Two-Stage VHF Power Amplifier

Nick Restivo, Ian Skop, Phillip Tran, ECE 4418, Spring 2019, Dr. Kenney
I. EXECUTION Large-Signal GL 4:1 VSWR at
This report describes the design and testing of an Stability any phase
RF driver amplifier used in the FM broadcast band (88- angle[5]
108MHz) and the 2-meter VHF amateur radio band
(144-148 MHz). The amplifier was built with a BFR 193 Power Output P1dB 20 dBm min 18 dBm at best
at 1 dB
NPN transistor with a SOT-23 package and two BFQ1A Compression
transistor with a SOT-89 package. The selected PCB is a
0.031 in. thick, standard FR4 with 1/2 oz. (0.7 mil thick) Power Output Pmax 20 dBm ±0.1 Used
copper. To fit the compact form factor, surface mount (test condition dBm[7]
devices (SMDs) were preferred to larger alternatives. for harm.)
The design met all of the specifications except power
2nd Harmonic DH2 -40 dBc[8] -52.88 dBc max
output at 1 dB compression and stability factor. Suppression @ max
Pmax
Parameter Notation Specification Design Result
3rd Harmonic DH3 -50 dBc8 max -56.2 dBc max
Suppression @
Pmax
Operating f 88-148 MHz 88-148 MHz
Frequency (test
Junction Tj 125 °C max at Not yet measured
Range condition)
Temperature[9] 70 °C
baseplate
I/O ZS, ZL 50 ohm (test 50 ohm
(PCB)
Termination condition)
temperature
Impedance
PCB Assy WxLx 0.900 x 2.750 0.900 x 2.750 x
DC Supply VDD 5.00V (test 5.00V
Mechanical H x 0.550 in. 0.550 in.
Voltage condition)
Dimensions[10] max

DC Supply ID 100 mA 100 mA

Current @ max max[1]
Pout II. METHODOLOGY
The members of the team started out with push-
Over-Current Ifuse 0.25 A SMD 0.25 A SMD fast- pull amplifier circuit. The gain specification was not met
Protection fast-blow blow fuse
fuse[2]
with solely the push-pull network, so a driver amplifier
was added to the beginning of the amplifier. A filter of
Nominal Gain G 18 dB min[3] 29.246 dB min sorts was added to the end of the first stage driver circuit
(Small Signal) in order to obtain a more defined bandwidth. The spec
for the second and third harmonics were not achieved so
the team added a 7-pole low-pass Chebyshev filter after
Gain Flatness DG ±1.0 dB ±0.844 dB
the push-pull network. This gave a more desirable cut-
off frequency of the power amplifier.
Input Return |S11| -10 dB max -13 dB max
Loss Figure 1 shows a picture of the actual board that
has components soldered to it.
Small-Signal k 1.5 min[4] Stable to 1.12
Stability Factor GHz
(0.01-6 GHz)
 Figure 1. EagleCAD layout and printed board with soldered
components Figure 4. P1dB at 88 MHz using the network analyzer

Below is a picture of the board layout of the

PCB using EagleCAD simulation software and a
schematic using Keysight ADS.

Figure 2. ADS schematic

Figure 5. P1dB at 118 MHz using the network analyzer
The figure below shows the s-parameters over a
range of 50-500 MHz on two separate graphs using the
network analyzer

Figure 6. P1dB at 148 MHz using the network analyzer

Figure 3. S-parameters over range 50-500MHz

Power output at 1 dB compression was not met
because improving output power at 1dB gain
compression comes at a sacrifice to output return loss,
but the output return loss also affects the stability factor.
Therefore, it was more advantageous to reach the S22
specs and sacrifice output power at 1dB gain
compression. The output matching network could shunt
power from the load, which explains the decrease in
power output at 1 dB with increased S22.
Below is a figure that shows the 2nd harmonic level of
the spectrum analysis at 114 MHz using the signal
analyzer.
Figure 7. Second harmonic spectrum analysis at 114MHz
Below is a figure that shows the 3nd harmonic level of
the spectrum analysis at 114 MHz using the signal
analyzer.
Figure 8. Third harmonic spectrum analysis at 114MHz
Below is a figure that shows the fundamental frequency
power level of the spectrum analysis at 114 MHz.
Figure 9. Fundamental frequency spectrum analysis at 114MHz
Figure 10. Simulated K-Factor
Although k-factor was not measure with the printed
board, it was simulated using ADS. The design
theoretically becomes unstable at 1.12 GHz due to the
inclusion of a Chebyshev low pass filter on the output.
This is a tradeoff that is acceptable due to the
performance of the amplifier in band.
III. CONCLUSION
Overall, the RF driver amplifier met all of the
specs for use in the FM broadcast band and the 2-meter
VHF amateur radio band, with the exception of the
output power at 1dB compression and stability factor.
Using passive components or smaller resistance values
could reduce much of the power dissipated in the
feedback network. Y-parameter analysis and further
testing could determine more efficient feedback
configurations to maximize output power. Further filter
design and simulation could be used to improve the low
pass filter and stability design.