QUAID-E-AWAM UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING, SCIENCE

&TECHNOLOGY, NAWABSHAH
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNUICATION ENGINEERING
Radio Frequency & Microwave Systems (1st Semester Final Year)

Lab. Experiment # 06

Reflected power measurements

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES:
➢ Upon successful completion of this experiment, the student shall be able to:

✓ Know how return loss may be measured utilizing directional coupler.

✓ Know how a 50 ohm matched termination can be produced in microstrip using a 50 ohm
surface mount resistor and a quarter-wavelength, open-circuited line to make an effective
short-circuit to the ground plane conductor.

INTRODUCTION:
As with any transmission line, microstrip transmission line terminations must be matched to the
transmission line characteristic impedance in order to prevent reflections, and thus standing waves, on the
microstrip. The standard transmission line formulas for parameters such as reflection coefficient and
standing wave ratio are used to define the corresponding microstrip parameters. The return loss of the
microstrip is defined as the ratio of the power reflected from the load (Pr) to the power incident on the
load (Pi). The incident and reflected powers are proportional to the square of the voltages associated with
the incident and reflected waves (Vi² and Vr² ). Return loss is normally expressed in units of dB such that

where ┌ is the microstrip reflection coefficient.

The measurement of the reflected power can be undertaken using the test set-up shown in fig 1. In the
procedure described the reflected power coupled by the directional coupler is first measured with open
and short circuit termination. Reflection power measurement are then made for microstrip matched load,
50 ohm coaxial termination and a low pass filter. Results should be recorded in table 1 at the end of this
assignment.

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/Procedure:

1. Set up the system shown in Figure 4 with the short circuit coaxial termination, SC, denoted by a
white spot on its casing, connected to point X, port 2 of the directional coupler. Connect a coaxial
matched termination (MT) to port 3 of the directional coupler and connect the crystal detector (D)
to port 4 of the directional coupler. Connect the output of the detector to the multi-meter using a
coaxial cable (to the to measure the detector DC output voltage). Port 2 of the circulator is
connected to port 1 of the directional coupler using the SMA plug to plug connector (PPG).
Connect a coaxial matched termination (MT) to port 3 of the Figure 1.

Figure 1 : Experimental setup for return loss measurements.

2. By connecting the circulator as shown in Figure 1, with a matched termination on port 3, the
circulator is used as an isolation device. All of the microwave energy entering port 1 passes through
the circulator out port 2. Any reflected energy entering port 2 is directed to port 3, where it is
absorbed by the matched termination. Thus, the circulator is providing isolation for the microwave
source (VCO - voltage controlled oscillator) connected to port 1 of the circulator.
3. The VCO requires 3 input connections from two DC power supplies. The negative terminals of
the DC power supplies should be connected together and then connected to the ground input to the
VCO (black). One DC power supply should be set to +15V and its positive terminal connected to
the power input terminal (red) of the VCO. The positive terminal of the other DC power supply
serves as the tuning voltage and should be connected to the tuning voltage input to the VCO
(white). Set the modulator switch on the VCO to OFF.
4. Measure the reflected power coupled out of the directional coupler at port 4 at frequencies of 2.4,
2.5, 2.75, 3.0 and 3.25 GHz. The value of tuning voltage required for each frequency is obtained
from the supplied VCO calibration curve. The measured crystal detector output voltage can be
translated to microwave output power using the calibration curve for the detector.
5. Disconnect the short circuit termination and replace it with the open circuit termination, OC,
denoted by a blue spot on its casing. Repeat the reflected power measurements of part 2.

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 6. Determine the average value of the measured reflected powers for the short circuit and open circuit
loads at each frequency. This average value represents the incident power at each frequency.
7. Disconnect the open circuit and connect the microstrip matched load (ML). You will need a plug
to plug connector (PPG) to connect the matched load to the directional coupler. Measure the
reflected power at port 4 of the directional coupler for the five frequencies used in part 2.
8. Disconnect the microstrip matched load and connect a 50 ohm coaxial termination at point X.
Measure the reflected power at each of the five frequencies.
9. Disconnect the 50 ohm coaxial termination and connect the low pass filter at point X using a plug
to plug connector (PPG). Terminate the filter output with a 50 ohm coaxial termination. Measure
the reflected power at each frequency from 2.45 to 3.65 GHz in 50 MHz steps.

From your measured results, the reflection of the three components have been investigated (microstrip
matched load, coaxial matched load, low pass filter).

f GHz with SC with OC Average Microstrip 50 ohm Pr LPF Pr

SC-OC, pi ML Pr

2.5

2.75

3.0

3.25

3.5
Table 1

Table-2

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 Table-3

The practical layout of the system is shown in figure below:

Figure 2 : Practical setup for measurement investigations of reflected power

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 Review Questions:
1. What you observed in this practical? Write your comments below:

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2. What is Return Loss? and how can we measure it for any device or system?

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3. What is the relationship of return loss with reflection co-efficient and voltage standing wave ratio?

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4. How return loss may be measured utilizing a directional coupler?

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5. What is function of matched load unit in microstrip system?

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