DECIMETER RANGE GENERATOR

Abstract

The receiver's heterodyne and the transmitter's master oscillator are the most important
components, as they determine their stability and range properties. In recent years, the Meteor
plant has created a number of new voltage-controlled generator chips with high electrical parameters.
However, the advertising materials of this company do not contain a number of parameters
that are important from the point of view of the consumer. Therefore, the purpose of this work
is to study the main characteristics of the generator, including those not declared by the supplier:
the width of the signal spectrum, the average steepness of the modulation characteristic, the level
of harmonics. The object of the study is the GUN382 microchip in a typical switching circuit.
The results of an experimental study of a VCO operating in the 1200 MHz region are presented.
The estimation of parasitic products in the spectrum of the output signal is given. Photos of the
spectrum of the output signal showing a small width of the spectral line are presented. The modulation
characteristics are measured when the control voltage and supply voltage change, and their
average steepness is calculated. These data allow us to make reasonable requirements for the
stability of the control and supply voltages. The results obtained can be used in receiving and
transmitting equipment for communication, navigation, and electronic warfare. The article expands
the idea of the line of generators of the Meteor plant, demonstrates their high electrical
characteristics: operating frequency range 1200 ± 16 MHz; output power of at least 1 dBm; supply
voltage + 5V; control voltage from 0 to 8 V; the level of the second and third harmonics does
not exceed minus 22 dB in relation to the useful signal.