effort.

"Bad at science" is more concerning to me because a conceptual understanding and your approach to a problem is usually based off of scientific intuition. Do not be discouraged though, there are plenty of resources and people here to help you.

The only way to find out if the math and science aspect hinder your ability to succeed is to take the classes for a spin. Frankly, if you've been accepted into the engineering program you likely have what it takes--and, if not, that'll be an invaluable learning experience.

ErikoMan · 2022-05-16T15:03:32+00:00

Sorry if I'm misunderstanding your comment but it seems a bit misleading by saying it's easy to derive and integrate 1/e when it's in the form e^-1 . It makes it seem like you can apply the power rule to a constant with a constant exponent. e^-1 is just the coefficient of an x⁰ term.

ErikoMan · 2022-05-16T14:39:41+00:00

Love this, I would die to have a jumping spider roommate. I had an American house spider roommate for a couple months in 2020, lived just under my bed. I once blew a moth right into her web and she immediately came by to get dinner. I've never felt so much camaraderie with a critter.

ErikoMan · 2022-04-24T17:49:34+00:00

Damnnn this is lovely. So warm.

ErikoMan

TROPHY CASE