Advanced Communication Laboratory

Ex. No 10 Measurement of VSWR, Reflection Co-efficient and Return

loss in Transmission line
Aim:
To measure the VSWR, reflection co-efficient, return loss in a 80 reflection
transmission line of the following loads short, Z0, Z0/2, 2 Z0.
Apparatus required:
Transmission line analyzer, 100MHz CRO and different types of transmission line.
Theory:
If the input impedance of transmission line is matched with the characteristic impedance
no reflection takes place and therefore no loss. If it is not matched, then reflection takes place
leading to standing waves. Thus by increasing the load impedance ZL we can find Z0.
Standing wave ratio:
The combination of the incident and reflected wave giving rise to standing waves of
current and voltage along the line with different mechanism maximum and minimum of
current and voltage along the line.
Return Loss:
In telecommunications, return loss is the loss of signal power resulting from the
reflection caused at a discontinuity in a transmission line or optical fiber. This discontinuity
can be a mismatch with the terminating load or with a device inserted in the line. It is usually
expressed as a ratio in decibels (dB);
RL (dB)=10log10Pi/Pr
where RL(dB) is the return loss in dB, Pi is the incident power and Pr is the reflected
power.
Return loss is related to both standing wave ratio (SWR) and reflection coefficient ().
Increasing return loss corresponds to lower SWR. Return loss is a measure of how well
devices or lines are matched. A match is good if the return loss is high. A high return loss is
desirable and results in a lower insertion loss.

Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering

Advanced Communication Laboratory

Block Diagram:

Calculation:
VSWR

=antilog (attenuation/10)

Reflection co-efficient = VSWR-1/VSWR+1

Return loss

= 20log [1/||]

Tabulation:
Cable

Load
(Z0)

Attenuation
(dB)

VSWR

Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering

Return loss

Advanced Communication Laboratory

Procedure:
1. The initial arrangements are done.
2. Connect the transmission line of the load output terminal.
3. The slope should display a standing wave pattern if the line is open circuit or short
circuit.
4. It is due to reflection from other end of the line due to impedance matching.
5. A coaxial cable can acts as a real transmission line.
6. Connect the other end of transmission line to load input.
7. The underlying principle is that when a transmission line is terminated by a
characteristic impedance then there is no reflection loss.
8. Rotate the impedance measure con troll knob to read output 110 and then adjust to
55.
9. Press attenuator to bring the voltage maxima to minima.
Result:
Thus the VSWR, reflection co-efficient, return loss in a 80 reflection transmission
line of the following loads short, Z0, Z0/2, 2 Z0 is measured.

Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering