SilverFoil
Newbie level 4
![Newbie level 4](/styles/images/ranks/blevel1.gif)
I'm trying to figure out the best way to get the vector sum of 16 different signals of different phases (and probably multiple frequencies as well). My primary concern is minimising changes to the signal phase, followed by noise figure and then gain. Is there a accepted way to do this? Either active or passive is fine.
The signals in question would be in the range 100MHz to 400MHz, going up to about 30dBm (because other parts of the circuit let out the magic smoke above that). This is for a pseudo-doppler direction finding system if anyone's curious. I'm aware that switches can be used to reduce it down to a two-way but I'm hoping to find a solution that doesn't involve active control.
So far, the best solution I think I've found is stacking combiners like the ADP-2-1W+ https://www.minicircuits.com/pdfs/ADP-2-1W+.pdf. Downside is I'd need 15 of them. A resistive combiner/s would spend too much gain for my peace of mind (for a single-stage radial: -12dB? -24dB? I'm having some trouble finding information on combiners that isn't just a bit at the end saying 'they're like splitters but backwards').
My thanks for any help you can provide.
The signals in question would be in the range 100MHz to 400MHz, going up to about 30dBm (because other parts of the circuit let out the magic smoke above that). This is for a pseudo-doppler direction finding system if anyone's curious. I'm aware that switches can be used to reduce it down to a two-way but I'm hoping to find a solution that doesn't involve active control.
So far, the best solution I think I've found is stacking combiners like the ADP-2-1W+ https://www.minicircuits.com/pdfs/ADP-2-1W+.pdf. Downside is I'd need 15 of them. A resistive combiner/s would spend too much gain for my peace of mind (for a single-stage radial: -12dB? -24dB? I'm having some trouble finding information on combiners that isn't just a bit at the end saying 'they're like splitters but backwards').
My thanks for any help you can provide.