Return loss bridge

 Small project made last year (4 days ago) just for fun and to try out the SWR feature of the spectrum analyzer.

Design is based on this one to the exception of the ferrite material, I used 43 instead of 77.

RF source will be the tracking generator, load will be device under test and detector the spectrum analyzer RF input.

For the 50 Ohm resistors (R1,R2,R3) I used two leaded 100 Ohm in parallel, SMD and shorter leads between components would help more on the high frequency side of the spectrum.

Build:

 Some data taken:

With no load connected in one direction and then the opposite one (cable swap), if all is perfectly balanced it should show equal lines, in this case....almost there, in any case the return loss line is all but flat...

Now measuring a 50 Ohm load, ideally should give the lowest possible result and a flat line for all the frequency range:

At 1.6Mhz: 1.22, so not very usable at the low range, probably due to lack of inductance on the core.

At 10.8 Mhz, 1.05, much more inline with and expected result (very low VSWR).

At 152 Mhz looks like it starts to break the measurement again.

And forget it at 433 Mhz since it's too off.

The load used was a Narda 370 BNM, 5W and good to 18Ghz.

Basically it's very usable on the HF range or just as general curve tracer for antenna VSWR at VHF frequency ranges.

You can also take the same info without the SWR measurement option on the Spectrum Analyzer, just use the tracking generator, normalize in the open position (no device under testing connected) and then look for the SWR from the return loss measured, you can use this table or calculate it yourself.

 

Have a great Year!