1/31/2007

VSWR

1/3

VSWR
Consider again the voltage along a terminated transmission line,
as a function of position z :

V ( z ) = V0+ e j z + L e + j z
Recall this is a complex function, the magnitude of which
expresses the magnitude of the sinusoidal signal at position z,
while the phase of the complex value represents the relative
phase of the sinusoidal signal.
Lets look at the magnitude only:
|V ( z )| = |V0+| |e j z + L e + j z |
= |V0+||e j z ||1 + L e + j 2 z |
= |V0+||1 + L e + j 2 z |

ICBST the largest value of |V (z)| occurs at the location z

where:
L e + j 2 z = L + j 0
while the smallest value of |V (z)|occurs at the location z
where:
L e + j 2 z = L + j 0

Jim Stiles

The Univ. of Kansas

Dept. of EECS

1/31/2007

VSWR

2/3

As a result we can conclude that:

V ( z ) max = V0+ (1 + L

V ( z ) min = V0+ (1 L

The ratio of V ( z ) max to V ( z ) min is known as the Voltage

Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR):

VSWR 

V ( z ) max
1 + L
=
V ( z ) min
1 L

1 VSWR

Note if L = 0 (i.e., Z L = Z 0 ), then VSWR = 1. We find for this

case:

V (z ) max = V (z ) min = V0+

In other words, the voltage magnitude is a constant with

respect to position z.
Conversely, if L = 1 (i.e., Z L = jX ), then VSWR = . We find
for this case:

V (z ) min = 0

and

V (z ) max = 2V0+

In other words, the voltage magnitude varies greatly with

respect to position z.
Jim Stiles

The Univ. of Kansas

Dept. of EECS

1/31/2007

VSWR

3/3

As with return loss, VSWR is dependent on the magnitude of L

(i.e, |L|) only !

|V(z)|

z =

|V(z)|max

|V(z)|min

Jim Stiles

The Univ. of Kansas

Dept. of EECS