ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

DEP50043 – MICROWAVE DEVICE

PRACTICAL WORK ASSESSMENT
SESSION: 2 2022-2023
TITLE Microwave transmission system Frequency & wavelength measurement
PRACTICAL NUMBER 2
GROUP 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9
Puan Nor Zalina Binti Mohd Yusof

LECTURER’S NAME

TOTAL
STUDENT’S NAME REG. NUMBER
MARKS/100
S1 Heng Hui Theng 10DEP20F2014
S2 Shaallini A/P Gopalan 10DEP20F2008
S3 Yuventhiran A/L Krishnan 10DEP20F2018

Item \ Student S1 S2 S3

1. Component Selection & Identification /5 /5 /5

2. Circuit Drawing /5 /5 /5

Practical Skill 3. Equipment/meter connection /5 /5 /5

Assessment
[CLO2P] 4. Simulation of the circuit (assemble) /5 /5 /5

5.. Recording the Result /5 /5 /5

Total Practical Skill Assessment 𝒙𝟕𝟎 𝒙𝟕𝟎 𝒙𝟕𝟎

𝟐𝟓 𝟐𝟓 𝟐𝟓
1. Question & Discussion /10
Report
Assessment 2. Conclusion /5

Total Report Assessment 𝒙𝟑𝟎

𝟏𝟓
 PRACTICAL EVALUATION RUBRIC

CLO / SKILL/ MARKS TOTAL

PW ASPECTS 1 2 3 4 5 MARK
S
UNSATISFACTORY FAIR GOOD VERY GOOD EXCELLENT

unable to identify able to identify able to identify able to identify able to identify
Component and select any and select and select and select all and select all
Selection & component components components components components
Identification but with wrong with the help of correctly correctly and
value the lecturer quickly
unable to draw the able to draw able to draw all able to draw all able to draw all
circuits part of the of the circuits the circuits the circuits
Circuit circuits correctly with correctly and excellently,
Drawing correctly with the help of the independently quickly and
the help of the lecturer independently
lecturer
70% (PRACTICAL

unable to connect able to able to connect able to connect able to connect

Equipment/ equipment/ connect equipment/ equipment/ equipment/
SKILL)
CLO2

meter equipment/ meter correctly meter correctly meter excellently

meter 𝒙𝟕𝟎
meter with the and quickly
connection 𝟐𝟓
help of the
lecturer
unable to simulate able to able to simulate able to simulate able to simulate
the circuit simulate the the circuit with the circuit with the circuit with
Simulation of
circuit but with the help of the accurate result accurate result
the circuit inaccurate lecturer independently quickly and
result independently
Recording unable to record able to record able to record able to record all able to record all
The Result any intended part of the part of the intended results intended results
results intended results intended results with accurate with accurate
with inaccurate with accurate readings, graphs readings, graphs
readings, readings, graphs and waveforms and waveforms
graphs and and waveforms properly
waveforms

Discussion Refer to the questions & discussion

Write conclusion Write Able to write Able to write Able to write

not clearly and not conclusion with conclusion conclusion with conclusion with
CLO2

(REPORT)

related to practical not related to related to clearly related to clearly related to

work objective. practical work practical work practical work practical work 𝒙𝟑𝟎
𝟏𝟓
30%

Conclusion objective. objective. objective. objective. Use

good and
appropriate
language in
writing.
 COURSE DEP50043 COURSE MICROWAVE DEVICES
CODE NAME
COURSE LAB SHEET 2 TOPIC TOPIC 2 – Microwave transmission
WORK system
Frequency & wavelength measurement
OBJECTIVES : At the end of this lab sheet, student will be able to
1. Recognize components to be used by referring to given Figure. (P2)
2. Assemble components to perform frequency measurement (P3)
3. To Measure the required parameter values (P4)
EQUIPMENT : VSWR meter 1 Tunable probe
Gunn Power Supply 1 Slotted section 1
Gunn Oscillator 1 Matched Termination 1
Isolator 1 PIN Modulator 1
Frequency meter 1 Waveguide stands

THEORY:

Meter
Ampere

Attenuator
Source Wave Meter
Slotted line & Diod Termination

Figure 2.0: Basic block diagram for frequency measurement.

Figure 2.0 is diagram that shows the basic component needed to measure frequency of the signal using
Wave meter. A measurement is carried out to check and to make sure that the oscillator or source produces a
signal with a correct frequency.
Basic method used is using a meter with resonant cavity. Figure 2.1 shows two types of Wave Meter
with resonant cavity. Meter of type (a) is a meter where the value of frequency can be read directly from the
body of the cavity, whereas meter of type (b), the reading of the micrometer is converted to Hertz by using a
calibrated chart given by the manufacturer.

How to get the frequency reading:

The volume of resonant cavity is controlled by the plunger. The rotation of micrometer will adjust
the depth of the plunger (the volume of the cavity) inside the cavity. The resonant frequency of the
cavity is referring to the situation where volume of the cavity that will allow a signal to enter
the cavity and oscillate with its original frequency.
When the resonant frequency is the same as the frequency of the signal that propagate inside the
waveguide, a large amount of the signal will enter the cavity through the slot of the cavity. Thus,
only small amount of signal will continue to propagate through the waveguide and sampled by diode detector.
The reading of the meter ampere will show the drop of reading.(or DIPPING in meter ampere reading
has occurred)
The reading of the micrometer is taken when the dipping occurs to get the value of
frequency in Hertz.
 Scale

Plunger

Slot

Waveguide

(a) (b)
Figure 2.1: Resonant cavity Wave meter

High frequency signal propagates in waveguide in various propagation mode. Mode is a pattern or
configuration of electric field E and magnetic field H of a signal that propagate in waveguide. Mode used by the
signal to propagate in the waveguide is either TEm,n or TMm,n. Where;
● “m” represent the number of half wave length variation along the width of the waveguide
opening
● “n” represent the number of half wave length variation along the height of the waveguide
opening.

Figure 2.2: The end view of rectangular waveguide

Propagation of a signal inside a guide is determine by the cutoff frequency of that guide. The signal
must has a frequency larger than cutoff frequency fc in order for the signal to propagate inside the guide with
lowest attenuation.

The cut-off frequency depends on the propagation mode as well as the side of the waveguide as shown
by the following formula;

1  m 2 n 2
fc   
2  a  b 

The trainer in the lab uses transmission line of type rectangular waveguide of size a x b, and the
propagation mode TE1,0 is used by the signal to propagate inside the guide. This mode has the highest fc but
the lowest attenuation and is called dominant mode. The cut-off condition can also be represented by cut-off
wavelength, λC, and the equation for
𝑐 𝑐
𝜆 = = = 2a
𝑐 𝑓𝑐 2 2
𝑚 𝑛
2√( 𝑎 ) +(𝑏)
 The wavelength of the signal in the guide is known as guide wavelength λ g, and is
g

represented by the following formula,  d d

2 1 2 , where d1 and d2 are the distance between
two successive minima or maxima values of the standing wave inside the guide.

Therefore, the frequency of the signal produced by the source can be calculated using the following
formula, by assuming the waveguide is filled with air,
𝑐 = 𝑐√ 1 + 1
𝑓𝑜 = (𝜆 )2 (𝜆 )2
𝜆𝑜 𝑔 𝑐

, where c is the speed of light with a value of 3 x 108 m/s=3 x 1010cm/s

PROCEDURE:
1. Connect the microwave’s equipment as shown in Figure 2.2 where the frequency meter of type
(a) is used.
2. Set the variable attenuator at no attenuation position.
3. Terminate the system with the matched termination after slotted section.
4. VSWR Meter as follows:
● Range dB : 50 dB position or better position
● Input switch : Crystal low impedance (200Ω)
● Meter switch : Normal position
● Gain (Coarse & Fine) : Mid position
● SWR / dB switch : dB position

Gunn
Power
Supply Diode VSWR
Detector Meter

Gunn PIN Variable Frequency Slotted Matched

Oscillator Isolator Modulator Attenuator Meter Section Termination

Figure 2.2: Block diagram for frequency and wavelength measurement

5. Set the Control knobs of Gunn Power Supply as below.

● Meter switch : OFF
● Mod switch : INT (Internal mod. Position)
● Gunn Bias Knob : Fully anticlockwise
● Pin Bias Knob : Fully anticlockwise
● Mod Frequency Knob : Mid position
● V / I selector : V position
6. Set the micrometer of Gunn Oscillator for required frequency of operation (10 cm position).
7. Switch ON the Gunn Power Supply, VSWR meter and cooling fan.
8. Observe the Gunn diode current corresponding to the various voltages controlled by Gunn bias knob
through the LCD, don’t exceed the bias voltage above 10V.
9. Tune the probe for maximum reading in dB on SWR meter.
10. Tune the frequency meter to get a ‘dip’ (minimum reading) on SWR LCD display and note down the
frequency directly from frequency meter. (Dipping means the pointer on VSWR scale is
reflected to a certain minimum VSWR values when resonant frequency is equal to microwave
frequency). – record the answer
11. Move the tunable probe along the slotted line to get the reading in SWR meter. Move the tunable probe
to a minimum gain position. To get accurate reading, it is necessary to increase the SWR meter range
dB switch to higher position. Record the probe position (d1)
12. Move the probe to next minimum position and record the probe position again (d2).
13. Measure the waveguide inner dimension, width a and height b. (dimension ‘a’ which be around
22.86 mm for X band)
RESULT: (5 marks)

DIRECT METHOD-using wave meter:

Frequency reading from Frequency meter: 8.23 GHz (1 marks)

USING SLOTTED LINE

Minimum position, d1: 124 mm
The next minimum position, d2: 117mm
Waveguide inner dimension, a: 23 mm b: 11mm (4 marks)

QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION : (10 marks)

1. Draw the block diagram of components used in the above measurement. (1 marks)

State the function of all the blocks drawn in 2(a) (4 marks)

a) slotted section
Slotted section is basically used to measure standing wave ratio (VSWR). The precession
built probe carriage having centimeters scale with a vernier reading of 0.1mm least count
is used to measure the position of the probe.

b) VSWR meter
VSWR (voltage standing wave ratio) meter is used to measure the level of reflection that occurs in a
transmission line or waveguide. The function of a VSWR meter is to provide an indication of the degree
to which the impedance of the transmission line or waveguide is matched to the impedance of the
connected load or source.
2. Calculate, λg. (1 marks)

λ g = | d1 - d2 |
2
λg
= | 124mm - 117mm |
2
λg = | 7mm | × 2
λg = 14 mm

3. Calculate, λc. (1 marks)

λc = 2 × a
= 2 × 23
= 46 mm

4. With the calculated values in (2) & (3), determine the frequency of the signal propagate in the system
using the suitable. (3 marks)

√
fo = c
1
2
+
1
(14 mm) ( 46 mm)
2

= 3 × 108
√ 1
+
1
(14 mm) (46 mm)2
2

= 22.4 GHz

CONCLUSION: (5 marks)

State your conclusion with reference to the objectives of this practical work and obtained results.

As a conclusion for this practical work 2, we had learned to measure the required parameter values, such as
frequency, one must first recognize the necessary components by referring to the given figure, assemble them to
form a functional circuit capable of frequency measurement, and then use the circuit to measure the desired
parameter values. From the result, we get the frequency reading from frequency meter is 8.23 GHz, minimum
position, d1 is 124 mm whereas next minimum position, d2 is 117mm. After that, we get the waveguide inner
dimension, a is 23 mm and b is 11mm and the wavelength of the wave traveling through the waveguide has
been calculated as follows λg = 14 mm and λc = 46mm. Therefore, the frequency of the signal propagating
through the waveguide is approximately 22.4 GHz.