1

For a vertical half wave dipole receiving antenna for use at 160 MHz. a) Calculate the length of the dipole required. b) A director and a reflector are added to the antenna. With the aid of diagrams where appropriate, describe the effect on the following. i) Radiation p a t t e r n . ii) Impedance matching.

(3 marks)

(7 marks) (Total marks 10)

a)

b)

Describe each of the following types of antenna feeder. i) Balanced. ii) Unbalanced. A horizontal half wave dipole is to be c o n n e c t e d to a transmitter by means of a

(3 marks)

co-axial feeder. i) Explain w h y direct connection of antenna to cable w o u l d not be desirable. ii) With the aid of a diagram, explain a m e t h o d of m a t c h i n g the dipole to the co-axial cable.

(7 marks) (Total marks 10)

With reference to long distance sky wave propagation in the 3 MHz to 30 MHz band, a) describe the structure of the ionosphere and h o w it can be used for long range propagation b) describe the causes of fading in this type of c o m m u n i c a t i o n c) describe why choice of o p t i m u m frequency varies seasonally

_ (5 marks) (2 marks) (3 marks) (Total marks 10) (2 marks) (2 marks)

a) b) c)

Explain why carrier frequency stability is i m p o r t a n t in a radio transmitter. State two features of an LC oscillator w h i c h makes it prone to frequency instability. With reference to a crystal oscillator, i) describe its operation w i t h the aid of a circuit diagram ii) explain w h y it is highly stable.

(6 marks) (Total marks 10)

With reference to transmitter m o d u l a t i o n systems, draw a labelled block diagram for a a) High Level Modulation system b) Low Level M o d u l a t i o n system. *

(5 marks) (5 marks) (Total marks 10)

a)

b)

With reference to a Tuned Radio Frequency (TRF) receiver designed for the reception of an amplitude m o d u l a t e d wave, i) sketch a labelled block diagram ii) describe its operation. For the receiver in a) describe the operation of the section responsible for i) selecting the required s i g n a l i r e q u e n c y f r o m the antenna ii) recovering the audio m o d u l a t i o n signal f r o m the received signal.

(4 marks)

(6 marks) (Total marks 10)

A superheterodyne receiver is required to operate over the frequency range 550 kHz to 1650 kHz. a) Calculate the local oscillator tuning range for an i n t e r m e d i a t e frequency of 440 kHz. b) Calculate the image or second channel frequency w h e n t h e receiver is t u n e d to 1066 kHz. c) Describe haw second channel interference is minimised.

(3 marks) (3 marks) (4 marks) (Total marks 10)

b)

With i) ii) With i) ii)

reference to Private Mobile Radio (PMR) systems, describe two services provided user groups. reference t o Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA), describe its operation state its m a i n advantage compared to non-truncked PMR systems.

(4 marks)

(6 marks) (Total marks 10)

With a) b) c) d)

reference to a typical cellular radio n e t w o r k , describe its geographical structure describe frequency re-use state the conditions which w o u l d initiate a handover describe frequency division duplex (FDD).

(3 marks) (2 marks) (3 ma-rks) (2 marks) (Total marks 10)

10

a) b)

Describe three classes of satellite orbit w i t h reference to the geometry, period and height. Describe two sources of noise which are likely to effect c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n a satellite and an earth station

(6 marks) (4 marks) (Total marks 10)