uwloo

ECE 373Radio Frequency and Microwave Circuits

Units
0.50
Faculty
Engineering
Subject
Electrical and Computer Engineering

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Review of transmission line and scattering matrix representation of radiofrequency (RF) circuits, multiport RF networks, modern RF and microwave planar technology, lumped and distributed microstrip circuits, microwave couplers, Hybrids, resonators, filters, Low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), RF oscillators and mixers, computer-aided design (CAD) tools for RF circuits, hybrid and monolithic RF circuits.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed the following:
      • ECE375 - Electromagnetic Fields and Waves (0.50)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • ECE206 - Advanced Calculus 2 for Electrical Engineers (0.50)
      • MATH212 - Advanced Calculus 2 for Electrical Engineers (0.50)
    • Students must be in level 3B or higher
    • Enrolled in H-Computer Engineering, or H-Electrical Engineering

Antirequisites

  • Not completed any of the following:

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001510678 / 90Th 14:30–15:50
F 14:30–15:50
Sep 18 16:00–17:20
Oct 9 16:00–17:20
Nov 6 16:00–17:20
Nov 27 16:00–17:20
LAB 201510817 / 18Sep 16 08:30–11:20
Sep 30 08:30–11:20
Oct 21 08:30–11:20
Nov 11 08:30–11:20
Nov 25 08:30–11:20
LAB 202510917 / 18Sep 17 08:30–11:20
Oct 1 08:30–11:20
Oct 22 08:30–11:20
Nov 12 08:30–11:20
Nov 26 08:30–11:20
LAB 203511018 / 18Sep 15 08:30–11:20
Sep 29 08:30–11:20
Oct 20 08:30–11:20
Nov 10 08:30–11:20
Nov 24 08:30–11:20
LAB 204532617 / 18Sep 18 08:30–11:20
Oct 2 08:30–11:20
Oct 23 08:30–11:20
Nov 13 08:30–11:20
Nov 27 08:30–11:20
LAB 20553279 / 18Sep 14 08:30–11:20
Sep 28 08:30–11:20
Oct 19 08:30–11:20
Nov 9 08:30–11:20
Nov 23 08:30–11:20
TUT 101510778 / 90T 20:00–20:50

Reviewed on UW Flow

89% liked it8% easy83% useful

From 9 ratings and 3 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Lectures are good, Slim Boumaiza is a great prof. Material is very challenging. Labs require roughly 2x as much time than allocated, which is quite frustrating.

    Oct 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The course is probably the hardest course I have taken up to 3B. It builds upon the 1st half of ECE 373 regarding transmission lines and S-Parameters but then builds more into the RF side and has heavy emphasize on using Smith charts to be able to make calculations. The lab was mainly one larger "design" project where you had to figure out the parameters of some components to be able to fit into the design requirements of a filter and then you will craft the filter on a board and solder all the pieces. The project is quite time consuming but it does help with learning the content and its probably the most useful lab I have every taken so far. The professor was not easy on use but was a good…

    Feb 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Rafaat Mansoor is a very engaging prof. The course itself is a good continuation into studying RF systems. This was a great course, if not a little difficult sometimes. The labs are pretty useless lol

    Jul 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

8 posts and comments in 6 threads mention ECE 373, December 2018 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2024

Exam paper sealed in bags 4 points, 7 comments

“On my way walking to my desk in PAC, I saw a section of tables with the exam paper sealed in transparent bags. …”

u/fisherfam: “There are no section 081 exams that occur at 12:30 (which I am assuming is when you saw this packet) so my guess for the class is either ECE 203, ECE 373 or PSCI 281. No idea why it’s sealed.”

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Spring 2023

ECE 3B TEs 9 points, 8 comments

u/NFLYoungGuy: “… There are also other things in the 3rd TE list: “One of ECE 313, ECE 320, ECE 331, ECE 351, ECE 356, ECE 358, ECE 360, ECE 373” The dilemma rn is between: databases -> easier content wise (for me at least) vs architechure -> more challenging but no paul ward. …”

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Spring 2022

ECE 373 for 4A TE 3 points, 3 comments

u/throw7369: “How hard is it? Is it doable without having done ECE 375 (i.e. no prior intro to smith chart and transmission lines)? Another option is doing ECE 474 in winter but I've heard that course is a lot harder.”

u/rapsforlife647: “Hey OP u/throw7369. Did you end up taking ECE 373 or 474? How were they?”

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Spring 2021

Any suggestion between ECE 373 and ECE 360 1 point, 7 comments

u/jacobraveet: “Hi, for the 3B ECE course selection, does anyone have suggestions between ECE 373 and ECE 360? Ramadan El Shatshat \-360 Raafat Mansour \- 373 Thanks for reply!”

u/Plane_Razzmatazz_143: “… ECE 373 comes from ECE 473 actually. It is also a very interesting course if you are into RF. It continues from the introductory RF course would have taken. The materials discussed in this course is pretty crucial knowledge if you see yourself in the RF field. …”

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Fall 2020

Dropping a course in 3B ECE 5 points, 2 comments

u/shoestealerz: “… I'm getting blasted in ECE373 rn. I did a 8 month gap between 3A and 3B so I had the option of switching from the 2016 calendar to the 2017 calendar which is ECE373 and ECE260 (2017) vs ECE224 and ECE360(2016). …”

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Fall 2018

OAT ORGO CHEM PREP :( 6 points, 7 comments

“Hey guys quick question for anyone who wrote the OAT, does CHEM 266 cover the entire organic chem section, or is there stuff we need to learn by ourselves. …”

u/skiiing2022v3: “Ffs just memorize a couple stop sign shaped chemicals, it’s not that hard... If you’re looking for a challenge try any of the courses listed under ECE Oh wait, you’re a Science student, yeah never …”

u/skiiing2022v3: “… For example, the field of optometry has to do with vision and optics so courses like ECE 106, ECE 150 (AI studies will help), ECE 313, ECE 373, ECE 375 are courses you should be looking into.”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

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