TRANSMISSION LINE EXPERIMENT

Aims:

 To study transmission lines and determine their parameters.

 To gain important concepts such as standing waves, reflection coefficient and attenuation.

Objectives:

 To calculate wave velocity and compare it against theoretical value.

 To calculate the permittivity of the cable insulation.
 To calculate the cable wavelength, phase constant and attenuation constant.
 To calculate reflection coefficient and voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR).

1. Equipment:

The experiment consists of a signal generator, an oscilloscope and a transmission line box. The
overall transmission line length is 32 m and tapping is provided at every 1m length which will be
used to observe wave characteristics at different lengths. Several terminations at different values
are provided together with two X10 probes and BNC adaptors. The transmission line is RG174AU
coaxial cable with 50 characteristic impedance and 101 pF/m per-unit-length capacitance.

2. Experiment:

2.1. Line characteristics

a) Terminal reflections
i. Set the output impedance of the signal generator to 50Ω and connect it to the
transmission line box at “0m” terminal via a BNC TEE adaptor. Connect the other
end of the TEE adaptor to Ch.1 of the Scope.
ii. Output pulse wave of 1 MHz, 10ns width, 10 V p-p and minimum edge time (~ 4 ns)
from the signal generator.
iii. Terminate the transmission line in a matched load of 50Ω and observe the
reflections on Ch.1 of the scope.
iv. Replace the matched load with open and short circuits respectively and in each case
observe the reflections.

b) Travelling wave speed and cable relative permittivity

v. For the last case observe the propagation delay between the input and reflected
pulse and determine the wave velocity in the transmission line.
vi. From the given values for characteristic impedance and capacitance calculate the
theoretical value for the wave velocity and compare it against the experimental
value. The relevant formulas are given in the Appendix.
vii. Use these equations to calculate the relative permittivity εr of the cable insulation,
the wavelength and phase coefficient.

2.2. Reflection coefficient:

i. Keep the same circuit connections set in 2.1, at the line end (32m), change the
terminations (27Ω, 100Ω, open circuit, short circuit) and measure the input and

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 reflected pulse amplitudes. Demonstrate that the amplitude of the reflected pulse is
related to the terminations.
ii. From the relevant equations in the Appendix calculate the reflection coefficients
(note that these values are approximate due to the attenuation in the cable) and
estimate the reflected wave amplitudes.
iii. Explain why the polarity of the pulse is altered for certain terminations. For each
case calculate the voltage standing wave ratio.

2.3. Attenuation and phase shift:

a) Measure the magnitude and phase of voltage along the line for matched load
i. Keep the same connections set in 2.2, i.e. connect the signal generator to the
transmission line input via a TEE adaptor and connect the other end of the TEE
adaptor to Ch.1 of the scope.
ii. Terminate the line end (“32m”) into a matched load (50 ohm termination).
iii. Fix the frequency at 10 MHz sine wave, 10 Vp-p and connect the Ch.2 probe of the
oscilloscope to BNC connectors at different lengths, i.e. 1m, 2m, 3m, … 31m.
Measure the amplitudes of voltage and the phase shift between input and output
waves using the scope.
iv. Repeat the test of iii with the frequency at 20 MHz.
v. Plot the signal amplitudes and the phase shift against the length for 10 MHz and 20
MHz respectively. Compare the measurement results with the theoretical ones.

b) Calculate the attenuation and phase shift constants

vi. From any two values measured, determine the attenuation and phase constants.
Attenuation constant α is the change in wave amplitude at a distance x from the
source:
|𝑉𝑜 |
= 𝑒 𝛼𝑥
|𝑉𝑥 |
vii. The phase constant is the change in the phase per metre. Compare the obtained
phase constant against the theoretical value.

c) Measure the line end voltage against frequency

viii. Remove the 50 Ω load. Connect the Ch.2 probe to the line end (32m) of the cable
and vary the frequency from 100 kHz to 10 MHz (choose suitable interval of 250
kHz, i.e. 100 kHz, 250 kHz, 500 kHz…). Plot the ratio between the output (32m) and
the input (0m) against the frequency. Compare the measurement results with the
theoretical ones.

2.4. Standing waves:

a) Measure the voltage at the middle of line against frequency and determine VSWR
i. Keep the Ch. 2 probe at a fixed position, say at length 16m (#16m), and feed the
signal generator to the transmission line (“0m”) with the TEE adaptor.
ii. Connect the short circuit terminator at the line end (32m).
iii. Vary the frequency between 100 kHz to 10 MHz and plot the ratio between the
output (#16m) and the input (0m) against the frequency. Note that at some
frequencies the maxima (or minima) pattern is repeated. Note these frequencies
from the minimum and maximum amplitudes, determine the VSWR.

iv. Repeat the experiment with an open circuit and then with 50Ω termination at the
output.
v. Determine the positions of the peaks and troughs (if there is any) and compare
against the short circuit case.

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 vi. Write down your conclusions. You should see that the wave amplitude alternates
between the minima and maxima at different frequency positions.
vii. From these values determine the VSWR.

b) Measure the voltage distribution along the line for short-circuited line end and determine
the wave length and VSWR
viii. Connect the short circuit termination at the line end (#32) again and set output
frequency at 20MHz, 10 V p-p.
ix. Change the position of the Ch.2 probe from 1m to 31m and plot the wave amplitudes
against the distance.
x. From Peak-to-Peak values determine the wavelength and compare the measured
value against the theoretical value above.
xi. Note the minimum and maximum amplitudes and determine the VSWR. Explain why
this value may be different from the one above, comparing to vii.

3. APPENDIX:

1
Capacitance per unit length 𝐶 = 𝑣𝑍
0

𝑍0
Inductance-per-unit length 𝐿= 𝑣
1 1 𝑐 1
Wave velocity 𝑣= = = where c = = 3x108 m/s (Free space velocity)
√𝐿𝐶 √𝜇𝜀 √ 𝜀𝑟 √𝜇0 𝜀0

where 𝜇 = 𝜇0 𝜇𝑟 and 𝜀 = 𝜀0 𝜀𝑟 (in non-ferro materials, μr = 1 )

𝑣 𝑣0
Wavelength 𝜆=𝑓 (𝜆0 = : free space wavelength)
𝑓

Phase constant = ω/v where ω = 2f

𝑍𝐿 −𝑍0
Reflection Coefficient = ZL : Load impedance
𝑍𝐿 +𝑍0

VSWR = Vmax/Vmin= (1+m)/(1-m) m is the modulus of , i.e. ||

20/02/2014

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 EEE2205: Transmission line experiment

Pre-laboratory Exercise
1. A single phase lossless transmission line has inductance L = 0.805mH/km and capacitance C =
13.81 nF/km operating under 500 kV, 50 Hz. What are its characteristic impedance and
propagation coefficient? What is the travelling wave speed?

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2. Follow question 1, if the receiving end is connected a load resistance of 75 Ω to ground, what are
the reflection and refraction coefficients?

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3. A transmission line has the per unit length inductance and capacitance are L = 0.77 mH / km and
C = 13.07 nF / km respectively, and resistance and conductance are R = 0.15Ω / km and G = 0.22
S / km. What are its characteristic impedance Zo, propagation coefficient γ, attenuation constant α
and phase shift constant β ?

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4. Follow the question 3, if a load impedance of 75 Ω is connected to the receiving end of the line,
what is the voltage standing wave ratio?

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