RF System Performance

Torsten Wulff

Kathrein-Werke KG
Rosenheim PO Box 10 04 44 Phone:+ 49 (0)8031 184 - 0 Fax: +49 (0)8031 184 991
antennas.mobilcom@kathrein.de www.kathrein.de

Kathrein-Werke KG Rosenheim Germany www.kathrein.de Phone: +049 8031 184 - 0

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

Communication Market
Impedance VSWR Return Loss Mismatch Loss

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

Communication Market
Impedance throughout the communication market is specified with 50 Ohm []. Therefore all components and devices of the entire system need to match the impedance of 50 Ohm.

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

Impedance, what does it stand for?

Definition Impedance: The total passive opposition offered to the flow of electric current. While Impedance is determined by the particular combination of resistance, inductive reactance, and capacitive reactance in a given circuit While Impedance is a function of frequency, except in the case of purely resistive networks.

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

Impedance out of a VSWR value

Two different impedance values calculate out of a given VSWR. Fundamental impedance (Z0) refers to 50 Ohm. Upper Impedance: ZU = Z0 x VSWR Lower Impedance: ZL = Z0 / VSWR E.g.: VSWR 1.15 equals ZU = 57.5 Ohm ZL = 43.5 Ohm VSWR 1.4 equals ZU = 70 Ohm ZL = 35.7 Ohm

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

VSWR, what does it stand for?

Voltage Standing Wave Ratio ... and what does it mean?

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

 Frequency and Amplitude

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

Max.

Amplitude is the height of the wave relative to the zero line

Zero
t [sec]

1 second

Frequency describes the number of cycles within 1 second. 1 Hertz is shown within this example.

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

VSWR

U [Volt]

Positive voltage maximum

t [seconds]

Negative voltage maximum

U max VSWR ( s ) = U min

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

Loss
A generator will generate a frequency and send it to a termination.

Input signal
Generator Termination

Reflected signal

The termination may not accept the entire input power (green line), and therefore will reflect some of the input power (red line) back to the generator.

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

Loss
... some reflected power

Generator

100 % Forwarded Power

Termination

We can measure the power that is rejected from the termination, and may compare it with the power forwarded from the generator.

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

Return Loss
Return Loss
Return power is the power that cant enter the termination! It will return to the generator! The power is no longer available in the termination and is lost. It is a return loss travelling back to the source.
return loss

Generator

100 % Forwarded Power

Termination

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

Conclusion
We may state the performance of a RF device with three different words:

Impedance VSWR Return loss

But they all express the same!

Loss of power caused by the performance of a RF device

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

We name the loss of power caused by reflections as:

Mismatch Loss
The term mismatch loss describes the loss of energy (power) due to reflections at the input port to the termination. Thus the termination is NOT sufficiently matched to the source.

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

How does the mismatch loss effect our site installation?

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

VSWR and Mismatch

Antennas VSWR of antennas as internationally specified with min 1.5 A mismatch loss of 0.18 dB occurs out of this specification

Cables VSWR of cables depends on the manufacturer and is usually better than 1.1 A mismatch loss of 0.044 dB occurs out of this specification

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

Mismatch Loss
Comparison of different VSWR values
VSWR 1.5 => -14.0 dB return loss => 0.18 dB mismatch loss

4% power loss
VSWR 1.4 => -15.7 dB return loss => 0.13 dB mismatch loss

3% power loss
VSWR 1.3 => -17.7 dB return loss => 0.08 dB mismatch loss

2% power loss
VSWR 1.1 => -26.5 dB return loss => 0.04 dB mismatch loss

0.6% power loss

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002

Summary
Once a single component within the communication system is off the 50 Ohm impedance, a so named mismatch loss will occur, which will result in additional losses due to reflections. Additional losses eventually will add to cable losses, and insertion losses of particular components to degrade to overall performance.

Kathrein T. Wulff 07/2002