MICROWAVE AND RF COMMUNICATION

EE021-3.5-3-MRRF

MICROVE AND RF COMMUNICATION LAB MANUAL

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LIST OF EXPERIMENTS
1.

To study the components of a microwave communication system, microwave

bands and operating procedures of Klystron and Gunn power supplies.

2.

To determine frequency and wavelength in a rectangular waveguide.

3.

To study the measurement methods of unknown load impedance by

measuring VSWR and the position of voltage minimum

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EXPERIMENT 1: MICROWAVE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, MICROWAVE

BANDS AND OPERATING PROCEDURES OF KLYSTRON AND GUNN POWER
SUPPLIES

1.1

Aim:

To study the components of a microwave communication system, microwave bands

and operating procedures of Klystron and Gunn power supplies.
1.2

Microwave Components:

1.2.1 Waveguide Tees:

Waveguide Tees consist of E-Plane Tee, H-Plane Tee, Magic Tee, Hybrid rings,
Comers bend and Twists.
1.2.2 E-Plane Tee: (Series Tee)
An E-Plane Tee is a waveguide lies in which the axis of its side arm is parallel to the
E field of the main guide as shown in Figure 2. When the waves are fed into the side
arm (port3), the waves appear at port1 and port2 of the collinear arm which will be in
opposite phase but of same magnitude.

Figure 2. E-Plane Tee

1.2.3 H-Plane Tee(Shunt Tee):
An H-Plane Tee is a waveguide, where the axis of its side arm is shunting the EField and it is parallel to the H-Field of the main guide as shown in Figure 3. It can
be seen that if two input waves are fed into port1 and port2 of the collinear arm, the

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output wave at port3 splits equally into port1 and port2 in phase as well as in
magnitude.

Figure 3. H-Plane Tee

1.2.4 Magic Tee(Hybrid Tee):

A Magic Tee is a combination of an E-plane Tee and an H-Plane Tee as shown in
Figure 4. A magic Tee has the following characteristics.

1. If two waves of equal magnitudes and the same phases are fed into port1
and port 2, the output at port 3 and port 4 will be zero.
2. If a wave is fed into port 4 (the H-arm) it will be divided equally between
port 1 and port 2 of the collinear arm and will not appear at port 3(E-arm).
3. If a wave is fed into port 3 (the E-arm) it will produce an output of equal
magnitude but opposite in phase at port 1 and port 2 and the output at
port 4 will be zero.
4. If a wave is fed into one of the collinear arms either at port1 or port2, it will
not appear in the other collinear arm at port2 or port1 because the E-arm
causes the phase delay while the H-arm causes a phase advance.

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Figure 4. Magic Tee

1.2.5 Directional Coupler:
A Directional coupler is a 4 port waveguide junction as shown in Figure 5. It consists
of a primary waveguide 1-2 and secondary waveguide 3-4. All ports are terminated
in their characteristics impedances. There is a free transmission of power without
reflection between port 1 and port 3 or between port 2 and port 4. It is because there
is no coupling exists between port 1 and port 4. The port 2 and port 3 depend upon
the structure of the coupler.

Figure 5. The Directional Coupler

The characteristics of the directional coupler can be expressed in terms of its

coupling factor and directivity. If the wave is propagating from port 1 and port 2 in
the primary line, then the coupling factor and directivity can be defined by:
Coupling factor (dB) = 10 log10 (P1 /P4), and
Directivity (dB) = 10 log10 (P4 /P3)
Where P1 Power input to port1,
P3- Power output from port 2, and
P4- Power output from port 4.
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1.2.6 Microwave circulator:

A Microwave circulator as shown in Figure 6, is a multiport waveguide junction in
which the wave can flow only from nth port to (n+1)th port in one direction. Though
there is no restriction on the number of ports, but the 4-port microwave circulator is
most commonly used.

Figure 6. Circulator
1.2.7 Microwave Isolator:
An Isolator is a non reciprocal transmission device that is used to isolate one
component from reflections of other components in the transmission line. Ideal
Isolator completely absorbs the power for propagation in one direction and provides
lossless transmission in the opposite direction. Thus the isolator is usually called
incline. Isolators are generally used to improve the frequency stability of microwave
generators such as klystrons and Magnetrons in which the reflection from the load
affects generating frequency.
1.2.8 Fixed Attenuator:
A Fixed Attenuator is for inserting a known attenuation in a wave guide system. It
consists of a wave inserted in a section of waveguide flanked on both sides. The
Fixed Attenuators are available in 3, 6 and 10 dB attenuation values.
1.2.9 Variable Attenuator:

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It consists of a movable lossy line inside a section of a waveguide by means of

micrometer. This variable attenuator is to provide at least 20 dB continuously.

1.2.10 FREQUENCY METERS:

1.3.10.1 Micrometer Type:
This is an absorption type cavity meter called frequency meter. It is made up of
tuneable resonant cavity having high Q value. This cavity is connected to source of
energy through a section of wave guide.
The cavity absorbs some power at resonance which is indicated as output power the
reading of micrometer or resonance gives frequency from the calibration chart
provided.
1.3.10.2 Direct reading Type:
Direct reading frequency meter is modified version of micrometer type frequency
meter to give direct frequency provided on the dial provided.
1.2.11 Slotted section:
It consists of a precision wave guide slotted line and the probe carriage. The wave
guide slotted line comprises of the accurate machine section of wave guide in which
small longitudinal slot has been cut which is a basic means for monitoring wave
patterns inside the wave guides.

1.2.12 Tuneable Probe:

These are designed to use with slotted section for exploring the energy of the probe.
The tip pick up the RF power from the line and this power is rectified by crystal
detector which is then fed to the voltage standing wave ratio meter (VSWR).
1.2.13 Wave Guide detector mount:
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The tuneable detector mount is simple and easy to the instrument, for detecting the
low frequency square wave modulated microwave signal. It consists of a crystal
detector mounted in a section of waveguide and output from the crystal may be fed
to an indicating instrument.

1.2.14 Matched Terminator:

It is a low power and non reflective type match terminator. It is useful for VSWR
measurement of various wave guide components. These are also employed as
dummy and as a precise reference load with the Directional couplers and other
similar dividing devices.

2.1

Microwave Band:

The term microwave frequencies is generally used for those wavelengths

measured in centimetres, roughly from 30 cm to 1 mm (1 to 300 GHz).However,
microwave really indicates the wavelengths in the micron ranges. Microwave band is
classified into different bands depending on the frequencies. Table 1 shows the U.S
New military microwave band and Table 2 shows IEEE microwave frequency bands.
TABLE 1: U.S NEW MILITARY MICROWAVE BANDS
Designation

Frequency range
in GHz
0.100-0.250
0.250-0.500
0.500-1.000
1.000-2.000
2.000-3.000
3.000-4.000
4.000-5.000

A Band
B Band
C Band
D Band
E Band
F Band
G Band

Designation
H Band
I Band
J Band
K Band
L Band
M Band

Frequency range
in GHz
6.000-8.000
8.000-10.000
10.000-20.000
20.000-40.000
40.000-60.000
60.000-100.000

TABLE 2: IEEE MICROWAVE FREQUENCY BANDS

Designation
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Frequency range in GHz

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HF
VHF
UHF
L band
S band
C band
X band
Ku band
K band
Ka band
Millimeter
Submillimeter

EXPERIMENT 2:

0.003-0.030
0.030-0.300
0.300-1.000
1.000-2.000
2.000-4.000
4.000-8.000
8.000-12.000
12.000-18.000
18.000-27.000
27.000-40.000
40.000-300.000
>300.000

FREQUENCY AND WAVELENGTH IN A RECTANGULAR

WAVEGUIDE
2.1

Aim:

To determine frequency and wavelength in a rectangular waveguide.

2.2

Equipments required:

A Klystron power supply, a Klystron oscillator, an Attenuator, a Frequency meter, an

Isolater, a slotted section, a VSWR meter or a CRO

2.3

Theory:

For a rectangular wave guide

1/ o2 = 1/ g2 +1/ c2
where

o = Free space wave length.

c = 2a where a is broad dimension wave guide.
g = Guide wave length.
The following relationship can be proved.
c=*f
Where

c = velocity of light (3*108 m/s)

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f = frequency.

= Wave length
2.4

Instructions:

1.

Set the equipment as shown in the Figure 2.1.

2.

Look at the manual and follow instructions to understand the operating

procedures of the Klystron Power Supply.

3.

Do the initial adjustments to the Klystron before you start the experiment

4.

Follow the operating procedure and take required readings

5.

Plot/compute/verify the necessary results to achieve the aim of the

experiment.

Klystron
Power
Supply.

Klystron
Oscillator

Isolator

Variable
Attenuator

Frequency
Meter

Slotted
Line
Section

Tunable
Probe

Crystal
Detector

CRO

Figure 2.1

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MICROVE AND RF COMMUNICATION LAB MANUAL

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EXPERIMENT 3: UNKNOWN LOAD IMPEDANCE BY MEASURING VSWR AND

THE POSITION OF VOLTAGE MINIMUM
3.1

Aim:

To study the measurement methods of an unknown load impedance by measuring

VSWR and the position of voltage minima.

3.2

Equipments required:

A Klystron power supply, a Klystron mount isolator, a Variable attenuator, a

Frequency meter slotted section with tuneable probe & CRO.

3.3

Theory:

The incident waves on the load from the generator are reflected. Unknown load
impedance can be determined either by using the formula or by using smith chart.
The unknown load impedance (ZL) is:
ZL = Zo ( 1- j (VSWR) tan(l) / VSWR jtan l
l = (X1 X2) .2 / g.
l = Electrical distance
Zo = Characteristic impedance = 50
X1 = all positions of standing was minimum with unknown load
impedance
X2 = position of standing wave minimum with the short circuit
termination.
g = guide wavelength. = 2(first min second min)
VSWR = Vmax/ Vmin

3.4

Instructions:

1.

Arrange the equipments as shown in Figure 3.1.

2.

Follow the operating procedure and take required readings.

3.

Plot/compute necessary results.

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Klystron Power
Supply

Reflex Klystron

Isolator

Short

Detector

Slotted Line
Section

Tunable Probe

Variable
Attenuator

Frequency
Meter

CRO

Figure 3.1

Lab Report Write-Up

Write your step-by-step procedure in sufficient detail. Show your calculations with
necessary steps so that a reader will understand how the experiment was
conducted. Present your results and graphs. Ensure that the graphs are well
explained. Discuss your results in sufficient details. Finish your write-up with a
conclusion about what you have learned and achieved.

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