Introduction
• If the power output of an attenuator is one-fourth of the
input, it is called the 6 dB attenuator or pad.
• The attenuation of a fixed pad varies with the frequency.
• At higher frequencies, there are more wavelengths in
the lossy material and the loss in the material itself is
dependent on the frequency.
• Thus, it is necessary to specify frequency as well as
attenuation of a fixed attenuator.
Wavemeter
• In direct reading the signal frequency can be directly read after its
proper adjustment. The frequency can be read from the calibration
chart.
• The frequency meters can be made either by using a transmission
type of cavity or a reaction type of cavity.
• In the first case its equivalent circuit amounts to a series resonant
circuit, whereas for the second it is a parallel resonant circuit.
• The cavity wave meter (CWM) can be carved out from a rectangular
waveguide or from a coaxial cable.
Movable Shorts
• Adjustable waveguide shorts are used for terminating a waveguide
with a short circuit.
Measurement of VSWR
• Transmission Line Method
• Twice Minimum Method
• Reflectometer Method
Transmission Line Method
• This method is preferred for measuring low VSWR.
• In this the probe is moved through probe carriage and the detected
output is read from the attached meter.
• The VSWR (= Vmax/Vmin) is obtained by noting the maximum and
minimum values of voltages.
• In case of deeper insertion of the probe, errors due to reflections may
get introduced and VSWR obtained may be lower than the actual.
These errors become appreciable for VSWR < 10.
Twice Minimum Method
• This method is also preferred for measuring low VSWR since it
eliminates
• errors due to insertion.
• Here, first a probe is inserted and a minimum located.
• The probe is moved in one direction to a point, where power is twice
the minimum.
• The position of the probe at this power location is noted as d1.
• The probe is again moved but in other direction to a point, where
power is twice the minimum, this position is noted as d2 . The VSWR [=
λg/(d1 – d2)] can now be obtained.
Reflectometer (Ratio Method)
Method
• This method can be used for low, medium and high VSWR as there is
no probe insertion or no problem of discontinuity.
• Figure shows the use of two directional couplers to get the ratio of
readings (D1 and D2) of the
• Two detector indicators. D1 is the measure of signal travelling in the
forward direction, whereas D2 is the measure of the reflected signal.
The ratio D2/D1 is a measure of the reflection coefficient (Γ).
Measurement of impedance
• Bridge Method
• Slotted Line Method
Bridge Method
• Wheat-Stone Bridge
• Byrene Impedance
• Bridge Pseudo Bridge
• Magic Tee Bridge
Magic Tee Bridge
Magic Tee Bridge
• One of these arms is connected to a source, the second arm to a
detector, the third arm to known impedance and the fourth one to
unknown impedance.
• It contains a magic tee, a variable attenuator and a movable short.
• The bridge is balanced by adjusting the known (standard) impedance
and the detector reading is noted.
Slotted Line Method
• For this method, the setup for measuring the VSWR is to be used.
Transmission line terminated in an unknown impedance zL is shown.
Slotted Line Method
Slotted Line Method
• Here, zL can be calculated from VSWR and distance L of minimum
position from the unknown impedance.
• At minimum position the voltage and current both are real, thus zL is
also real.
• At minimum Zs is reciprocal of VSWR and at maximum Zs = VSWR.
• Since Zs is a complex quantity, Smith chart may be used to avoid
calculations. Move the probe on the transmission line (with movable
short attached to it) and measure the minima.
Slotted Line Method
• This minimum is called reference minima and position of the short is
the reference plane.
• Replace movable short by the unknown impedance, and measure the
minima. The minima will shift in its location.
• The direction of shift in respect of the reference minima can be
moved on the Smith chart and zL can be determined.
