Introduction to microwave

Lecture 1
Radio frequency and microwave bands
• RF frequencies range from very high frequency 30MHz -
3GHz while the term microwave is typically used for
frequencies between 3 and 300 GHz, with a corresponding
electrical wavelength between λ = c/ f = 10 cm and λ = 1
mm,
• Microwave components often act as distributed elements,
where the phase of the voltage or current changes
significantly over the physical extent of the device because
the device dimensions are on the order of the electrical
wavelength.
• At much lower frequencies the wavelength is large enough
that there is insignificant phase variation across the
dimensions of a component.
Frequency Spectrum
 Microwave communication concepts
• microwaves are generated by magnetrons through
vibration of electrons
• LoS (Line of Sight) – is a visible straight line between the
sender and the receiver
• LoS propagation – propagation of microwaves in a straight
line free from any obstructions i.e receivers need an
unobstructed view of the sender to successfully receive
microwaves
• microwaves are ideal when large areas need to be covered
and there are no obstacles in the path
 LoS propagation

• microwaves, one generated, propagate in a straight line in

all directions
 Advantages of microwave
1. Antenna gain is proportional to the electrical
size of the antenna. At higher frequencies,
more antenna gain can be obtained for a
given physical antenna size, and this has
important consequences when implementing
microwave systems.
• F=3*10^9
• Lamda=3*10^8/3*10^9=0.1m
• size=0.1*.5=.05m

• F=3*10^7
• Lamda=3*10^8/3*10^7=10m
• size=0.1*.5=5m

• F=3*10^5
• Lamda=3*10^8/3*10^5=1000m
• size=0.1*.5=500m
 Advantages of microwave
2-More bandwidth (directly related to data rate)
can be realized at higher frequencies. A 1%
bandwidth at 600 MHz is 6 MHz, which can
provide a data rate of about 6 Mbps (megabits
per second), while at 60 GHz a 1% bandwidth
is 600 MHz, allowing a 600 Mbps data rate.
• A 1% bandwidth at 600 MHz is 6 MHz

• A 1% bandwidth while at 60 GHz 0.6G

 Advantages of microwave
3-The effective reflection area (radar cross
section) of a radar target is usually
proportional to the target’s electrical size. This
fact, coupled with the frequency
characteristics of antenna gain, generally
makes microwave frequencies preferred for
radar systems.
 Advantages of microwaves over radio waves

• because of high frequency, more data can be sent through

microwaves -> increased bandwidth, higher speeds
• because of their short wave length, microwaves use smaller
antennas
• smaller antennas produce a more focused beam which is
difficult to intercept
 Disadvantages of microwave communication

• they require no obstacle is present in the

transmission path
• the cost of implementing the communication
infrastructure is high
• microwaves are susceptible to rain, snow,
electromagnetic interference
 Microwaves applications
❑GPS (Global Positioning System)
❑carrier waves in satellite communications
❑wireless local area network
❑ communications systems as cellular communication, Bluetooth
❑wireless security systems,
❑radar systems,
❑environmental remote sensing,
❑medical systems.
Microwave applications
Applications of Microwave
Engineering