TRANSMISSION

LINES
TRANSMISSION LINES (TL)

Impedance matching circuits designed to

deliver RF power from the transmitter to the
antenna and maximum signal from the
antenna to the receiver.

System of conductors having a precise

geometry and arrangement which is used to
transfer power from the source to load with
minimum loss.
 BASIC TYPES

TRANSVERSE
ELECTROMAGNETIC HIGHER ORDER
TRANSMISSION LINE
(TEM) TL

PARALLEL WIRE LINE

COAXIAL LINE WAVEGUIDE
STRIPLINE OPTICAL FIBERS
MICROSTRIP
 TRANSVERSE
ELECTROMAGNETIC

PARALLEL WIRE LINE

(BALANCED LINE)

Made up of two parallel

conductors spaced from
one another by a distance Note: the term
of ½ inch up to several balanced means that
same current flows in
inches. each wire with respect
to ground, although
the currents are 180
deg out of phase
 PARALLEL WIRE
(TWO CATEGORIES)

TWIN LEAD OPEN WIRE

 TRANSVERSE
ELECTROMAGNETIC
COAXIAL LINE (UNBALANCED TL)

Consists of a solid
center conductor
surrounded by a
plastic insulator
(Teflon).

One conductor is
connected to
ground
 TRANSVERSE
ELECTROMAGNETIC
STRIPLINE (FLAT METALLIC
GROUND PLANE)

A microwave transmission
line constructed of a center
conductor suspended
between parallel conductive
ground planes

Evolved from coaxial cable

 TRANSVERSE
ELECTROMAGNETIC

MICROSTRIP

Consists of the
top strip and its
image below the
ground plane.

Analogous to
parallel wire line.
 HIGHER ORDER TL

WAVEGUIDES OPTICAL FIBERS

 TRANSMISSION LINE
EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT
PRIMARY CONSTANTS

Series Resistance
(Ω/m)

Series Inductance
(H/m)

Shunt Capacitance
(F/m)

Shunt Conductance
(S/m)
 TRANSMISSION LINE
EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT
SECONDARY CONSTANTS

Zo = characteristic impedance
Impedance measured at the source when the
line is infinite (Ω)

δ = propagation constant
Used to express the signal loss and phase
shift per section along a transmission line.
 TRANSMISSION LINE
EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT

AT RADIO AT AUDIO
FREQUENCY: FREQUENCY:
XL >> R R>>XL
1/XC>>G G>>1/XC

WHERE:
XL=ωL=2πfL Xc=1/ ω C=1/2πfC
 CHARACTERISTIC
IMPEDANCE (ZO)
Zo = √(Z/Y); Ω
Where:
Z = series impedance / section
Z = R + jωL(Ω /m)
Y = shunt admittance / section
Y = G + jωC
Therefore:
 CHARACTERISTIC
IMPEDANCE (ZO)

AT RADIO AT AUDIO
FREQUENCIES FREQUENCIES
(R=G=0): (ωL=ωC=0):

Zo = L Ω Zo = R Ω
C G
 CHARACTERISTIC
IMPEDANCE (ZO)
FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE
CHARACTERISTIC IMPEDANCE OF A
TRANSMISSION LINE:

GEOMETRY
OF THE
SIZE
CONDUCTOR
SPACING
DIELECTRIC CONSTANT OF THE INSULATOR
 CHARACTERISTIC
IMPEDANCE (ZO)
ZO OF PARALLEL WIRE LINE

Zo = 276 log (s/r) ; Ω

Zo = 120 ln (2s/d) ; Ω
Note:r = d/2

Typical Zo: 300 Ω (twin lead)

(range: 150 - 600Ω)
 CHARACTERISTIC
IMPEDANCE (ZO)
ZO OF COAXIAL CABLE

Zo = (138/√k) log (b/a) Ω

Zo = (60/√k) ln (D/d);Ω
Note:D = 2b ; d = 2a

Where: k = dielectric constant

Typical Zo: RG11 = 50 Ω ; RG58 = 75 Ω
(range: 40-150Ω)
PROPAGATION CONSTANT (δ)

δ = √(Z)(Y)
δ = √(R + jωL)(G + jωC)
δ = α+jβ

Where:
α = attenuation coefficient
β = Phase shift coefficient
 VELOCITY FACTOR
The ratio of the transmission speed in the
transmission line and the transmission
speed in free space

V = Vf(c) V = c/√k Vf= 1/√k

Where: NOTE:
v = velocity in a Velocity factors in transmission
medium line vary from approximately 0.8
to 0.6.
c = velocity of light in The velocity factor of coax is
free space typically in the 0.6 to 0.7 range.
k = dielectric constant Open-wire and twin lead have a
velocity near 0.8
of the medium
TRANSMISSION LINE LENGTH

Physical length
 Ex: s = 10 km
Length in terms of λ (1° = βs)
 Ex: s = 0.25 λ β = 360 °/ λ
Electrical length
 Ex: l ° = 120 ° ;
TRANSMISSION LINE LOSSES
RADIATION LOSSES
Transmission line acts as an antenna if the
separation of the conductors in appreciable fraction
of a wavelength
Increased with frequency

CONDUCTOR HEATING OR I2R

LOSSES
Proportional to current and inversely proportional to
characteristic impedance
Increase of frequency because of skin effect
TRANSMISSION LINE LOSSES
DIELECTRIC HEATING
Proportional to the voltage across the dielectric and
inversely proportional to the characteristic
impedance for an power transmitted.

Increase with frequency for solid dielectric lines

because of gradually worsening properties with
increasing frequency.
WHEN SIGNAL REACHES
THE LOAD
The entire signal
is absorbed by
the load

ZL = Zo
matched line

non-resonant
(Resistive)
Flat Line
WHEN SIGNAL REACHES
THE LOAD
A portion of the
signal is
absorbed by the
load and some is
returned to the
source.

ZL ≠ Zo
ZL = R ± jX
 WHEN SIGNAL REACHES
THE LOAD

The entire signal is

reflected back to
the source.
ZL = 0 (short);
Zo = ∞ (open);
ZL = ± jX
(pure reactance)
 REFLECTION COEFFICIENT
Vector quantity that represents the ratio
of the reflected voltage to the incident
voltage.

Γ = VR / VI = IR / II
0 ≤ │Γ │ ≤ 1
Γ = (ZL – ZO) / (ZL+ZO)
Γ = (Vmax – Vmin) / (Vmax + Vmin)
REFLECTION COEFFICIENT
At matched line; ZL = Zo
Γ = 0; most desirable

At short circuited line; ZL = 0

Γ = -1

At open circuited line; ZL = infinity

Γ =1
 REFLECTION COEFFICIENT

The reciprocal of the reflection

coefficient is called the return loss (RL)

RL = 1 / Γ
RLdB = 20 log(1 / Γ)
 STANDING WAVE RATIO

The ratio of the voltage (or current) at a point

of maximum amplitude to a point of
minimum amplitude.

A measure of the mismatch between the load

and the line.
STANDING WAVE RATIO

SWR = Vmax / Vmin

SWR = (1+│Γ │) / (1-│Γ │)
SWR ≥ 1

When the line is terminated in a purely

resistive load:
SWR = ZO / ZL ; ZO>>ZL
SWR = ZL / ZO ; ZL>>ZO
 STANDING WAVE RATIO

Note: the higher the SWR, the greater is

the mismatch between the line and the
load

At matched line, ZL = ZO
SWR = 1 ; most desirable
 STANDING WAVE RATIO

λ/
2
λ/
4
At short circuited
line,
ZL = 0
SWR = ∞
STANDING WAVE RATIO
a. Quarter wavelength
Minimum current
Maximum voltage
Maximum impedance

b. Half wavelength
Maximum current
Minimum Voltage
Minimum Impedance
 STANDING WAVE RATIO

λ/
2
λ/

At open circuited
4

line,
ZL = ∞
SWR = ∞
STANDING WAVE RATIO
a. Quarter wavelength
Maximum current
Minimum voltage
Minimum impedance

b. Half wavelength
Minimum current
Maximum Voltage
Maximum Impedance
 STANDING WAVE RATIO

If a load is connected to a transmission

line and matching is required, a λ/4
transformer may be used if ZL is purely
resistive.

ZOT = √ZOZL
TRANSMISSION LINE SECTIONS
AND THEIR LC EQUIVALENTS
TRANSMISSION EQUIVALENT
LINE CIRCUIT

λ/
4
 TRANSMISSION LINE
COMPONENTS
DOUBLE STUB

Adjustable stub
which could cope
with frequency or
load impedance
changes and still
give adequate
matching
 TRANSMISSION LINE
COMPONENTS
Choke, sleeve, bazooka
BALUN A circuit element used to connect
a balanced line to an unbalanced
line or antenna
 TRANSMISSION LINE
COMPONENTS
DIRECTIONAL COUPLER

Used to measure
the power being
delivered to a load
or an antenna
through a
transmission line.
 TRANSMISSION LINE
COMPONENTS

REFLECTOMETER

A device used to
measure standing
wave ratio.
 TRANSMISSION LINE
COMPONENTS
SLOTTED LINE
A piece of coaxial
line with a narrow
longitudinal slot in
the outer conductor
which permits
convenient and
accurate
measurement of
standing waves.
 TRANSMISSION LINE
COMPONENTS
SMITH CHART
A Polar impedance
diagram, which consists
of two sets of circles, or
arcs of circles, which are
so arranged that various
important quantities
connected with
mismatched transmission
lines may b plotted an
evaluated fairly easily.
 QUESTIONS

1. A system of conductors used to convey

electric power or signal between two or
more points

A. Channels
B. Optical cables
C. Transmission lines
D. Waveguides
 QUESTIONS

2. These conductors are uniformly spaced by

insulators. They have low losses at low
and medium frequencies and are
economical to construct and maintained

A. Coaxial cables
B. Open-wire transmission lines
C. Optical cables
D. Waveguides
 QUESTIONS

3. To prevent radiation losses and interference

from external sources, the inner conductor
of this transmission line is completely
enclosed with a metal sheath or braid

A. Coaxial cables
B. Open-wire transmission line
C. Optical cables
D. Waveguides
 QUESTIONS

4. The term “balance line” means that

A.Both conductors carry currents that flow

in opposite directors
B.Conductors present equal capacitance to
ground
C.One conductor is connected to ground
D.A and B above
 QUESTIONS

5. The characteristic impedance of a

transmission line is determined by:

A. Its operating frequency

B. Its length
C. Its physical size and arrangement
D. The signal applied at the input terminal
 QUESTIONS
6. The distributed parameters of the
transmission line are: the series
resistance; the series inductance; the
shunt capacitance and the shunt
conductance. What parameter was
determined due to dielectric losses?

A. Series resistance
B. Series inductance
C. Shunt capacitance
D. Shunt conductance
 QUESTIONS

7. Shunt capacitance was determined due to:

A. Conductors were closed to each other

B. The length and diameter of the
conductors
C. Dielectric losses
D. Flux linkage
 QUESTIONS

8. Series resistance was determined due to:

A.Conductors were closed to each other

B.The length and diameter of the conductors
C.Dielectric losses
D.Flux linkages
 QUESTIONS
9. At radio frequencies, a line is considered
lossless because:

A. Characteristic impedance is determined

by its physical structure
B. Inductive reactance is much more than
the resistance
C. Capacitive reactance is much larger then
the shunt conductance
D. B and C above
 QUESTIONS

10. Determine the characteristic impedance of

a transmission line which has a capacitance
of 30pF/m and an inductance of 75nH/m

A.5 Ω
B.50 Ω
C.500 Ω
D.5 KΩ
 QUESTIONS
11. The Zo of an open-wire balance line is
determined from its physical structure. [
Zo = 276 log (2S/d) where S is the center-
to-center distance of the conductors and d
is the diameter of the conductor ]. At what
condition is the Zo minimum?

A. S=d
B. S = 2d
C. d = 2S
D. S >> d
 QUESTIONS

12. If a change in the dielectric material

decreases the capacitance, the
characteristic impedance is:

A. Kept constant
B. Decreased
C. Increased
D. Halved
 QUESTIONS

13. All power applied at the input of the line

will be absorbed by the load if:

A. ZO > ZL
B. ZO < ZL
C. ZL = ZO
D. ZO = ZL
 QUESTIONS

14. When ZL ≠ ZO, the power sent down the

line toward the load is called the

A. The incident power

B. The reflected power
C. The power dissipation
D. The carrier power
 QUESTIONS

15. When mismatch is great, this power

actually cause damage to the transmitter
or the line itself.

A. The incident power

B. The reflected power
C. The power dissipation
D. The carrier power
 QUESTIONS

16. A resultant wave due to the combination

of incident and reflected wave

A. Electromagnetic wave
B. Sine wave
C. Standing wave
D. Current
 QUESTIONS

17. If the load impedance matches the

characteristic impedance of the line, there
are _____ standing waves

A. More
B. Less
C. No
D. Ten (10)
 QUESTIONS

18. A measure of the mismatch between line

and load impedance is called as

A. Reflection coefficient
B. Standing wave ratio
C. Loss
D. Standing waves
 QUESTIONS

19. At matched condition, SWR is equal to

A. Zero
B. One
C. 100
D. Infinite
 QUESTIONS

20. The ratio of the reflected voltage to the

incident voltage on the transmission line is
termed as

A. Reflection coefficient
B. Standing wave ratio
C. Loss
D. Standing waves
 QUESTIONS

21. A shorted or opened line will have a

reflection coefficient of

A. Zero
B. One
C. 100
D. Infinite
 QUESTIONS

22. The minimum voltage along a

transmission line is 260V, while the
maximum voltage is 390V. The SWR is

A. 0.67
B. 1.0
C. 1.2
D. 1.5
 QUESTIONS

23. At UHF and microwave frequencies,

transmission lines are commonly used as

A. Antenna
B. Coupler
C. Resonant circuit
D. Transformer
 QUESTIONS

24. The time required for a wave to propagate

on a transmission line will depend on the
value of its

A.Series resistance and shunt conductance

B.Series inductance and shunt capacitance
C.Series resistance and series inductance
D.Shunt conductance and shunt capacitance
 QUESTIONS

25. The current (and voltage) distribution

along a matched line vary _____ with
distance

A. Linearly
B. Inversely
C. Exponentially
D. Logarithmically
 QUESTIONS

26. a measure of how the voltage or current

decreases with distance along the line

A. Propagation constant
B. Attenuation constant
C. Phase constant
D. SWR
 QUESTIONS

27. The value remains constant for any

length of wire

A. Characteristic impedance
B. Inductance
C. Capacitance
D. Propagation constant
 QUESTIONS

28. A measure of the difference in phase

between the input and output current or
voltage

A. Attenuation constant
B. Reflection constant
C. Phase constant
D. Characteristic impedance
 QUESTIONS

29. To match a 300Ω transmission line to a

100Ω load, the impedance of the quarter-
wave transformer is

A. 1.732 KΩ
B. 20 Ω
C. 200 Ω
D. 173.21 Ω
 QUESTIONS

30. An attenuation of 1 Neper is equal to _____

dB

A. 8.686 x 10-3
B. 8.686
C. 4.343
D. 0.115
 QUESTIONS

31. Characteristic impedance and load

impedance must be matched in order to
transfer

A. Maximum power to the load

B. Maximum current to the load
C. Maximum voltage to the load
D. Maximum standing waves
 QUESTIONS

32. The ratio of reflected voltage to the forward

or incident voltage is termed as

A. Reflection coefficient
B. SWR
C. VSWR
D. Propagation constant
 QUESTIONS
33. A more common method of expressing the
degree of mismatch between Zo and ZL is
return loss. [Return Loss = 20 log (1/
reflection coefficient)]. Echoes may result if
return loss is

A. Too high
B. Too low
C. Zero
D. Infinite
 QUESTIONS

34. The points along the line where the

incident and reflected voltages are in
phase are points of

A. Maximum voltage and maximum current

B. Minimum voltage and minimum current
C. Maximum voltage and minimum current
D. Minimum voltage and maximum current
 QUESTIONS

35. When incident and reflected voltages are

out of phase, the voltages are

A. Added
B. Neutralized
C. Multiplied
D. Divided
 QUESTIONS

36. If the distance of separation between

centers of two parallel wires is increased,
the characteristic impedance will

A. Increased
B. Decreased
C. Be the same
D. Doubled
 QUESTIONS
37. Which statement is true?

A. Increasing the length of the wire will

increase the SWR
B. Decreasing the length of the wire will
increase the SWR
C. Increasing the length of the wire will
decrease the SWR
D. Changing the length of the wire will
have no effect on the SWR
 QUESTIONS

38. The characteristic impedance of balance

wire varies from

A. 150 to 600 Ω
B. 40 to 150 Ω
C. 75 to 400 Ω
D. 75 to 600 Ω
 QUESTIONS

39. The characteristic impedance of coaxial

cable varies from

A. 150 to 600 Ω
B. 40 to 150 Ω
C. 75 to 400 Ω
D. 75 to 600 Ω
 QUESTIONS
40. Often inserted in telephone lines at
spacing as close as 1 (1.6km), to
counteract the capacitance of the line and
thus make the line impedance more
closely equivalent to a pure resistance

A. Amplifiers
B. Transformer
C. Equalizer
D. Loading coils
 QUESTIONS

41. When the receiving end of the wire is an

open circuit, it is a point of

A. Maximum current and zero voltage

B. Maximum voltage and zero current
C. Zero current and zero voltage
D. Maximum voltage and maximum current
 QUESTIONS

42. If a wire is terminated on a short circuit,

the end of the wire is a point of

A.Maximum current and zero voltage

B.Maximum voltage and zero current
C.Zero current and zero voltage
D.Maximum voltage and maximum current
 QUESTIONS

43. The principal method of reducing noise

and crosstalk to low value on open-wire
lines

A. Filter method
B. Scrambling
C. Feedback
D. Transposing
 QUESTIONS

44. Used for VHF antennas

A. RG-214/U
B. RG-59/U
C. RG-11/U
D. RG-58/U
 QUESTIONS

45. Which transmission line has the highest

attenuation?

A. RG-214/U
B. RG-59/U
C. RG-11/U
D. Twin lead
 QUESTIONS

46. Which transmission line has the lowest

attenuation?

A. RG-214/U
B. RG-59/U
C. RG-11/U
D. Twin lead
 QUESTIONS

47. A widely used transmission line, in which

two stranded wires are separated by a flat
continuous plastic insulators

A. RG-214/U
B. RG-59/U
C. RG-11/U
D. Twin lead
 QUESTIONS

48. Used for TV antennas; cable TV; and HF

antennas

A. RG-214/U
B. RG-59/U
C. RG-11/U
D. RG-58/U
 QUESTIONS

49. An open-wire line has an attenuation of

2.4 dB per 100 ft. The attenuation for 275
ft is

A. 2.4 dB
B. 3.3 dB
C. 4.8 dB
D. 6.6 dB
 QUESTIONS

50. The ratio of velocity of propagation in the

transmission line and the velocity of
propagation in free space

A. Wavelength constant
B. Propagation constant
C. Velocity factor
D. Velocity of light
 QUESTIONS
51. This transmission line is used in
microwave circuit. It consists of a narrow,
flat conductor sandwiched between
dielectric boards whose outside surfaces
are coated with conductor

A. Stripline
B. Microstrip
C. Waveguide
D. Coax
 QUESTIONS
52. Is a narrow, flat conductor on a single
dielectric board whose opposite face is
metallized, much like an ordinary printed-
circuit board. It is also used in microwave
circuits

A. Stripline
B. Microstrip
C. Waveguide
D. Coax
 QUESTIONS

53. Can be placed at either end of a

transmission line to convert between 72-
Ω unbalanced line to a 300-Ω balance line

A. Stub
B. Resonant circuit
C. Balun
D. Coupler
 QUESTIONS

54. Power loss due to increased effective

resistance of a conductor at microwave
frequencies due to skin effect.

A. Conduction loss
B. Radiation loss
C. Dielectric loss
D. Corona
 QUESTIONS

55. When does a transmission line terminated

in a short look like a short to the source?

A. At quarter-wavelength
B. At half-wavelength
C. At less than λ/5
D. At less than λ/4
 QUESTIONS

56. How many cycles of a 1 MHz wave can a

6=mile transmission line accommodate?

A. 60 cycles
B. 6 cycles
C. 16.67 cycles
D. 32.26 cycles
 QUESTIONS

57. A transmission line has a capacitance of

25 pF / ft. and an inductance of 0.15 µh /
ft. Determine the characteristic impedance
of the line.

A. 77.5 Ω
B. 50 Ω
C. 75 Ω
D. 100 Ω
 QUESTIONS
58. For a transmission line giving a maximum
rms voltage reading of 50 V at one point
and a minimum rms voltage reading 25 V
at another point. What is the VSWR of the
line?

A. 2
B. 4
C. 1
D. 5
 QUESTIONS

59. Two 2-mm-diameter wires held 6cm apart

center-to-center has a characteristic
impedance of______.

A. 500 Ω
B. 250 Ω
C. 491 Ω
D. 75 Ω
 QUESTIONS

60. Does minimum or maximum VSWR

indicate best matching of antenna to
transmission line?

A. Minimum
B. Maximum
C. Either a or b
D. Neither a or b
 QUESTIONS

61. If two towers of a 1100-kHz array are

separated by 120°, What is the tower
separation in feet?

A. 321
B. 48
C. 298
D. 412
 QUESTIONS

62. What is the reflection coefficient of an

open-circuited transmission line?

A. 1
B. -1
C. 0
D. Infinity
 QUESTIONS

63. The reflection coefficient on a

transmission line is 1/3, what is the SWR?

A. 0
B. 3
C. 2
D. 4
 QUESTIONS

64. Indicate the false statement. The SWR on

a transmission line is infinity: the line is
terminated in a/an

A. Short circuit
B. Open circuit
C. Pure reactance
D. Complex impedance
 QUESTIONS

65. Coaxial lines are used on those systems

operating_______.

A. Below 2 GHz
B. At 300 MHz
C. Above 10 kHz
D. Above 10 Ghz
 QUESTIONS

66. What is the SWR along a transmission line

having a characteristic impedance of 75 Ω
and a load impedance of 300 Ω?

A. 0.25
B. 4
C. 2
D. 0.5
 QUESTIONS

67. Who developed the Smith Chart?

A. Philip H. Smith
B. James N. Smith
C. Philip S. Chart
D. Gunn Chart
 QUESTIONS

68. An electronic equipment used to measure

standing wave ratio.

A. Reflectometer
B. Wavemeter
C. Altimeter
D. Multimeter
 QUESTIONS

69. What is the phase shift corresponding to

λ / 4 in standing wave pattern?

A. 0°
B. 40°
C. 90°
D. 180°
 QUESTIONS

70. For a parallel resonant circuit, a λ / 4

stub must be_____ at the ends.

A. Open
B. Shorted
C. Loaded
D. complex
 PHIL LOMBOY,
KAPUSO MO
NGAYONG PASKO.