homebrew VHF SWR meter
 

I have been looking at various designs of VHF SWR bridges, mainly from ARRL
sources like old QSTs and such, and I wonder if anybody here has built a
device like that.
For my experience level some of the old descriptions are just a touch to
cryptic or the design calls for parts which I can't locate (small feed thru
caps are one of those items).
I would love to discuss this with a knowledgable builder.

73 Uwe

This has been a hot topic recently! I just scanned an ARRL article
and a section of the test equipment chapter of the RSGB VHF/UHF
Handbook to send to someone else who is interested in making a
146/440MHz SWR monitor, and I just made a couple 100MHz-6GHz detectors
for someone else who is looking at monitoring SWR at 2.5GHz.

Seems to me the simple way for most folk to do it is to make a
microstrip coupler. You can use surface-mount components for the load
and detector and RF decoupling, and they'll work quite well up into
the GHz region, from my experience. As far as RF decoupling goes, you
should be able to do an adequate job on a circuit board...once the
detector turns the RF to DC, just put shunt capacitance to ground and
series inductance in the line. Pick the inductance as you would for
other VHF work: avoid inductors with self-resonances below the freq
of interest.

You probably have already seen the ARRL article I scanned, but if
you'd like the RSGB one, I could send it. But it's almost 4 megabytes
and may take you a while to download if you have a slow connection.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message ...
I have been looking at various designs of VHF SWR bridges, mainly from ARRL
sources like old QSTs and such, and I wonder if anybody here has built a
device like that.
For my experience level some of the old descriptions are just a touch to
cryptic or the design calls for parts which I can't locate (small feed thru
caps are one of those items).
I would love to discuss this with a knowledgable builder.

73 Uwe

This has been a hot topic recently! I just scanned an ARRL article
and a section of the test equipment chapter of the RSGB VHF/UHF
Handbook to send to someone else who is interested in making a
146/440MHz SWR monitor, and I just made a couple 100MHz-6GHz detectors
for someone else who is looking at monitoring SWR at 2.5GHz.

Seems to me the simple way for most folk to do it is to make a
microstrip coupler. You can use surface-mount components for the load
and detector and RF decoupling, and they'll work quite well up into
the GHz region, from my experience. As far as RF decoupling goes, you
should be able to do an adequate job on a circuit board...once the
detector turns the RF to DC, just put shunt capacitance to ground and
series inductance in the line. Pick the inductance as you would for
other VHF work: avoid inductors with self-resonances below the freq
of interest.

You probably have already seen the ARRL article I scanned, but if
you'd like the RSGB one, I could send it. But it's almost 4 megabytes
and may take you a while to download if you have a slow connection.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message ...
I have been looking at various designs of VHF SWR bridges, mainly from ARRL
sources like old QSTs and such, and I wonder if anybody here has built a
device like that.
For my experience level some of the old descriptions are just a touch to
cryptic or the design calls for parts which I can't locate (small feed thru
caps are one of those items).
I would love to discuss this with a knowledgable builder.

73 Uwe

what is your top frequency you wish to use and what power levels??

you can make an swr meter good for 200w or so up to 70cms using pcb and a
very simple detector crt..
SM0VPO homepage has details..or look in rsgb vhf/uhf dx handbook..that has
microstrip (pcb) and torroid ring style bridges..they both work as i have
made many now...

g0zen
"Tom Bruhns" wrote in message
m...
This has been a hot topic recently! I just scanned an ARRL article
and a section of the test equipment chapter of the RSGB VHF/UHF
Handbook to send to someone else who is interested in making a
146/440MHz SWR monitor, and I just made a couple 100MHz-6GHz detectors
for someone else who is looking at monitoring SWR at 2.5GHz.

Seems to me the simple way for most folk to do it is to make a
microstrip coupler. You can use surface-mount components for the load
and detector and RF decoupling, and they'll work quite well up into
the GHz region, from my experience. As far as RF decoupling goes, you
should be able to do an adequate job on a circuit board...once the
detector turns the RF to DC, just put shunt capacitance to ground and
series inductance in the line. Pick the inductance as you would for
other VHF work: avoid inductors with self-resonances below the freq
of interest.

You probably have already seen the ARRL article I scanned, but if
you'd like the RSGB one, I could send it. But it's almost 4 megabytes
and may take you a while to download if you have a slow connection.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message
...
I have been looking at various designs of VHF SWR bridges, mainly from
ARRL
sources like old QSTs and such, and I wonder if anybody here has built a
device like that.
For my experience level some of the old descriptions are just a touch to
cryptic or the design calls for parts which I can't locate (small feed
thru
caps are one of those items).
I would love to discuss this with a knowledgable builder.

73 Uwe

what is your top frequency you wish to use and what power levels??

you can make an swr meter good for 200w or so up to 70cms using pcb and a
very simple detector crt..
SM0VPO homepage has details..or look in rsgb vhf/uhf dx handbook..that has
microstrip (pcb) and torroid ring style bridges..they both work as i have
made many now...

g0zen
"Tom Bruhns" wrote in message
m...
This has been a hot topic recently! I just scanned an ARRL article
and a section of the test equipment chapter of the RSGB VHF/UHF
Handbook to send to someone else who is interested in making a
146/440MHz SWR monitor, and I just made a couple 100MHz-6GHz detectors
for someone else who is looking at monitoring SWR at 2.5GHz.

Seems to me the simple way for most folk to do it is to make a
microstrip coupler. You can use surface-mount components for the load
and detector and RF decoupling, and they'll work quite well up into
the GHz region, from my experience. As far as RF decoupling goes, you
should be able to do an adequate job on a circuit board...once the
detector turns the RF to DC, just put shunt capacitance to ground and
series inductance in the line. Pick the inductance as you would for
other VHF work: avoid inductors with self-resonances below the freq
of interest.

You probably have already seen the ARRL article I scanned, but if
you'd like the RSGB one, I could send it. But it's almost 4 megabytes
and may take you a while to download if you have a slow connection.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message
...
I have been looking at various designs of VHF SWR bridges, mainly from
ARRL
sources like old QSTs and such, and I wonder if anybody here has built a
device like that.
For my experience level some of the old descriptions are just a touch to
cryptic or the design calls for parts which I can't locate (small feed
thru
caps are one of those items).
I would love to discuss this with a knowledgable builder.

73 Uwe

Hi Tom,

No, I don't know the article you mentioned.
I just got the ARRL Antenna Book and there is a plan for a directional
coupler using some plumbing hardware and I could see myself building that,
but again there are some issues about available parts (thru feed caps in
particular).
From my (limited) understanding these couplers would be the aquivalent of
the "plugs" used in meters like the Bird 43 or the URM120.

But I am not sold on this design and would certainly want to look at the
article you mentioned. And yes, I do have a slow phone connection, but if
you are willing I would appreciate if you could send the article as an
attachment.

Now the microstrip coupler you mention, is that what people also call a
monimatch? What are the advantages of one design over another?

regards Uwe



in article , Tom Bruhns at
wrote on 2/8/04 8:47 PM:

This has been a hot topic recently! I just scanned an ARRL article
and a section of the test equipment chapter of the RSGB VHF/UHF
Handbook to send to someone else who is interested in making a
146/440MHz SWR monitor, and I just made a couple 100MHz-6GHz detectors
for someone else who is looking at monitoring SWR at 2.5GHz.

Seems to me the simple way for most folk to do it is to make a
microstrip coupler. You can use surface-mount components for the load
and detector and RF decoupling, and they'll work quite well up into
the GHz region, from my experience. As far as RF decoupling goes, you
should be able to do an adequate job on a circuit board...once the
detector turns the RF to DC, just put shunt capacitance to ground and
series inductance in the line. Pick the inductance as you would for
other VHF work: avoid inductors with self-resonances below the freq
of interest.

You probably have already seen the ARRL article I scanned, but if
you'd like the RSGB one, I could send it. But it's almost 4 megabytes
and may take you a while to download if you have a slow connection.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message
...
I have been looking at various designs of VHF SWR bridges, mainly from ARRL
sources like old QSTs and such, and I wonder if anybody here has built a
device like that.
For my experience level some of the old descriptions are just a touch to
cryptic or the design calls for parts which I can't locate (small feed thru
caps are one of those items).
I would love to discuss this with a knowledgable builder.

73 Uwe

Hi Tom,

No, I don't know the article you mentioned.
I just got the ARRL Antenna Book and there is a plan for a directional
coupler using some plumbing hardware and I could see myself building that,
but again there are some issues about available parts (thru feed caps in
particular).
From my (limited) understanding these couplers would be the aquivalent of
the "plugs" used in meters like the Bird 43 or the URM120.

But I am not sold on this design and would certainly want to look at the
article you mentioned. And yes, I do have a slow phone connection, but if
you are willing I would appreciate if you could send the article as an
attachment.

Now the microstrip coupler you mention, is that what people also call a
monimatch? What are the advantages of one design over another?

regards Uwe



in article , Tom Bruhns at
wrote on 2/8/04 8:47 PM:

This has been a hot topic recently! I just scanned an ARRL article
and a section of the test equipment chapter of the RSGB VHF/UHF
Handbook to send to someone else who is interested in making a
146/440MHz SWR monitor, and I just made a couple 100MHz-6GHz detectors
for someone else who is looking at monitoring SWR at 2.5GHz.

Seems to me the simple way for most folk to do it is to make a
microstrip coupler. You can use surface-mount components for the load
and detector and RF decoupling, and they'll work quite well up into
the GHz region, from my experience. As far as RF decoupling goes, you
should be able to do an adequate job on a circuit board...once the
detector turns the RF to DC, just put shunt capacitance to ground and
series inductance in the line. Pick the inductance as you would for
other VHF work: avoid inductors with self-resonances below the freq
of interest.

You probably have already seen the ARRL article I scanned, but if
you'd like the RSGB one, I could send it. But it's almost 4 megabytes
and may take you a while to download if you have a slow connection.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message
...
I have been looking at various designs of VHF SWR bridges, mainly from ARRL
sources like old QSTs and such, and I wonder if anybody here has built a
device like that.
For my experience level some of the old descriptions are just a touch to
cryptic or the design calls for parts which I can't locate (small feed thru
caps are one of those items).
I would love to discuss this with a knowledgable builder.

73 Uwe

I need the unit for 2 m up to maybe 50 to 100 W power.

regards Uwe





in article , zindazenda at
wrote on 2/8/04 9:38 PM:

what is your top frequency you wish to use and what power levels??

you can make an swr meter good for 200w or so up to 70cms using pcb and a
very simple detector crt..
SM0VPO homepage has details..or look in rsgb vhf/uhf dx handbook..that has
microstrip (pcb) and torroid ring style bridges..they both work as i have
made many now...

g0zen
"Tom Bruhns" wrote in message
m...
This has been a hot topic recently! I just scanned an ARRL article
and a section of the test equipment chapter of the RSGB VHF/UHF
Handbook to send to someone else who is interested in making a
146/440MHz SWR monitor, and I just made a couple 100MHz-6GHz detectors
for someone else who is looking at monitoring SWR at 2.5GHz.

Seems to me the simple way for most folk to do it is to make a
microstrip coupler. You can use surface-mount components for the load
and detector and RF decoupling, and they'll work quite well up into
the GHz region, from my experience. As far as RF decoupling goes, you
should be able to do an adequate job on a circuit board...once the
detector turns the RF to DC, just put shunt capacitance to ground and
series inductance in the line. Pick the inductance as you would for
other VHF work: avoid inductors with self-resonances below the freq
of interest.

You probably have already seen the ARRL article I scanned, but if
you'd like the RSGB one, I could send it. But it's almost 4 megabytes
and may take you a while to download if you have a slow connection.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message
...
I have been looking at various designs of VHF SWR bridges, mainly from
ARRL
sources like old QSTs and such, and I wonder if anybody here has built a
device like that.
For my experience level some of the old descriptions are just a touch to
cryptic or the design calls for parts which I can't locate (small feed
thru
caps are one of those items).
I would love to discuss this with a knowledgable builder.

73 Uwe

I need the unit for 2 m up to maybe 50 to 100 W power.

regards Uwe





in article , zindazenda at
wrote on 2/8/04 9:38 PM:

what is your top frequency you wish to use and what power levels??

you can make an swr meter good for 200w or so up to 70cms using pcb and a
very simple detector crt..
SM0VPO homepage has details..or look in rsgb vhf/uhf dx handbook..that has
microstrip (pcb) and torroid ring style bridges..they both work as i have
made many now...

g0zen
"Tom Bruhns" wrote in message
m...
This has been a hot topic recently! I just scanned an ARRL article
and a section of the test equipment chapter of the RSGB VHF/UHF
Handbook to send to someone else who is interested in making a
146/440MHz SWR monitor, and I just made a couple 100MHz-6GHz detectors
for someone else who is looking at monitoring SWR at 2.5GHz.

Seems to me the simple way for most folk to do it is to make a
microstrip coupler. You can use surface-mount components for the load
and detector and RF decoupling, and they'll work quite well up into
the GHz region, from my experience. As far as RF decoupling goes, you
should be able to do an adequate job on a circuit board...once the
detector turns the RF to DC, just put shunt capacitance to ground and
series inductance in the line. Pick the inductance as you would for
other VHF work: avoid inductors with self-resonances below the freq
of interest.

You probably have already seen the ARRL article I scanned, but if
you'd like the RSGB one, I could send it. But it's almost 4 megabytes
and may take you a while to download if you have a slow connection.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message
...
I have been looking at various designs of VHF SWR bridges, mainly from
ARRL
sources like old QSTs and such, and I wonder if anybody here has built a
device like that.
For my experience level some of the old descriptions are just a touch to
cryptic or the design calls for parts which I can't locate (small feed
thru
caps are one of those items).
I would love to discuss this with a knowledgable builder.

73 Uwe

Hi Uwe,

I'll try to remember to send the scan from home tonight. It is just
under 4 megabytes, so it will take a while to download, but it is ten
pages from the RSGB book, which seems to explain things better than
the ARRL article you have (which is the one I also scanned,
separately). The RSGB pages I scanned includes I think four different
designs, maybe five, as well as some elemental theory.

Yes, I think the Monimatch uses coupled transmission lines, which is
what a microstrip (or stripline) coupler is. The microstrip version
is (generally) a piece of printed circuit board with a ground plane
(uninterrupted copper foil) on one side, and a straight trace on the
other side, which is the "through" line, with another trace parallel
to the first trace and a small distance away, which is the "coupled"
line. You terminate the coupled line at one end (to avoid
reflections), and put a detector at the other end, usually just a
diode detector for SWR monitoring. That tells you the power in one
direction. Then for convenience, you can put an identical coupled
line on the other side of the through-line, and terminate it at the
opposite end compared with the first coupled line, and put a detector
on it at the other end, and that monitors the power in the other
direction. So you get two DC outputs, one for "forward" power and one
for "reverse" power. One important point that is usually
glossed-over, is that diode detectors will respond with an output
voltage proportional to the input RF voltage above some level, but
with an output voltage proportional to the input RF _power_ at lower
levels. You should design the coupling to operate in one or the other
of those regions, if you want to more easily make quantitative sense
of the readings. (An even better way to do it would be to have a
calibrated step attenuator between the "forward" coupled line and the
forward detector, and then adjust the attenuator for equal outputs
from the two diode detectors. Then the attenuator setting tells you
the load's return loss, from which you can find the SWR if you wish.)
It's also possible to use phase-sensitive detectors and get the
complex load impedance...that's essentially what an S-parameter
network analyzer does.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message ...
Hi Tom,

No, I don't know the article you mentioned.
I just got the ARRL Antenna Book and there is a plan for a directional
coupler using some plumbing hardware and I could see myself building that,
but again there are some issues about available parts (thru feed caps in
particular).
From my (limited) understanding these couplers would be the aquivalent of
the "plugs" used in meters like the Bird 43 or the URM120.

But I am not sold on this design and would certainly want to look at the
article you mentioned. And yes, I do have a slow phone connection, but if
you are willing I would appreciate if you could send the article as an
attachment.

Now the microstrip coupler you mention, is that what people also call a
monimatch? What are the advantages of one design over another?

regards Uwe



in article , Tom Bruhns at
wrote on 2/8/04 8:47 PM:

This has been a hot topic recently! I just scanned an ARRL article
and a section of the test equipment chapter of the RSGB VHF/UHF
Handbook to send to someone else who is interested in making a
146/440MHz SWR monitor, and I just made a couple 100MHz-6GHz detectors
for someone else who is looking at monitoring SWR at 2.5GHz.

Seems to me the simple way for most folk to do it is to make a
microstrip coupler. You can use surface-mount components for the load
and detector and RF decoupling, and they'll work quite well up into
the GHz region, from my experience. As far as RF decoupling goes, you
should be able to do an adequate job on a circuit board...once the
detector turns the RF to DC, just put shunt capacitance to ground and
series inductance in the line. Pick the inductance as you would for
other VHF work: avoid inductors with self-resonances below the freq
of interest.

You probably have already seen the ARRL article I scanned, but if
you'd like the RSGB one, I could send it. But it's almost 4 megabytes
and may take you a while to download if you have a slow connection.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message
...
I have been looking at various designs of VHF SWR bridges, mainly from ARRL
sources like old QSTs and such, and I wonder if anybody here has built a
device like that.
For my experience level some of the old descriptions are just a touch to
cryptic or the design calls for parts which I can't locate (small feed thru
caps are one of those items).
I would love to discuss this with a knowledgable builder.

73 Uwe

Hi Uwe,

I'll try to remember to send the scan from home tonight. It is just
under 4 megabytes, so it will take a while to download, but it is ten
pages from the RSGB book, which seems to explain things better than
the ARRL article you have (which is the one I also scanned,
separately). The RSGB pages I scanned includes I think four different
designs, maybe five, as well as some elemental theory.

Yes, I think the Monimatch uses coupled transmission lines, which is
what a microstrip (or stripline) coupler is. The microstrip version
is (generally) a piece of printed circuit board with a ground plane
(uninterrupted copper foil) on one side, and a straight trace on the
other side, which is the "through" line, with another trace parallel
to the first trace and a small distance away, which is the "coupled"
line. You terminate the coupled line at one end (to avoid
reflections), and put a detector at the other end, usually just a
diode detector for SWR monitoring. That tells you the power in one
direction. Then for convenience, you can put an identical coupled
line on the other side of the through-line, and terminate it at the
opposite end compared with the first coupled line, and put a detector
on it at the other end, and that monitors the power in the other
direction. So you get two DC outputs, one for "forward" power and one
for "reverse" power. One important point that is usually
glossed-over, is that diode detectors will respond with an output
voltage proportional to the input RF voltage above some level, but
with an output voltage proportional to the input RF _power_ at lower
levels. You should design the coupling to operate in one or the other
of those regions, if you want to more easily make quantitative sense
of the readings. (An even better way to do it would be to have a
calibrated step attenuator between the "forward" coupled line and the
forward detector, and then adjust the attenuator for equal outputs
from the two diode detectors. Then the attenuator setting tells you
the load's return loss, from which you can find the SWR if you wish.)
It's also possible to use phase-sensitive detectors and get the
complex load impedance...that's essentially what an S-parameter
network analyzer does.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message ...
Hi Tom,

No, I don't know the article you mentioned.
I just got the ARRL Antenna Book and there is a plan for a directional
coupler using some plumbing hardware and I could see myself building that,
but again there are some issues about available parts (thru feed caps in
particular).
From my (limited) understanding these couplers would be the aquivalent of
the "plugs" used in meters like the Bird 43 or the URM120.

But I am not sold on this design and would certainly want to look at the
article you mentioned. And yes, I do have a slow phone connection, but if
you are willing I would appreciate if you could send the article as an
attachment.

Now the microstrip coupler you mention, is that what people also call a
monimatch? What are the advantages of one design over another?

regards Uwe



in article , Tom Bruhns at
wrote on 2/8/04 8:47 PM:

This has been a hot topic recently! I just scanned an ARRL article
and a section of the test equipment chapter of the RSGB VHF/UHF
Handbook to send to someone else who is interested in making a
146/440MHz SWR monitor, and I just made a couple 100MHz-6GHz detectors
for someone else who is looking at monitoring SWR at 2.5GHz.

Seems to me the simple way for most folk to do it is to make a
microstrip coupler. You can use surface-mount components for the load
and detector and RF decoupling, and they'll work quite well up into
the GHz region, from my experience. As far as RF decoupling goes, you
should be able to do an adequate job on a circuit board...once the
detector turns the RF to DC, just put shunt capacitance to ground and
series inductance in the line. Pick the inductance as you would for
other VHF work: avoid inductors with self-resonances below the freq
of interest.

You probably have already seen the ARRL article I scanned, but if
you'd like the RSGB one, I could send it. But it's almost 4 megabytes
and may take you a while to download if you have a slow connection.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message
...
I have been looking at various designs of VHF SWR bridges, mainly from ARRL
sources like old QSTs and such, and I wonder if anybody here has built a
device like that.
For my experience level some of the old descriptions are just a touch to
cryptic or the design calls for parts which I can't locate (small feed thru
caps are one of those items).
I would love to discuss this with a knowledgable builder.

73 Uwe

In article , Uwe Langmesser
writes:

Now the microstrip coupler you mention, is that what people also call a
monimatch? What are the advantages of one design over another?

You might think of microstrip or stripline as "hammered flat coax." :-)

It is just a transmission line on a PCB, the characteristic impedance
dependent on trace line width, thickness of the foil, dielectric constant
of the PCB material and, to some extent, the thickness of the PCB.

Directional couplers are simply a quarter wavelength of transmission
line (coax or microstrip or stripline) that runs parallel to the main line
connecting to the antenna. The amount of coupling is dependent on
the spacing between the two lines. Their bandwidth is typically an
octave of frequency.

Typical directional coupler coupling is 20 db down from the main line.
Power is coupled mainly in one direction, from the main line to the
end closest to the coupled line's immediate end. Some power will be
coupled into that end coming in the opposite direction but that is
usually 15 to 25 db farther down. While not perfect, directional
coupling differences of about 20 db are good enough to warrant the
name "directional." Those are very common in microwave work and
from about 400 MHz and up in frequency to around 8 GHz; a quarter
wavelength at 400 MHz gets a bit long. At 20 db coupling, the load
on the coupled line can vary quite a bit without affecting the main
line. Reflections from the load can be accurately compared with
coupled energy from the source; if coupling is measured accurately
in both directions, the VSWR can be computed from amplitude
differences. If the coupled line ends have a way to measure both
amplitude and phase, the complex impedance of the load can be
computed accurately in comparison to the coupled source.

I've built directional couplers at about 1 GHz center frequency but
admit cribbing from older published data on impedances and spacings
from microwave literature. Had a somewhat stiff specification on
coupling which required a few passes at different etch masks for a
large stripline assembly of many things. Not again if I can help it. :-)

Len Anderson
retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person

In article , Uwe Langmesser
writes:

Now the microstrip coupler you mention, is that what people also call a
monimatch? What are the advantages of one design over another?

You might think of microstrip or stripline as "hammered flat coax." :-)

It is just a transmission line on a PCB, the characteristic impedance
dependent on trace line width, thickness of the foil, dielectric constant
of the PCB material and, to some extent, the thickness of the PCB.

Directional couplers are simply a quarter wavelength of transmission
line (coax or microstrip or stripline) that runs parallel to the main line
connecting to the antenna. The amount of coupling is dependent on
the spacing between the two lines. Their bandwidth is typically an
octave of frequency.

Typical directional coupler coupling is 20 db down from the main line.
Power is coupled mainly in one direction, from the main line to the
end closest to the coupled line's immediate end. Some power will be
coupled into that end coming in the opposite direction but that is
usually 15 to 25 db farther down. While not perfect, directional
coupling differences of about 20 db are good enough to warrant the
name "directional." Those are very common in microwave work and
from about 400 MHz and up in frequency to around 8 GHz; a quarter
wavelength at 400 MHz gets a bit long. At 20 db coupling, the load
on the coupled line can vary quite a bit without affecting the main
line. Reflections from the load can be accurately compared with
coupled energy from the source; if coupling is measured accurately
in both directions, the VSWR can be computed from amplitude
differences. If the coupled line ends have a way to measure both
amplitude and phase, the complex impedance of the load can be
computed accurately in comparison to the coupled source.

I've built directional couplers at about 1 GHz center frequency but
admit cribbing from older published data on impedances and spacings
from microwave literature. Had a somewhat stiff specification on
coupling which required a few passes at different etch masks for a
large stripline assembly of many things. Not again if I can help it. :-)

Len Anderson
retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person

\\\ Sheesh! long post alert\\\

Hopefully not unnecessary refinements to Len's comments....



"Avery Fineman" wrote in message
...

In article , Uwe Langmesser
writes: WITH SNIPS HER & THERE...
Now the microstrip coupler you mention, is that what people also call a
monimatch? What are the advantages of one design over another?



I believe this is correct. It's been a long time, but I should look at
an old handbook to make sure I'm thinking of the right thing. I'm
thinkin' of the version where you "snake" another wire under the shield of a
piece of coax for the pickup.



Side bar: I have one of the first directional power meters, the Micro
match. It uses a resistor, yes, resistor, for the current sense rather than
the now common current transformer toroid. circa 1945 -50.





You might think of microstrip or stripline as "hammered flat coax."
:-)

The accepted terminology is "Stripline" (think "strip transmission
line") for the line with two flat ground planes on either side of the
"center conductor" which can be thought of as this flattened coax....and
"micro strip" ( I have no memory aid) for the one that is one-sided where
the "center conductor" is on the top of a PCB with a ground plane on the
bottom..




It is just a transmission line on a PCB, the characteristic impedance
dependent on trace line width, thickness of the foil, dielectric
constant
of the PCB material and, to some extent, the thickness of the PCB.

I think the PCB material (thickness & properties) has a larger
contribution to the Zo that the runner thickness...at least at the freqs I
worked at (1GHz.). Good ole' Wheeler & Sobol equations for the Zo.


Directional couplers are simply a quarter wavelength of transmission
line (coax or microstrip or stripline) that runs parallel to the main
line
connecting to the antenna.

I believe a 1/4 wave is not important here. The coupled line can do this
without such a long line. As in the coveted Bird wattmeter "slug", which
has a very short coupled line inside. For understanding just think that
when you put two "center conductors" into a coax, some power will be coupled
over to the second one from the first & visa versa. The physical
construction determines how much. I will call this added line the
"secondary" one.

A bit of the power on the main line gets sent to the coupled (Secondary)
line, but it emerges in the opposite direction--this is the "correct" end
referred to below.

So you have four connectors. Two for the main line and two for the
secondary line.


Typical directional coupler coupling is 20 db down from the main line.



This is a matter of choice by the manufacturer construction. What this
means is that the power coming out the (correct end of the) secondary line
is 20dB down (1/100 th) from the power on the main line.




While not perfect, directional
coupling differences of about 20 db are good enough to warrant the
name "directional."



This is a matter of primarily the mechanical design. The "directivity"
refers to the amount of power that gets coupled to the secondary line that
emerges out the "wrong" end--not the one we want. High or good directivity
= little coming out the wrong spigot. With 20dB of directivity, the power
emerging from the _wrong_ end of the secondary line is _another_ 20dB below
that merging out the correct end of the secondary line. So it is 40 dB down
from the main line power. And don't forget conservation of energy. All
this "coupled" power is stolen from the main line.



They both should have a nice (50 ohm) impedance and be loaded with 50
ohms as well. The better it is constructed, the less energy is coupled onto
the coupled-line in the wrong direction. If done well, the directivity is
highest. [The secondary line can have other than 50 ohms, but common use
requires it] For the Moni-Match (snaked type) the secondary lines could be
some weird Zo and all is well if it is matched pretty well.

Snaking the extra wire into a coax is crude. I don't know what the Zo
would be, but it works ok as long as the coupled power has reasonable
directivity. Remember, the better the SWR using one of these, the worse the
accuracy, for this reason. The power coming out the wrong end of the
secondary line corrupts (adds to) the reflected power you are trying to
measure.



By the way, you can pump power into the secondary line and have some come
out the mainline as well. This is actually done for special uses.



Len Anderson
retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person



Regards, Steve a not-so-retired person-type...Whew!
--
Steve N, K,9;d, c. i My email has no u's. Why do I do this?!?!?

\\\ Sheesh! long post alert\\\

Hopefully not unnecessary refinements to Len's comments....



"Avery Fineman" wrote in message
...

In article , Uwe Langmesser
writes: WITH SNIPS HER & THERE...
Now the microstrip coupler you mention, is that what people also call a
monimatch? What are the advantages of one design over another?



I believe this is correct. It's been a long time, but I should look at
an old handbook to make sure I'm thinking of the right thing. I'm
thinkin' of the version where you "snake" another wire under the shield of a
piece of coax for the pickup.



Side bar: I have one of the first directional power meters, the Micro
match. It uses a resistor, yes, resistor, for the current sense rather than
the now common current transformer toroid. circa 1945 -50.





You might think of microstrip or stripline as "hammered flat coax."
:-)

The accepted terminology is "Stripline" (think "strip transmission
line") for the line with two flat ground planes on either side of the
"center conductor" which can be thought of as this flattened coax....and
"micro strip" ( I have no memory aid) for the one that is one-sided where
the "center conductor" is on the top of a PCB with a ground plane on the
bottom..




It is just a transmission line on a PCB, the characteristic impedance
dependent on trace line width, thickness of the foil, dielectric
constant
of the PCB material and, to some extent, the thickness of the PCB.

I think the PCB material (thickness & properties) has a larger
contribution to the Zo that the runner thickness...at least at the freqs I
worked at (1GHz.). Good ole' Wheeler & Sobol equations for the Zo.


Directional couplers are simply a quarter wavelength of transmission
line (coax or microstrip or stripline) that runs parallel to the main
line
connecting to the antenna.

I believe a 1/4 wave is not important here. The coupled line can do this
without such a long line. As in the coveted Bird wattmeter "slug", which
has a very short coupled line inside. For understanding just think that
when you put two "center conductors" into a coax, some power will be coupled
over to the second one from the first & visa versa. The physical
construction determines how much. I will call this added line the
"secondary" one.

A bit of the power on the main line gets sent to the coupled (Secondary)
line, but it emerges in the opposite direction--this is the "correct" end
referred to below.

So you have four connectors. Two for the main line and two for the
secondary line.


Typical directional coupler coupling is 20 db down from the main line.



This is a matter of choice by the manufacturer construction. What this
means is that the power coming out the (correct end of the) secondary line
is 20dB down (1/100 th) from the power on the main line.




While not perfect, directional
coupling differences of about 20 db are good enough to warrant the
name "directional."



This is a matter of primarily the mechanical design. The "directivity"
refers to the amount of power that gets coupled to the secondary line that
emerges out the "wrong" end--not the one we want. High or good directivity
= little coming out the wrong spigot. With 20dB of directivity, the power
emerging from the _wrong_ end of the secondary line is _another_ 20dB below
that merging out the correct end of the secondary line. So it is 40 dB down
from the main line power. And don't forget conservation of energy. All
this "coupled" power is stolen from the main line.



They both should have a nice (50 ohm) impedance and be loaded with 50
ohms as well. The better it is constructed, the less energy is coupled onto
the coupled-line in the wrong direction. If done well, the directivity is
highest. [The secondary line can have other than 50 ohms, but common use
requires it] For the Moni-Match (snaked type) the secondary lines could be
some weird Zo and all is well if it is matched pretty well.

Snaking the extra wire into a coax is crude. I don't know what the Zo
would be, but it works ok as long as the coupled power has reasonable
directivity. Remember, the better the SWR using one of these, the worse the
accuracy, for this reason. The power coming out the wrong end of the
secondary line corrupts (adds to) the reflected power you are trying to
measure.



By the way, you can pump power into the secondary line and have some come
out the mainline as well. This is actually done for special uses.



Len Anderson
retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person



Regards, Steve a not-so-retired person-type...Whew!
--
Steve N, K,9;d, c. i My email has no u's. Why do I do this?!?!?

50-100w at 2m....look at harry's site...sm0vpo...harry's homebrew..

there is a design there that will do you fine..even has the pcb design for
you..it works fine..i have tried it..you can make the pcb smaller if you
wish.i have used it no problems with 200w at 2m...50r line is 2.8mm with
1/16inch fibreglass pcb, so you can design your own..its not critical how
far the sense lines are away from the50r through line,( if you are just
after swr bridge) just remember to terminate each (oposite end ) with 100r
resistor..i have even hand drawn the board and it works fine too....any old
diode works too..i can here the keypads typing away saying you must use this
diode or that diode, but really use what you have..0a91's will be more
sensitive than 1n4001's but who cares at 100w???

if you are after a acturate piece of test equipment then ignore all
above..but for working easy to build, cheap, swr meter then you can not go
wrong.

n.b. see vhf/uhf dx handbook (rsgb) for similar more accurate (in power
terms atleast) swr bridges..

g0zen.
"Avery Fineman" wrote in message
...
In article , Uwe Langmesser
writes:

Now the microstrip coupler you mention, is that what people also call a
monimatch? What are the advantages of one design over another?

You might think of microstrip or stripline as "hammered flat coax."
:-)

It is just a transmission line on a PCB, the characteristic impedance
dependent on trace line width, thickness of the foil, dielectric
constant
of the PCB material and, to some extent, the thickness of the PCB.

Directional couplers are simply a quarter wavelength of transmission
line (coax or microstrip or stripline) that runs parallel to the main
line
connecting to the antenna. The amount of coupling is dependent on
the spacing between the two lines. Their bandwidth is typically an
octave of frequency.

Typical directional coupler coupling is 20 db down from the main line.
Power is coupled mainly in one direction, from the main line to the
end closest to the coupled line's immediate end. Some power will be
coupled into that end coming in the opposite direction but that is
usually 15 to 25 db farther down. While not perfect, directional
coupling differences of about 20 db are good enough to warrant the
name "directional." Those are very common in microwave work and
from about 400 MHz and up in frequency to around 8 GHz; a quarter
wavelength at 400 MHz gets a bit long. At 20 db coupling, the load
on the coupled line can vary quite a bit without affecting the main
line. Reflections from the load can be accurately compared with
coupled energy from the source; if coupling is measured accurately
in both directions, the VSWR can be computed from amplitude
differences. If the coupled line ends have a way to measure both
amplitude and phase, the complex impedance of the load can be
computed accurately in comparison to the coupled source.

I've built directional couplers at about 1 GHz center frequency but
admit cribbing from older published data on impedances and spacings
from microwave literature. Had a somewhat stiff specification on
coupling which required a few passes at different etch masks for a
large stripline assembly of many things. Not again if I can help it.
:-)

Len Anderson
retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person

50-100w at 2m....look at harry's site...sm0vpo...harry's homebrew..

there is a design there that will do you fine..even has the pcb design for
you..it works fine..i have tried it..you can make the pcb smaller if you
wish.i have used it no problems with 200w at 2m...50r line is 2.8mm with
1/16inch fibreglass pcb, so you can design your own..its not critical how
far the sense lines are away from the50r through line,( if you are just
after swr bridge) just remember to terminate each (oposite end ) with 100r
resistor..i have even hand drawn the board and it works fine too....any old
diode works too..i can here the keypads typing away saying you must use this
diode or that diode, but really use what you have..0a91's will be more
sensitive than 1n4001's but who cares at 100w???

if you are after a acturate piece of test equipment then ignore all
above..but for working easy to build, cheap, swr meter then you can not go
wrong.

n.b. see vhf/uhf dx handbook (rsgb) for similar more accurate (in power
terms atleast) swr bridges..

g0zen.
"Avery Fineman" wrote in message
...
In article , Uwe Langmesser
writes:

Now the microstrip coupler you mention, is that what people also call a
monimatch? What are the advantages of one design over another?

You might think of microstrip or stripline as "hammered flat coax."
:-)

It is just a transmission line on a PCB, the characteristic impedance
dependent on trace line width, thickness of the foil, dielectric
constant
of the PCB material and, to some extent, the thickness of the PCB.

Directional couplers are simply a quarter wavelength of transmission
line (coax or microstrip or stripline) that runs parallel to the main
line
connecting to the antenna. The amount of coupling is dependent on
the spacing between the two lines. Their bandwidth is typically an
octave of frequency.

Typical directional coupler coupling is 20 db down from the main line.
Power is coupled mainly in one direction, from the main line to the
end closest to the coupled line's immediate end. Some power will be
coupled into that end coming in the opposite direction but that is
usually 15 to 25 db farther down. While not perfect, directional
coupling differences of about 20 db are good enough to warrant the
name "directional." Those are very common in microwave work and
from about 400 MHz and up in frequency to around 8 GHz; a quarter
wavelength at 400 MHz gets a bit long. At 20 db coupling, the load
on the coupled line can vary quite a bit without affecting the main
line. Reflections from the load can be accurately compared with
coupled energy from the source; if coupling is measured accurately
in both directions, the VSWR can be computed from amplitude
differences. If the coupled line ends have a way to measure both
amplitude and phase, the complex impedance of the load can be
computed accurately in comparison to the coupled source.

I've built directional couplers at about 1 GHz center frequency but
admit cribbing from older published data on impedances and spacings
from microwave literature. Had a somewhat stiff specification on
coupling which required a few passes at different etch masks for a
large stripline assembly of many things. Not again if I can help it.
:-)

Len Anderson
retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person

In article , "Steve Nosko"
writes:

some snipping of a good post to avoid undue long length...

The accepted terminology is "Stripline" (think "strip transmission
line") for the line with two flat ground planes on either side of the
"center conductor" which can be thought of as this flattened coax....and
"micro strip" ( I have no memory aid) for the one that is one-sided where
the "center conductor" is on the top of a PCB with a ground plane on the
bottom..

That's quite probably true. Textbooks have the "correct" description
but some in the RF field get over-wrought about terminology and
techno-propriety. :-)

Either type of physical construction makes a TEM (Transverse
ElectroMagnetic) transmission line, just like coaxial cable.

I believe a 1/4 wave is not important here.

For an octave bandwidth and even coupling it is. Those directional
couplers show about less than +/- 1 db difference in coupling versus
frequency over that octave. If the object to obtain a low phase error
over frequency as well as magnitude, then there has to be adherence
to "traditional" shapes-configurations.

ANY conductor running close to and parallel to a transmission line
center conductor will couple something into the coupling line.
For a dual coupler arrangement in SWR checking by magnitude
alone the actual coupling values in db aren't all that important in
getting a relative reading of forward versus reverse.

Typical directional coupler coupling is 20 db down from the main line.

This is a matter of choice by the manufacturer construction. What this
means is that the power coming out the (correct end of the) secondary line
is 20dB down (1/100 th) from the power on the main line.

I'll say that it is a value chosen by the users...manufacturers make
all kinds of coupler coupling values but most seem to go to the 20 db
value because it is a compromise between coupled signal strength
and the effects on the main line from the coupled line and its varying
load impedances. With 20 db coupling (1/100th power as you noted),
the main line is hardly affected whether the coupled line is terminated
in proper resistive value or open or shorted.

While not perfect, directional
coupling differences of about 20 db are good enough to warrant the
name "directional."

This is a matter of primarily the mechanical design.

Mechanical AND electrical...that also influences the directivity.

The "directivity"
refers to the amount of power that gets coupled to the secondary line that
emerges out the "wrong" end--not the one we want.

"Directivity" values are the sum of forward coupling and reverse
coupling. If a coupler has 20 db coupling and the directivity is
45 db, the reverse coupling is down 25 db. [numerical example
only] "Single" couplers have only 3 ports. "Duals" have 4.

from the main line power. And don't forget conservation of energy. All
this "coupled" power is stolen from the main line.

At 20 db coupling, a bad coupled line termination results in a 1%
change of the main line power level. Small value, hard to measure
or hard to see on a meter.

They both should have a nice (50 ohm) impedance and be loaded with 50
ohms as well.

Only if that is the main line characteristic impedance being used. The
TV cable folks work with 75 Ohm Zo and have couplers for that main
line with no problem.

requires it] For the Moni-Match (snaked type) the secondary lines could be
some weird Zo and all is well if it is matched pretty well.

But...the amount of coupling CAN vary considerably with frequency
even though direction of coupling has an good relative agreement.
I'll base that on measuring the "snaked-through-the-large-coax" kind
(two different versions) intended for higher HF bands that had about
15 db difference between the two of them AND had quite a variation
in coupling over frequency. Did that about 40 years ago and didn't
get to keep the notes. Did the same with a rigid copper pipe coax
section having a slot for insertion of a coupling line about 30 years
ago and it was more even in coupling over high HF and reproducible
(based on the same measurement set-ups used by another to check
duplicates shortly thereafter).

To make duplicates of an article's presentation requires a slavish
devotion to copying EXACTLY as described. It's not a case of just
snaking it through the coax, running alongside the outer conductor
braid...which can result in a remarkable variance from the original due
to coax flexibility. With all the available copper piping in many sizes
in home repair stores, the choice of spending a bit more time rather
with a piece of flexible coax will be far more worth it in the long run.

By the way, you can pump power into the secondary line and have some come
out the mainline as well. This is actually done for special uses.

3 db couplers, also known as "hybrid couplers." Very good for making
wideband push-pull or push-push amplifiers out of modular amplifiers.

I'll just add that some directional couplers, both single and dual, are
made with double-sided PCB material, the coupled line on one side,
the main line on the other. Those seem to be good (as products) only
to about 4 GHz or so due to variation in dielectric constant and board
thickness variation. The tiny versions of the last decade use "hard"
substrates of ceramic, etc., and the so-called "blue line" of co-fired
construction from Mini-Circuits is an example. High dielectric constant
in substrate allows making them smaller and the material insures
stability and good control in manufacture.

Once something to be used for measurement is done, there is no
guarantee that it will work as planned. Separate testing needs to be
done to prove it out. That requires measurement with accuracy of
power levels of large dynamic range. The microcontroller display
power meter using an Analog Devices log detector is excellent for
that purpose, dynamic range as large as the basic log detector's
specs. Those seem to be popular in Denmark and Germany according
to the number of ham websites and commentary and photos therefrom.
Search under "power meter" and ignore the commercial hits to find
several ham sites having such homebuilt meters.

Len Anderson
retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person

In article , "Steve Nosko"
writes:

some snipping of a good post to avoid undue long length...

The accepted terminology is "Stripline" (think "strip transmission
line") for the line with two flat ground planes on either side of the
"center conductor" which can be thought of as this flattened coax....and
"micro strip" ( I have no memory aid) for the one that is one-sided where
the "center conductor" is on the top of a PCB with a ground plane on the
bottom..

That's quite probably true. Textbooks have the "correct" description
but some in the RF field get over-wrought about terminology and
techno-propriety. :-)

Either type of physical construction makes a TEM (Transverse
ElectroMagnetic) transmission line, just like coaxial cable.

I believe a 1/4 wave is not important here.

For an octave bandwidth and even coupling it is. Those directional
couplers show about less than +/- 1 db difference in coupling versus
frequency over that octave. If the object to obtain a low phase error
over frequency as well as magnitude, then there has to be adherence
to "traditional" shapes-configurations.

ANY conductor running close to and parallel to a transmission line
center conductor will couple something into the coupling line.
For a dual coupler arrangement in SWR checking by magnitude
alone the actual coupling values in db aren't all that important in
getting a relative reading of forward versus reverse.

Typical directional coupler coupling is 20 db down from the main line.

This is a matter of choice by the manufacturer construction. What this
means is that the power coming out the (correct end of the) secondary line
is 20dB down (1/100 th) from the power on the main line.

I'll say that it is a value chosen by the users...manufacturers make
all kinds of coupler coupling values but most seem to go to the 20 db
value because it is a compromise between coupled signal strength
and the effects on the main line from the coupled line and its varying
load impedances. With 20 db coupling (1/100th power as you noted),
the main line is hardly affected whether the coupled line is terminated
in proper resistive value or open or shorted.

While not perfect, directional
coupling differences of about 20 db are good enough to warrant the
name "directional."

This is a matter of primarily the mechanical design.

Mechanical AND electrical...that also influences the directivity.

The "directivity"
refers to the amount of power that gets coupled to the secondary line that
emerges out the "wrong" end--not the one we want.

"Directivity" values are the sum of forward coupling and reverse
coupling. If a coupler has 20 db coupling and the directivity is
45 db, the reverse coupling is down 25 db. [numerical example
only] "Single" couplers have only 3 ports. "Duals" have 4.

from the main line power. And don't forget conservation of energy. All
this "coupled" power is stolen from the main line.

At 20 db coupling, a bad coupled line termination results in a 1%
change of the main line power level. Small value, hard to measure
or hard to see on a meter.

They both should have a nice (50 ohm) impedance and be loaded with 50
ohms as well.

Only if that is the main line characteristic impedance being used. The
TV cable folks work with 75 Ohm Zo and have couplers for that main
line with no problem.

requires it] For the Moni-Match (snaked type) the secondary lines could be
some weird Zo and all is well if it is matched pretty well.

But...the amount of coupling CAN vary considerably with frequency
even though direction of coupling has an good relative agreement.
I'll base that on measuring the "snaked-through-the-large-coax" kind
(two different versions) intended for higher HF bands that had about
15 db difference between the two of them AND had quite a variation
in coupling over frequency. Did that about 40 years ago and didn't
get to keep the notes. Did the same with a rigid copper pipe coax
section having a slot for insertion of a coupling line about 30 years
ago and it was more even in coupling over high HF and reproducible
(based on the same measurement set-ups used by another to check
duplicates shortly thereafter).

To make duplicates of an article's presentation requires a slavish
devotion to copying EXACTLY as described. It's not a case of just
snaking it through the coax, running alongside the outer conductor
braid...which can result in a remarkable variance from the original due
to coax flexibility. With all the available copper piping in many sizes
in home repair stores, the choice of spending a bit more time rather
with a piece of flexible coax will be far more worth it in the long run.

By the way, you can pump power into the secondary line and have some come
out the mainline as well. This is actually done for special uses.

3 db couplers, also known as "hybrid couplers." Very good for making
wideband push-pull or push-push amplifiers out of modular amplifiers.

I'll just add that some directional couplers, both single and dual, are
made with double-sided PCB material, the coupled line on one side,
the main line on the other. Those seem to be good (as products) only
to about 4 GHz or so due to variation in dielectric constant and board
thickness variation. The tiny versions of the last decade use "hard"
substrates of ceramic, etc., and the so-called "blue line" of co-fired
construction from Mini-Circuits is an example. High dielectric constant
in substrate allows making them smaller and the material insures
stability and good control in manufacture.

Once something to be used for measurement is done, there is no
guarantee that it will work as planned. Separate testing needs to be
done to prove it out. That requires measurement with accuracy of
power levels of large dynamic range. The microcontroller display
power meter using an Analog Devices log detector is excellent for
that purpose, dynamic range as large as the basic log detector's
specs. Those seem to be popular in Denmark and Germany according
to the number of ham websites and commentary and photos therefrom.
Search under "power meter" and ignore the commercial hits to find
several ham sites having such homebuilt meters.

Len Anderson
retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person

"Steve Nosko" wrote in message ...

Side bar: I have one of the first directional power meters, the Micro
match. It uses a resistor, yes, resistor, for the current sense rather than
the now common current transformer toroid. circa 1945 -50.

Not really all that uncommon. A Wheatstone bridge works fine for
monitoring SWR, and transformer-coupled versions of essentially a
Wheatstone bridge are commonly used in S-parameter test sets used with
network analyzers. Nice for flat response over lots of octaves, if
you are verrrry careful about the construction.


You might think of microstrip or stripline as "hammered flat coax."
:-)

The accepted terminology is "Stripline" (think "strip transmission
line") for the line with two flat ground planes on either side of the
"center conductor" which can be thought of as this flattened coax....and
"micro strip" ( I have no memory aid) for the one that is one-sided where
the "center conductor" is on the top of a PCB with a ground plane on the
bottom..

(And though stripline is true TEM, microstrip is quasi-TEM because of
the different dielectric above and below the microstrip.)

It is just a transmission line on a PCB, the characteristic impedance
dependent on trace line width, thickness of the foil, dielectric
constant
of the PCB material and, to some extent, the thickness of the PCB.

I think the PCB material (thickness & properties) has a larger
contribution to the Zo that the runner thickness...at least at the freqs I
worked at (1GHz.). Good ole' Wheeler & Sobol equations for the Zo.

Yep, by far. The free "RFSim99" program will help with the dimensions
for five different kinds of couplers, you pick the coupling, including
stripline and microstrip. The one thing it fails to mention is the
1/4 wave line length for the given coupling.


Directional couplers are simply a quarter wavelength of transmission
line (coax or microstrip or stripline) that runs parallel to the main
line
connecting to the antenna.

I believe a 1/4 wave is not important here.

Right...but beware of NULLS in the response at integer multiples of
1/2 wavelength, and the response returns to the same value at 3/4 wave
as it was at 1/4 wave. They are broadly rounded peaks, as Len says
useful over perhaps an octave for non-precision power measurements.
This can be used to advantage for a 146-440MHz coupler: make it 1/4
wave at 146, and it will respond fine at 3/4 wave at 440. But 1/4
wave (even with the 0.5 VF of glass-epoxy circuit board mtrl) is a bit
long. But...you can fold that in a "U" and get it down to ten inches
or so board length.

For broader bandwidth, it's common to make the stripline or microstrip
in three (or five, or...) sections with varying coupling. The center
section is highest coupling, and the outer sections are lower. You
can find design info on the web about this. The broadening is quite
significant.

....
Typical directional coupler coupling is 20 db down from the main line.

This is a matter of choice by the manufacturer construction. What this
means is that the power coming out the (correct end of the) secondary line
is 20dB down (1/100 th) from the power on the main line.

In fact, -20dB with 100 watts input gives you a WATT at the "FWD"
output, which is WAY more than I want to deal with! Simple diode
detectors let me "see" down to -50dBm, so even a milliwatt is really
more than I need. Even with 10mW of excitation, a -30dB coupler is
quite useful. DESIGN the coupler to give you what you want at the
output!


While not perfect, directional
coupling differences of about 20 db are good enough to warrant the
name "directional."

This is a matter of primarily the mechanical design.

AND the loading on the "other" end of the coupled line. Steve touched
on this, but I think it deserves more emphasis. Consider: if you have
a -20dB coupler and 100 watts forward and zero return on the "through"
line, you have a watt trying to come out the "forward" coupled port.
If you don't terminate that perfectly, some of that watt goes back the
other way, and spoils the directionality. SO...if you screwed up the
trace width (perhaps because you didn't know the dielectric constant
or thickness of the board material exactly, or your etching wasn't
perfect), you can still adjust for very nearly perfect directivity by
adjusting the load on the coupled line. This is also why it's good,
especially at microwaves, to NOT try to use two detectors on opposite
ends of the same coupled line, because the detectors are more
difficult to have be really good resistances and not introduce
parasitic reactance. One way to make the load adjustable (assuming
low enough coupled power that you can use SMT resistors) would be to
provide pads for multiple termination resistors (two or three) and use
a parallel combination that gives you just the right termination.
This assumes you have a really good load (including any line and
fittings) you can put on the through-line to insure near-zero
reflections there! Calibration-quality loads for GHz frequencies are
NOT cheap, and garden-variety coax is practically guaranteed to NOT be
50 ohms exactly. (45-55 is about the best reasonable expectation you
should have for RG-58.)

....

Cheers,
Tom

"Steve Nosko" wrote in message ...

Side bar: I have one of the first directional power meters, the Micro
match. It uses a resistor, yes, resistor, for the current sense rather than
the now common current transformer toroid. circa 1945 -50.

Not really all that uncommon. A Wheatstone bridge works fine for
monitoring SWR, and transformer-coupled versions of essentially a
Wheatstone bridge are commonly used in S-parameter test sets used with
network analyzers. Nice for flat response over lots of octaves, if
you are verrrry careful about the construction.


You might think of microstrip or stripline as "hammered flat coax."
:-)

The accepted terminology is "Stripline" (think "strip transmission
line") for the line with two flat ground planes on either side of the
"center conductor" which can be thought of as this flattened coax....and
"micro strip" ( I have no memory aid) for the one that is one-sided where
the "center conductor" is on the top of a PCB with a ground plane on the
bottom..

(And though stripline is true TEM, microstrip is quasi-TEM because of
the different dielectric above and below the microstrip.)

It is just a transmission line on a PCB, the characteristic impedance
dependent on trace line width, thickness of the foil, dielectric
constant
of the PCB material and, to some extent, the thickness of the PCB.

I think the PCB material (thickness & properties) has a larger
contribution to the Zo that the runner thickness...at least at the freqs I
worked at (1GHz.). Good ole' Wheeler & Sobol equations for the Zo.

Yep, by far. The free "RFSim99" program will help with the dimensions
for five different kinds of couplers, you pick the coupling, including
stripline and microstrip. The one thing it fails to mention is the
1/4 wave line length for the given coupling.


Directional couplers are simply a quarter wavelength of transmission
line (coax or microstrip or stripline) that runs parallel to the main
line
connecting to the antenna.

I believe a 1/4 wave is not important here.

Right...but beware of NULLS in the response at integer multiples of
1/2 wavelength, and the response returns to the same value at 3/4 wave
as it was at 1/4 wave. They are broadly rounded peaks, as Len says
useful over perhaps an octave for non-precision power measurements.
This can be used to advantage for a 146-440MHz coupler: make it 1/4
wave at 146, and it will respond fine at 3/4 wave at 440. But 1/4
wave (even with the 0.5 VF of glass-epoxy circuit board mtrl) is a bit
long. But...you can fold that in a "U" and get it down to ten inches
or so board length.

For broader bandwidth, it's common to make the stripline or microstrip
in three (or five, or...) sections with varying coupling. The center
section is highest coupling, and the outer sections are lower. You
can find design info on the web about this. The broadening is quite
significant.

....
Typical directional coupler coupling is 20 db down from the main line.

This is a matter of choice by the manufacturer construction. What this
means is that the power coming out the (correct end of the) secondary line
is 20dB down (1/100 th) from the power on the main line.

In fact, -20dB with 100 watts input gives you a WATT at the "FWD"
output, which is WAY more than I want to deal with! Simple diode
detectors let me "see" down to -50dBm, so even a milliwatt is really
more than I need. Even with 10mW of excitation, a -30dB coupler is
quite useful. DESIGN the coupler to give you what you want at the
output!


While not perfect, directional
coupling differences of about 20 db are good enough to warrant the
name "directional."

This is a matter of primarily the mechanical design.

AND the loading on the "other" end of the coupled line. Steve touched
on this, but I think it deserves more emphasis. Consider: if you have
a -20dB coupler and 100 watts forward and zero return on the "through"
line, you have a watt trying to come out the "forward" coupled port.
If you don't terminate that perfectly, some of that watt goes back the
other way, and spoils the directionality. SO...if you screwed up the
trace width (perhaps because you didn't know the dielectric constant
or thickness of the board material exactly, or your etching wasn't
perfect), you can still adjust for very nearly perfect directivity by
adjusting the load on the coupled line. This is also why it's good,
especially at microwaves, to NOT try to use two detectors on opposite
ends of the same coupled line, because the detectors are more
difficult to have be really good resistances and not introduce
parasitic reactance. One way to make the load adjustable (assuming
low enough coupled power that you can use SMT resistors) would be to
provide pads for multiple termination resistors (two or three) and use
a parallel combination that gives you just the right termination.
This assumes you have a really good load (including any line and
fittings) you can put on the through-line to insure near-zero
reflections there! Calibration-quality loads for GHz frequencies are
NOT cheap, and garden-variety coax is practically guaranteed to NOT be
50 ohms exactly. (45-55 is about the best reasonable expectation you
should have for RG-58.)

....

Cheers,
Tom

WARNING
LONG WINDED POST BY TWO OLD FOGEYS...

Did I spell that correctly?

"Avery Fineman" wrote in message
...
In article , "Steve Nosko"
writes:

More snipping of a good post to avoid undue long length...
But I see we both are having trouble with the length, eh Len?


The accepted terminology is "Stripline" [snip] and "micro strip" ...

That's quite probably true. ..some in the RF field get over-wrought
about terminology....
Either type of physical construction makes a TEM (Transverse
ElectroMagnetic) transmission line, just like coaxial cable....

Not getting religious about it, just adding some info here & trying to
clarify/simplify the explanatin. The OP asked if the "Directional coupler"
being talked about was like the Moni-Match. I was just trying to make that
case---then, as is common here, to add a lot of stuff I felt was helpful in
explaining what I thought the OP _may_ want to know...if he/she didn't give
up on the long post hi hi


I believe a 1/4 wave is not important here.
For an octave bandwidth and even coupling it is.
...If the object to obtain a low phase error...

I didn't think the OP was asking about octave bandwidth or phase.
Perhaps I missed that.


ANY conductor running close to and parallel to a transmission line
center conductor will couple something into the coupling line.

That's the idea I was trying to point out. Like What I call the "snaked
wire" version.



Then we get into deeper detail and possibly symmantics. I'll keep my
symmantics comments to a minimum since I was simply trying to provide a
simplified comparison with the monimatch and a little info on how they work.

Typical directional coupler coupling is 20 db down from the main
line.
This is a matter of choice by the manufacturer construction.
I'll say that it is a value chosen by the users...manufacturers make
all kinds of coupler coupling values

And I meant that when a given coupling is desired, it is the physical
construction which gets you there.

...With 20 db coupling ...,
the main line is hardly affected whether the coupled line is terminated
in proper resistive value or open or shorted.

Sure. Weather or not you pull 1% of the power out, few of us will care.


name "directional."
This is a matter of primarily the mechanical design.
Mechanical AND electrical...that also influences the directivity.

Again, I was merely pointing out that good construction is necessary for
good directivity. In contrast to the "snaked" coax version which can have
highly variable performance.


The "directivity"
refers to the amount of power that gets coupled to the secondary line
that
emerges out the "wrong" end--not the one we want.

"Directivity" values are the sum of forward coupling and reverse
coupling. If a coupler has 20 db coupling and the directivity is
45 db, the reverse coupling is down 25 db. ...

I presume you intend to mean"...from the foward _coupled_ level." ???
This is what I was trying to say.

And don't forget conservation of energy. ...
At 20 db coupling, a bad coupled line termination results in a 1%



Probably going too far for the OP's original need I guess I'm just as
guilty of adding mounds of information that he OP might not be interestred
in.

They both should have a nice (50 ohm) impedance ...
Only if that is the main line characteristic impedance being used.
That's why I put the 50 in (), just as an example. I should have left
it out, but then I figured a question of "what is 'nice'" might have
surfaced.


...For the Moni-Match (snaked type) the secondary lines could be
some weird Zo and all is well if it is matched pretty well.
But...the amount of coupling CAN vary considerably with frequency
even though direction of coupling has an good relative agreement.

Sure. Again, I don't thing the OP is worried about flat freq response.
Many of us are familiar with the switched SWR meter with the pot to set the
FWD power to full scale and how that varies from band to band. We live with
it. At work, however, flat couplers are needed.
In fact, I was doing it last night. Was puzeled by the worse SWR on
teh lower bands of a high quality load. Could be... the SWR meter..
..

I'll base that on measuring the "snaked-through-the-large-coax" kind
(two different versions) intended for higher HF bands that had about
15 db difference between the two of them AND had quite a variation
in coupling over frequency.

Do you remember if you looked at the Zo of the coupled lines? I seem to
recall that in the articles, the termination of the coupled line is
considered an emperical optimization. cut-try for the value of load giving
"best" operation. I also wondered about the load seen at the end(s) where
the detectors were. Did they get a good match there. That;s going to mess
with your directivity, no? I guess you can put a good load on the main line
and just tweek for best directivity... a.k.a. lowest reading when line
matched - in BOTH directions. Seems that this is all you need to worry
about, for a ham, that is.


To make duplicates of an article's presentation requires a slavish
devotion to copying EXACTLY as described.

Again, that's where my comment about mechanigal construction came from.

By the way, you can pump power into the secondary line and have some come
out the mainline as well. This is actually done for special uses.
3 db couplers, also known as "hybrid couplers." Very good for making
wideband push-pull or push-push amplifiers out of modular amplifiers.

Won't go into detail, but high power linear amplifiers (60dB 2 tone IM)
in the 800MHz & 1800MHz range use 20 dB couplers for "Feed-Forward" IM
correction loops. Made an extensive "Backplane" with many stripline
couplers for them.


...High dielectric constant
in substrate allows making them smaller and the material insures
stability and good control in manufacture.
I have used Alumina. I also saw an article on microstrip couplers with
a complementary zig-zag pattern on the edges of the coupled lines adjacent
to each other...forget what the advantage was...I think increased coupling.


...Analog Devices log detector is
I saw that little bugger in QEX. Pretty cool!


73, Len

--
Steve N, K,9;d, c. i My email has no u's.

WARNING
LONG WINDED POST BY TWO OLD FOGEYS...

Did I spell that correctly?

"Avery Fineman" wrote in message
...
In article , "Steve Nosko"
writes:

More snipping of a good post to avoid undue long length...
But I see we both are having trouble with the length, eh Len?


The accepted terminology is "Stripline" [snip] and "micro strip" ...

That's quite probably true. ..some in the RF field get over-wrought
about terminology....
Either type of physical construction makes a TEM (Transverse
ElectroMagnetic) transmission line, just like coaxial cable....

Not getting religious about it, just adding some info here & trying to
clarify/simplify the explanatin. The OP asked if the "Directional coupler"
being talked about was like the Moni-Match. I was just trying to make that
case---then, as is common here, to add a lot of stuff I felt was helpful in
explaining what I thought the OP _may_ want to know...if he/she didn't give
up on the long post hi hi


I believe a 1/4 wave is not important here.
For an octave bandwidth and even coupling it is.
...If the object to obtain a low phase error...

I didn't think the OP was asking about octave bandwidth or phase.
Perhaps I missed that.


ANY conductor running close to and parallel to a transmission line
center conductor will couple something into the coupling line.

That's the idea I was trying to point out. Like What I call the "snaked
wire" version.



Then we get into deeper detail and possibly symmantics. I'll keep my
symmantics comments to a minimum since I was simply trying to provide a
simplified comparison with the monimatch and a little info on how they work.

Typical directional coupler coupling is 20 db down from the main
line.
This is a matter of choice by the manufacturer construction.
I'll say that it is a value chosen by the users...manufacturers make
all kinds of coupler coupling values

And I meant that when a given coupling is desired, it is the physical
construction which gets you there.

...With 20 db coupling ...,
the main line is hardly affected whether the coupled line is terminated
in proper resistive value or open or shorted.

Sure. Weather or not you pull 1% of the power out, few of us will care.


name "directional."
This is a matter of primarily the mechanical design.
Mechanical AND electrical...that also influences the directivity.

Again, I was merely pointing out that good construction is necessary for
good directivity. In contrast to the "snaked" coax version which can have
highly variable performance.


The "directivity"
refers to the amount of power that gets coupled to the secondary line
that
emerges out the "wrong" end--not the one we want.

"Directivity" values are the sum of forward coupling and reverse
coupling. If a coupler has 20 db coupling and the directivity is
45 db, the reverse coupling is down 25 db. ...

I presume you intend to mean"...from the foward _coupled_ level." ???
This is what I was trying to say.

And don't forget conservation of energy. ...
At 20 db coupling, a bad coupled line termination results in a 1%



Probably going too far for the OP's original need I guess I'm just as
guilty of adding mounds of information that he OP might not be interestred
in.

They both should have a nice (50 ohm) impedance ...
Only if that is the main line characteristic impedance being used.
That's why I put the 50 in (), just as an example. I should have left
it out, but then I figured a question of "what is 'nice'" might have
surfaced.


...For the Moni-Match (snaked type) the secondary lines could be
some weird Zo and all is well if it is matched pretty well.
But...the amount of coupling CAN vary considerably with frequency
even though direction of coupling has an good relative agreement.

Sure. Again, I don't thing the OP is worried about flat freq response.
Many of us are familiar with the switched SWR meter with the pot to set the
FWD power to full scale and how that varies from band to band. We live with
it. At work, however, flat couplers are needed.
In fact, I was doing it last night. Was puzeled by the worse SWR on
teh lower bands of a high quality load. Could be... the SWR meter..
..

I'll base that on measuring the "snaked-through-the-large-coax" kind
(two different versions) intended for higher HF bands that had about
15 db difference between the two of them AND had quite a variation
in coupling over frequency.

Do you remember if you looked at the Zo of the coupled lines? I seem to
recall that in the articles, the termination of the coupled line is
considered an emperical optimization. cut-try for the value of load giving
"best" operation. I also wondered about the load seen at the end(s) where
the detectors were. Did they get a good match there. That;s going to mess
with your directivity, no? I guess you can put a good load on the main line
and just tweek for best directivity... a.k.a. lowest reading when line
matched - in BOTH directions. Seems that this is all you need to worry
about, for a ham, that is.


To make duplicates of an article's presentation requires a slavish
devotion to copying EXACTLY as described.

Again, that's where my comment about mechanigal construction came from.

By the way, you can pump power into the secondary line and have some come
out the mainline as well. This is actually done for special uses.
3 db couplers, also known as "hybrid couplers." Very good for making
wideband push-pull or push-push amplifiers out of modular amplifiers.

Won't go into detail, but high power linear amplifiers (60dB 2 tone IM)
in the 800MHz & 1800MHz range use 20 dB couplers for "Feed-Forward" IM
correction loops. Made an extensive "Backplane" with many stripline
couplers for them.


...High dielectric constant
in substrate allows making them smaller and the material insures
stability and good control in manufacture.
I have used Alumina. I also saw an article on microstrip couplers with
a complementary zig-zag pattern on the edges of the coupled lines adjacent
to each other...forget what the advantage was...I think increased coupling.


...Analog Devices log detector is
I saw that little bugger in QEX. Pretty cool!


73, Len

--
Steve N, K,9;d, c. i My email has no u's.

Take a look at:

http://www.ldgelectronics.com

It's a kit.

Regards

Ralf

--
Vy 73 es 55 de Ralf, DL2MRB
E-Mail:

Take a look at:

http://www.ldgelectronics.com

It's a kit.

Regards

Ralf

--
Vy 73 es 55 de Ralf, DL2MRB
E-Mail:

"Tom Bruhns" wrote in message
m...
"Steve Nosko" wrote in message
...

Side bar: I have one of the first directional power meters, the Micro
match. It uses a resistor, yes, resistor, for the current sense ...

Not really all that uncommon. A Wheatstone bridge works fine for
monitoring SWR...transformer-coupled versions...network analyzers...

[not trying to be or sound condecending (:-) I know all that. I was just
trying to help the OP understand this term "directional coupler" from the
ham perspective. In the context of today's *ham* SWR reading devices, having
a current sense resistor is unusual. Besides I am talking about a 1,000
watt full scale directional watt meter. It reads power directly in several
ranges. Supposedly what the modern ones do. So I was thinkin' a resistor
to sense current should be a bit of a surprise. In the 40's they didn't
have the transformers.
I also have a 5-1000 MHz SWR bridge, obviously low power as well. Spec'ed @
40 dB. Very lucky find. ain't cheap.

you are verrrry careful about the construction.
Yea, Yea. That's one of the points I was making.

You might think of microstrip or stripline as "hammered flat coax."

I'm ok with this analogy, I just had to add my 2 cents.

(And though stripline is true TEM, microstrip is quasi-TEM
I didn't think the OP cared about this. Also stripline is model-able,
micro strip (was only approximated) by Wheeler & Sobol, when I was designing
it. However, I think the OP wouldn't care about this either.


I believe a 1/4 wave is not important here.
Right...but beware of NULLS in the response at integer multiples of
1/2 wavelength,

I was thinking less than 1/4. I won't open it to see how long the
coupled lines are, but my Narda is about a foot long & goes down to .. gee,
I don't remember. Gotta go look tonight. I think 500M

They are pretty usefull things if you can get your hands on a good
one... and have the rest of the equipment to use it. I wasn't trying to
give the OP a tutorial on precision directional coupler design, just some
analogies to hang his hat on. Is the OP reading the rest this??

Typical directional coupler coupling is 20 db down from the main
line.
In fact, -20dB with 100 watts input gives you a WATT at the "FWD"
output,

That's why I didn't think it appropriate to say any particular value was
"standard". Get what you want. The physical construction determines the
coupling factor was where I was going as a contrast to the "snake-ed" ham
kind which has a variable construction and therefore coupling.


While not perfect, directional
coupling differences of about 20 db are good enough to warrant the
name "directional."
This is a matter of primarily the mechanical design.

AND the loading on the "other" end of the coupled line. Steve touched
on this,

Yea. I implied a lot with the "nice" comment (and invited much comment)
I see.

Enjoy your tools & Thanks guys, 73

--
Steve N, K,9;d, c. i My email has no u's.

"Tom Bruhns" wrote in message
m...
"Steve Nosko" wrote in message
...

Side bar: I have one of the first directional power meters, the Micro
match. It uses a resistor, yes, resistor, for the current sense ...

Not really all that uncommon. A Wheatstone bridge works fine for
monitoring SWR...transformer-coupled versions...network analyzers...

[not trying to be or sound condecending (:-) I know all that. I was just
trying to help the OP understand this term "directional coupler" from the
ham perspective. In the context of today's *ham* SWR reading devices, having
a current sense resistor is unusual. Besides I am talking about a 1,000
watt full scale directional watt meter. It reads power directly in several
ranges. Supposedly what the modern ones do. So I was thinkin' a resistor
to sense current should be a bit of a surprise. In the 40's they didn't
have the transformers.
I also have a 5-1000 MHz SWR bridge, obviously low power as well. Spec'ed @
40 dB. Very lucky find. ain't cheap.

you are verrrry careful about the construction.
Yea, Yea. That's one of the points I was making.

You might think of microstrip or stripline as "hammered flat coax."

I'm ok with this analogy, I just had to add my 2 cents.

(And though stripline is true TEM, microstrip is quasi-TEM
I didn't think the OP cared about this. Also stripline is model-able,
micro strip (was only approximated) by Wheeler & Sobol, when I was designing
it. However, I think the OP wouldn't care about this either.


I believe a 1/4 wave is not important here.
Right...but beware of NULLS in the response at integer multiples of
1/2 wavelength,

I was thinking less than 1/4. I won't open it to see how long the
coupled lines are, but my Narda is about a foot long & goes down to .. gee,
I don't remember. Gotta go look tonight. I think 500M

They are pretty usefull things if you can get your hands on a good
one... and have the rest of the equipment to use it. I wasn't trying to
give the OP a tutorial on precision directional coupler design, just some
analogies to hang his hat on. Is the OP reading the rest this??

Typical directional coupler coupling is 20 db down from the main
line.
In fact, -20dB with 100 watts input gives you a WATT at the "FWD"
output,

That's why I didn't think it appropriate to say any particular value was
"standard". Get what you want. The physical construction determines the
coupling factor was where I was going as a contrast to the "snake-ed" ham
kind which has a variable construction and therefore coupling.


While not perfect, directional
coupling differences of about 20 db are good enough to warrant the
name "directional."
This is a matter of primarily the mechanical design.

AND the loading on the "other" end of the coupled line. Steve touched
on this,

Yea. I implied a lot with the "nice" comment (and invited much comment)
I see.

Enjoy your tools & Thanks guys, 73

--
Steve N, K,9;d, c. i My email has no u's.

In article , "Steve Nosko"
writes:

WARNING
LONG WINDED POST BY TWO OLD FOGEYS...

Did I spell that correctly?

Heh. :-)


Then we get into deeper detail and possibly symmantics. I'll keep my
symmantics comments to a minimum since I was simply trying to provide a
simplified comparison with the monimatch and a little info on how they work.

Fine. :-)

I just added some things about directional couplers in general. These
postings are all very public and don't necessarily pertain to one
individual. Sometimes general information is an aid to a reader who
does not post. There's lots more readers than posters in most news-
groups.

Here's some links to couplers and power meters which are current
(checked today to see if they are still there):

http://www.ee.bilkent.edu.tr/~microwave/magnetic.htm

This site has HEAVY theory on - Rectangular waveguide, microstrip
antenna design and analysis, microwave filter design, Lange coupler
design, branch-line coupler design and analysis, directional coupler
design and analysis, 180 degree hybrid coupler design and analysis,
microwave power divider design and analysis. The "design and
analysis" includes an on-line calculator-applet to plug in numbers and
it grunges through the math for the user. It is practically a FREE book
on the basic UHF-microwave passive component region and should
save anyone's wallet to the tune of at least $120 (the old "Matthaei-
Young-Jones" hardcover is more than that now, even after 30+ years).

From the Microwaves & RF magazine archives, there is the February
2001 tutorial "Understanding The Basics Of Microstrip Directional
Couplers" by Leo Maloratsky, pp 79 to 94, a very concise article on a
large subject. Maloratsky worked for Rockwell Collins in Melbourne,
Florida at that time.

For direct SWR measurement using a Bruene detector and using meters
for readout of both forward and reverse power, the QEX article by Paul
Kiciak, N2PK, gives dimensional-construction information on the bridge
for HF and uses AD8307s as logarithmic detectors for both forward and
reverse plus op-amp couplers to the indicating meters. I have a PDF
that lacks the QEX identifying issue and page that was obtained from
another in July 2001, can't supply the QEX issue date or pages.

The Bruene bridge was first used in military T-195 transmitters that
became operational with USMC and US Army in 1955...part of a very
easy to use HF vehicular Tx/Rx using tubes and long vehicle whips.
Collins did the design under contract. A version of the Bruene
bridge is still used today in the US military in the AN/PRC-104
backpack 20 W HF radio which has an auto-tuner for the whip.
Hughes Aircraft designed, became operational in 1986.

I emphasize measurement methods because a finished coupler or
bridge or whatever needs to have something to measure it at lower
powers than available on Bird Wattmeters or similar. One of the
nicest applications of the Analog Devices AD8307 as a Wattmeter
with an 80 db dynamic range is on Thomas Schirrer's website:

http://www.webx.dk/oz2cpu/radios/milliwatt.htm

That one uses only two ICs, the AD8307 and a Microchip PIC16F876.
Accuracy of RF power measurement is all up to the AD8307 which
can work up past 500 MHz, has direct connections of RF input to the
AD8307. The PIC does conversion of AD8307 DC output volts to
either Watts or dbm and also controls the LCD panel unit (2 x 16
character integral LCD panel and driver). No other active devices are
needed except for the DC power supply. With appropriate programming,
serveral different PIC microcontrollers can be used. Several others have
copied the same circuit with variations on the case on display legend,
as indicated on the website. Simple and elegant. Calibrate once and
such will remain, error dependent solely on the AD8307.


...Analog Devices log detector is
I saw that little bugger in QEX. Pretty cool!

Lots of information on the Analog Devices website for datasheets and
application notes on their full line of logarithmic detectors. Why anyone
still wants to depend on germanium diode detectors with very limited
dynamic range and non-linear detection is beyond me. :-)

Len Anderson
retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person

In article , "Steve Nosko"
writes:

WARNING
LONG WINDED POST BY TWO OLD FOGEYS...

Did I spell that correctly?

Heh. :-)


Then we get into deeper detail and possibly symmantics. I'll keep my
symmantics comments to a minimum since I was simply trying to provide a
simplified comparison with the monimatch and a little info on how they work.

Fine. :-)

I just added some things about directional couplers in general. These
postings are all very public and don't necessarily pertain to one
individual. Sometimes general information is an aid to a reader who
does not post. There's lots more readers than posters in most news-
groups.

Here's some links to couplers and power meters which are current
(checked today to see if they are still there):

http://www.ee.bilkent.edu.tr/~microwave/magnetic.htm

This site has HEAVY theory on - Rectangular waveguide, microstrip
antenna design and analysis, microwave filter design, Lange coupler
design, branch-line coupler design and analysis, directional coupler
design and analysis, 180 degree hybrid coupler design and analysis,
microwave power divider design and analysis. The "design and
analysis" includes an on-line calculator-applet to plug in numbers and
it grunges through the math for the user. It is practically a FREE book
on the basic UHF-microwave passive component region and should
save anyone's wallet to the tune of at least $120 (the old "Matthaei-
Young-Jones" hardcover is more than that now, even after 30+ years).

From the Microwaves & RF magazine archives, there is the February
2001 tutorial "Understanding The Basics Of Microstrip Directional
Couplers" by Leo Maloratsky, pp 79 to 94, a very concise article on a
large subject. Maloratsky worked for Rockwell Collins in Melbourne,
Florida at that time.

For direct SWR measurement using a Bruene detector and using meters
for readout of both forward and reverse power, the QEX article by Paul
Kiciak, N2PK, gives dimensional-construction information on the bridge
for HF and uses AD8307s as logarithmic detectors for both forward and
reverse plus op-amp couplers to the indicating meters. I have a PDF
that lacks the QEX identifying issue and page that was obtained from
another in July 2001, can't supply the QEX issue date or pages.

The Bruene bridge was first used in military T-195 transmitters that
became operational with USMC and US Army in 1955...part of a very
easy to use HF vehicular Tx/Rx using tubes and long vehicle whips.
Collins did the design under contract. A version of the Bruene
bridge is still used today in the US military in the AN/PRC-104
backpack 20 W HF radio which has an auto-tuner for the whip.
Hughes Aircraft designed, became operational in 1986.

I emphasize measurement methods because a finished coupler or
bridge or whatever needs to have something to measure it at lower
powers than available on Bird Wattmeters or similar. One of the
nicest applications of the Analog Devices AD8307 as a Wattmeter
with an 80 db dynamic range is on Thomas Schirrer's website:

http://www.webx.dk/oz2cpu/radios/milliwatt.htm

That one uses only two ICs, the AD8307 and a Microchip PIC16F876.
Accuracy of RF power measurement is all up to the AD8307 which
can work up past 500 MHz, has direct connections of RF input to the
AD8307. The PIC does conversion of AD8307 DC output volts to
either Watts or dbm and also controls the LCD panel unit (2 x 16
character integral LCD panel and driver). No other active devices are
needed except for the DC power supply. With appropriate programming,
serveral different PIC microcontrollers can be used. Several others have
copied the same circuit with variations on the case on display legend,
as indicated on the website. Simple and elegant. Calibrate once and
such will remain, error dependent solely on the AD8307.


...Analog Devices log detector is
I saw that little bugger in QEX. Pretty cool!

Lots of information on the Analog Devices website for datasheets and
application notes on their full line of logarithmic detectors. Why anyone
still wants to depend on germanium diode detectors with very limited
dynamic range and non-linear detection is beyond me. :-)

Len Anderson
retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person

I didn't think of it, but what a great application for that bugger!

--
Steve N, K,9;d, c. i My email has no u's.

"Avery Fineman" wrote in message
...
In article , "Steve Nosko"
writes:


...Analog Devices log detector is
I saw that little bugger in QEX. Pretty cool!

Lots of information on the Analog Devices website for datasheets and
application notes on their full line of logarithmic detectors. Why
anyone
still wants to depend on germanium diode detectors with very limited
dynamic range and non-linear detection is beyond me. :-)

Len Anderson
retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person

I didn't think of it, but what a great application for that bugger!

--
Steve N, K,9;d, c. i My email has no u's.

"Avery Fineman" wrote in message
...
In article , "Steve Nosko"
writes:


...Analog Devices log detector is
I saw that little bugger in QEX. Pretty cool!

Lots of information on the Analog Devices website for datasheets and
application notes on their full line of logarithmic detectors. Why
anyone
still wants to depend on germanium diode detectors with very limited
dynamic range and non-linear detection is beyond me. :-)

Len Anderson
retired (from regular hours) electronic engineer person

Hi Tom,

Thank you for sending that article, it made it fine.

It is quite helpful and gives detailed instructions, I might actually buy
that whole book..

I also want to thank all the other posters. Some of the discussion were
definetly over my head but as time goes by I might understand this or that
detail better. First I need to get my hands on one of those SWR meters (I
hear the old URM 120 are quite good and rugged, if I don't built a meter
myself that might be the way to go) and gain some experience, I like to
learn the theory hand in hand with practical experiments.

73 Uwe




in article , Tom Bruhns at
wrote on 2/9/04 1:37 PM:

Hi Uwe,

I'll try to remember to send the scan from home tonight. It is just
under 4 megabytes, so it will take a while to download, but it is ten
pages from the RSGB book, which seems to explain things better than
the ARRL article you have (which is the one I also scanned,
separately). The RSGB pages I scanned includes I think four different
designs, maybe five, as well as some elemental theory.

Yes, I think the Monimatch uses coupled transmission lines, which is
what a microstrip (or stripline) coupler is. The microstrip version
is (generally) a piece of printed circuit board with a ground plane
(uninterrupted copper foil) on one side, and a straight trace on the
other side, which is the "through" line, with another trace parallel
to the first trace and a small distance away, which is the "coupled"
line. You terminate the coupled line at one end (to avoid
reflections), and put a detector at the other end, usually just a
diode detector for SWR monitoring. That tells you the power in one
direction. Then for convenience, you can put an identical coupled
line on the other side of the through-line, and terminate it at the
opposite end compared with the first coupled line, and put a detector
on it at the other end, and that monitors the power in the other
direction. So you get two DC outputs, one for "forward" power and one
for "reverse" power. One important point that is usually
glossed-over, is that diode detectors will respond with an output
voltage proportional to the input RF voltage above some level, but
with an output voltage proportional to the input RF _power_ at lower
levels. You should design the coupling to operate in one or the other
of those regions, if you want to more easily make quantitative sense
of the readings. (An even better way to do it would be to have a
calibrated step attenuator between the "forward" coupled line and the
forward detector, and then adjust the attenuator for equal outputs
from the two diode detectors. Then the attenuator setting tells you
the load's return loss, from which you can find the SWR if you wish.)
It's also possible to use phase-sensitive detectors and get the
complex load impedance...that's essentially what an S-parameter
network analyzer does.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message
...
Hi Tom,

No, I don't know the article you mentioned.
I just got the ARRL Antenna Book and there is a plan for a directional
coupler using some plumbing hardware and I could see myself building that,
but again there are some issues about available parts (thru feed caps in
particular).
From my (limited) understanding these couplers would be the aquivalent of
the "plugs" used in meters like the Bird 43 or the URM120.

But I am not sold on this design and would certainly want to look at the
article you mentioned. And yes, I do have a slow phone connection, but if
you are willing I would appreciate if you could send the article as an
attachment.

Now the microstrip coupler you mention, is that what people also call a
monimatch? What are the advantages of one design over another?

regards Uwe



in article , Tom Bruhns at
wrote on 2/8/04 8:47 PM:

This has been a hot topic recently! I just scanned an ARRL article
and a section of the test equipment chapter of the RSGB VHF/UHF
Handbook to send to someone else who is interested in making a
146/440MHz SWR monitor, and I just made a couple 100MHz-6GHz detectors
for someone else who is looking at monitoring SWR at 2.5GHz.

Seems to me the simple way for most folk to do it is to make a
microstrip coupler. You can use surface-mount components for the load
and detector and RF decoupling, and they'll work quite well up into
the GHz region, from my experience. As far as RF decoupling goes, you
should be able to do an adequate job on a circuit board...once the
detector turns the RF to DC, just put shunt capacitance to ground and
series inductance in the line. Pick the inductance as you would for
other VHF work: avoid inductors with self-resonances below the freq
of interest.

You probably have already seen the ARRL article I scanned, but if
you'd like the RSGB one, I could send it. But it's almost 4 megabytes
and may take you a while to download if you have a slow connection.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message
...
I have been looking at various designs of VHF SWR bridges, mainly from ARRL
sources like old QSTs and such, and I wonder if anybody here has built a
device like that.
For my experience level some of the old descriptions are just a touch to
cryptic or the design calls for parts which I can't locate (small feed thru
caps are one of those items).
I would love to discuss this with a knowledgable builder.

73 Uwe

Hi Tom,

Thank you for sending that article, it made it fine.

It is quite helpful and gives detailed instructions, I might actually buy
that whole book..

I also want to thank all the other posters. Some of the discussion were
definetly over my head but as time goes by I might understand this or that
detail better. First I need to get my hands on one of those SWR meters (I
hear the old URM 120 are quite good and rugged, if I don't built a meter
myself that might be the way to go) and gain some experience, I like to
learn the theory hand in hand with practical experiments.

73 Uwe




in article , Tom Bruhns at
wrote on 2/9/04 1:37 PM:

Hi Uwe,

I'll try to remember to send the scan from home tonight. It is just
under 4 megabytes, so it will take a while to download, but it is ten
pages from the RSGB book, which seems to explain things better than
the ARRL article you have (which is the one I also scanned,
separately). The RSGB pages I scanned includes I think four different
designs, maybe five, as well as some elemental theory.

Yes, I think the Monimatch uses coupled transmission lines, which is
what a microstrip (or stripline) coupler is. The microstrip version
is (generally) a piece of printed circuit board with a ground plane
(uninterrupted copper foil) on one side, and a straight trace on the
other side, which is the "through" line, with another trace parallel
to the first trace and a small distance away, which is the "coupled"
line. You terminate the coupled line at one end (to avoid
reflections), and put a detector at the other end, usually just a
diode detector for SWR monitoring. That tells you the power in one
direction. Then for convenience, you can put an identical coupled
line on the other side of the through-line, and terminate it at the
opposite end compared with the first coupled line, and put a detector
on it at the other end, and that monitors the power in the other
direction. So you get two DC outputs, one for "forward" power and one
for "reverse" power. One important point that is usually
glossed-over, is that diode detectors will respond with an output
voltage proportional to the input RF voltage above some level, but
with an output voltage proportional to the input RF _power_ at lower
levels. You should design the coupling to operate in one or the other
of those regions, if you want to more easily make quantitative sense
of the readings. (An even better way to do it would be to have a
calibrated step attenuator between the "forward" coupled line and the
forward detector, and then adjust the attenuator for equal outputs
from the two diode detectors. Then the attenuator setting tells you
the load's return loss, from which you can find the SWR if you wish.)
It's also possible to use phase-sensitive detectors and get the
complex load impedance...that's essentially what an S-parameter
network analyzer does.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message
...
Hi Tom,

No, I don't know the article you mentioned.
I just got the ARRL Antenna Book and there is a plan for a directional
coupler using some plumbing hardware and I could see myself building that,
but again there are some issues about available parts (thru feed caps in
particular).
From my (limited) understanding these couplers would be the aquivalent of
the "plugs" used in meters like the Bird 43 or the URM120.

But I am not sold on this design and would certainly want to look at the
article you mentioned. And yes, I do have a slow phone connection, but if
you are willing I would appreciate if you could send the article as an
attachment.

Now the microstrip coupler you mention, is that what people also call a
monimatch? What are the advantages of one design over another?

regards Uwe



in article , Tom Bruhns at
wrote on 2/8/04 8:47 PM:

This has been a hot topic recently! I just scanned an ARRL article
and a section of the test equipment chapter of the RSGB VHF/UHF
Handbook to send to someone else who is interested in making a
146/440MHz SWR monitor, and I just made a couple 100MHz-6GHz detectors
for someone else who is looking at monitoring SWR at 2.5GHz.

Seems to me the simple way for most folk to do it is to make a
microstrip coupler. You can use surface-mount components for the load
and detector and RF decoupling, and they'll work quite well up into
the GHz region, from my experience. As far as RF decoupling goes, you
should be able to do an adequate job on a circuit board...once the
detector turns the RF to DC, just put shunt capacitance to ground and
series inductance in the line. Pick the inductance as you would for
other VHF work: avoid inductors with self-resonances below the freq
of interest.

You probably have already seen the ARRL article I scanned, but if
you'd like the RSGB one, I could send it. But it's almost 4 megabytes
and may take you a while to download if you have a slow connection.

Cheers,
Tom


Uwe Langmesser wrote in message
...
I have been looking at various designs of VHF SWR bridges, mainly from ARRL
sources like old QSTs and such, and I wonder if anybody here has built a
device like that.
For my experience level some of the old descriptions are just a touch to
cryptic or the design calls for parts which I can't locate (small feed thru
caps are one of those items).
I would love to discuss this with a knowledgable builder.

73 Uwe

On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 00:36:05 +0100, Ralf Ballis - DL2MRB
wrote:

Take a look at:

http://www.ldgelectronics.com

It's a kit.

Regards

Ralf

tried some amateur rubbish the other year, but the problem with
amateur constructions is ususally that you cannot make two units which
performs similarly, and it is difficult to tell what decides the
impedance. If somebody have another opinion I'll be pleased to hear,
it is not 1% accuracy I am after, 10% is good enough and that the
readings are successively the same for the same conditions. Put some
info about some simple couplers you can make on my site, you'll find
it with google search for "Bird Model 43 patent description"

73,

On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 00:36:05 +0100, Ralf Ballis - DL2MRB
wrote:

Take a look at:

http://www.ldgelectronics.com

It's a kit.

Regards

Ralf

tried some amateur rubbish the other year, but the problem with
amateur constructions is ususally that you cannot make two units which
performs similarly, and it is difficult to tell what decides the
impedance. If somebody have another opinion I'll be pleased to hear,
it is not 1% accuracy I am after, 10% is good enough and that the
readings are successively the same for the same conditions. Put some
info about some simple couplers you can make on my site, you'll find
it with google search for "Bird Model 43 patent description"

73,

I also want to thank all the other posters. Some of the discussion were
definetly over my head but as time goes by I might understand this or that
detail better. First I need to get my hands on one of those SWR meters (I
hear the old URM 120 are quite good and rugged, if I don't built a meter
myself that might be the way to go) and gain some experience, I like to
learn the theory hand in hand with practical experiments.

The URM 120 and their variations are very good, especially for the money.
Think I payed about $ 150 for one at a hamfest. I was very luckey in that
it was new in a sealed box, never opened and was about 10 years or so old.
Someone had alot of them in a truck. It came with 3 plug in units and goes
from about 3 to 30 mhz up to 1000 watts and up to 1000 mhz to 500 watts.

I also want to thank all the other posters. Some of the discussion were
definetly over my head but as time goes by I might understand this or that
detail better. First I need to get my hands on one of those SWR meters (I
hear the old URM 120 are quite good and rugged, if I don't built a meter
myself that might be the way to go) and gain some experience, I like to
learn the theory hand in hand with practical experiments.

The URM 120 and their variations are very good, especially for the money.
Think I payed about $ 150 for one at a hamfest. I was very luckey in that
it was new in a sealed box, never opened and was about 10 years or so old.
Someone had alot of them in a truck. It came with 3 plug in units and goes
from about 3 to 30 mhz up to 1000 watts and up to 1000 mhz to 500 watts.

parameters governing the power rating and the frequency range of an SWR
meter


I am reading the article which was sent to me as a response to my question
about SWR meters and their construction. The article, a section of the test
equipment chapter of the RSGB VHF/UHF Handbook, explains the construction of
a reflectometer for 2m.

The main line pick up tube is selected to match the impedance of the antenna
line whereas the impedance of the sampling line can be more arbitrary and
just has to be matched up with the proper terminating resistor.

So much for impedance matching.


The article did not explain very much what the limitation of the device with
regards to the power and the used frequency are.

Ok, the power seems to be limited by the power rating of the resistors
terminating the sampling line.
But then what parameter(s) are reponsible for the frequency rating of the
device.

I am asking because at a local hamfest I picked up reflectometer parts and
now I wonder if I can change those to fit my needs (144MHz and low power).

regards Uwe

parameters governing the power rating and the frequency range of an SWR
meter


I am reading the article which was sent to me as a response to my question
about SWR meters and their construction. The article, a section of the test
equipment chapter of the RSGB VHF/UHF Handbook, explains the construction of
a reflectometer for 2m.

The main line pick up tube is selected to match the impedance of the antenna
line whereas the impedance of the sampling line can be more arbitrary and
just has to be matched up with the proper terminating resistor.

So much for impedance matching.


The article did not explain very much what the limitation of the device with
regards to the power and the used frequency are.

Ok, the power seems to be limited by the power rating of the resistors
terminating the sampling line.
But then what parameter(s) are reponsible for the frequency rating of the
device.

I am asking because at a local hamfest I picked up reflectometer parts and
now I wonder if I can change those to fit my needs (144MHz and low power).

regards Uwe

I was told the length of the sampler should be a very small
part of the wavelength of the frequency under test.

OTOH I have used a SWR meter intended for CB (27Mhz) on 2m
with success. Try it and see.

murray vk4aok

Uwe Langmesser wrote:

parameters governing the power rating and the frequency range of an SWR
meter

I am reading the article which was sent to me as a response to my question
about SWR meters and their construction. The article, a section of the test
equipment chapter of the RSGB VHF/UHF Handbook, explains the construction of
a reflectometer for 2m.

The main line pick up tube is selected to match the impedance of the antenna
line whereas the impedance of the sampling line can be more arbitrary and
just has to be matched up with the proper terminating resistor.

So much for impedance matching.

The article did not explain very much what the limitation of the device with
regards to the power and the used frequency are.

Ok, the power seems to be limited by the power rating of the resistors
terminating the sampling line.
But then what parameter(s) are reponsible for the frequency rating of the
device.

I am asking because at a local hamfest I picked up reflectometer parts and
now I wonder if I can change those to fit my needs (144MHz and low power).

regards Uwe