LAB NO.

2
Calibration of the microwave VCO source and crystal diode
detector

OBJECTIVES:

 Be able to use the VCO oscillator and set its frequency to a given value
within its tuning range.
 Be able to use the crystal detector for the measurement of microwave
power.

Voltage controlled oscillator (VCO)

The microwave generator supplied in the MS3000 and used as the microwave
source in all assignments is voltage tunable within its range. It incorporates a VCO
(voltage controlled oscillator).

The approximate specification of the voltage controlled oscillator, the VCO, is as

follows:

Tuning voltage – microwave frequency output data for the VCO in the MS3000 Microstrip Trainer is
provided.
Fig. gives the external connections to the VCO unit. DB9 connector mounted on the side casing is
available for the connection of the dc supply and the VCO tuning voltages. The Connections are:

The output from this oscillator unit may be either continuous wave (CW) or 1 KHz modulated
output.

A light-emitting diode, LED, indicator is used to indicate in which mode (CW or modulated) the
oscillator is operating. In the CW mode the LED indicator remains on. When switched to 1 kHz
modulation the LED flashes at a rate of approximately once every 2 seconds.

Diode Detector
The diode crystal detector, see fig 5.1.2, is used in the MS3000 Microstrip Trainer to detect (rectify)
microwave signals and measure microwave power. The crystal detector is designed to affect an
excellent match to 50 ohm lines and for CW inputs produces a dc voltage output which may be
accurately measure by a digital voltmeter and converted to power using the calibration curves
provided. The detector sensitivity is better than 0.5mV per microwatt at low power levels and is used
to measure power levels over a wide dynamic range, typically 1μW to 30mW plus.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

PROCEDURE:
 VCO FREQUENCY VCO TUNNING VOLTAGE DETECTOR VOLTAGE OUTPUT POWER

Activity Name 

Group No. 

Student Roll No. 

CL PLO Domain +
No. Criteria Awarded Score (out of 4 for each cell)
O Taxonomy

Operational Skills for MS-3000 and involved

1 5 5 P3
components

2 6 10 A3 Effectively document performed activities