DESIGN OF LOW-COST TUNABLE X-BAND RF SOURCE

Abstract

Exploring radio frequency (RF) signals, particularly within the X-band, plays a significant role in various scientific and engineering endeavors. However, accessibility to equipment for practical experimentation in this domain can often be limited by cost considerations, particularly for educational institutions and aspiring enthusiasts. This project thesis addresses the challenge of designing a low-cost radio frequency source for the X-band. Students will learn about X-band RF signal experiments in the lab using the designed source. Transistor oscillators are an affordable alternative to costly vacuum tube oscillators used in conventional sources for low-frequency generation. Frequency multipliers can generate power at the necessary frequencies when used with lower-frequency sources. In this case, oscillations at a lower frequency are produced utilizing a transceiver module. The frequency has been upgraded to X-band frequency with the aid of a multiplier. The transceiver comprises a power amplifier, a frequency synthesizer fully integrated, and a quartz crystal oscillator. Using a microcontroller unit, it can be tuned to channels in the 2.4–2.52 GHz frequency range. Further, a frequency quadrupler generates frequencies in the X-band range, making it a low-cost, tunable source.