Introducing ELEC 3030RF Systems Lab 6
Square Loop Antenna
Overview
Square Loop Antenna
Part 1
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We calculated what inductance was required for 1400 kHz, using a 60 pF capacitance. With the calculated inductance from the previous step, we measured what capacitance was required to pick up the lowest frequency station (1230 kHz). Finally we measured what the lowest capacitance needed would be to pick up the 1520 kHz station.
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Part 2
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Once we measured the inductance, we reinstalled the trimmer capacitance. We set the generator to 1230 kHz and adjusted the trimmer capacitor to achieve a maximum output.
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Part 3
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The second antenna adjustment technique is the spectrum analyzer technique. Now we adjusted the trimming capacitor to maximize the received signal at 1230 kHz. We recorded the max value in Table 6.2 then converted the power level to Vamp below. We connected the antenna to our radio and tested it next.
Introduction & Calculations
Lab 6
Square Loop Antenna Design
This lab was done with a lab partner and we decided to make an antenna from a pizza box. We calculated that the antenna should have 10 loops. Best-received AM radio stations in the Auburn area are 1230 kHz, 1400kHz, and 1520kHz.
Calculations
When calculating the inductance I found the value to be 229.753 H. The capacitor value for the 1230kHz came out to be 46 pF. The capacitor value for the 1400kHz came out to be 56 pF. The capacitor value for the 1520kHz came out to be 73 pF. The trimmer capacitor can handle the range from parts c and d.
Table 6.2
Based off the picture below the max value at 9.217 MHz was 18.4 mV. The power level was 12.6482 dBm. The Vamp was measured to be 1.35647 uV.
Pictures
AM Wave
The Am wave is the results of the antenna. We were getting noise which means we were picking up a station. and it did change when the capacitor was turned
Full Radio
This is the full radio connected to the antenna. The parts in this radio are the biased diode detector, LM386 op amp, and the two-stage RF amplifier. I replaced the CE-CC audio amp with the op amp because my CE-CC audio amp was not working correctly. My radio is not working great at the moment but I believe it is because it is too spread out. To fix this problem I am going to redesign how I place each component on the breadboard.
Reflective Writing
Due to the fact of being sick I missed lab 6 and had to get my results from my partner. It was hard to make some conclusions on the answers because I was not able to play around with the antenna and try to get different results. We are using my lab partner's full radio for the final project instead of mine because we got better results. Due to timing our group was not able to work on the spectrogram part.