Scalar network analysis using a PC and a standard microwave lab bench

Abstract

This communication describes a promising on-going experience at the Instituto Superior Tecnico (IST) where existing standard microwave education benches are integrated with PCs, to provide an undergraduate mass students microwave laboratory with a measurement environment which is similar to that of Scalar Network Analyzers (SNA). A software application - LABHIPER - was written that controls the set up and the data acquisition, providing the basic real-time functions that are found in commercial SNAs. The adoption of this approach instead of directly using SNAs is justif1 ed by the high number of students attending the laboratory in each semester (about 100 students), by the lower accuracy requirements for initiation level measurements, by the possibility of providing a close insight into the measurement procedure since discrete components are used, and finally by the very low investment required. Two examples of the utilization of this application are presented, that show the value of this approach from the educational point of view.