Yes that is right they work in both directions, split one way combine the other.they're like splitters but backwards
Aaaand I just realised that I forgot to mention that this is a PCB mounted circuit. The only 16 way splitter/combiners they make are connectorised.Yes that is right they work in both directions, split one way combine the other.
Assuming the amplitude and phase errors are within your budget why not just get a MiniCircuits 16 way splitter combiner? You will not get much lower loss by doing it yourself, but you may get slightly better phase and amplitude performance because you can optimise for you frequency range.
Alright, thanks for the advice. I have to say that I'm not confident I could design one from scratch and expect it to work properly with my current level of understanding. Don't suppose you'd know of a comprehensive theory document or simulation software or something like that?Cascading splitters works fine, that is probably what is inside the 16 way parts, the connectorised 4 way parts I have used are made that way.
By doing it yourself I mean designing your own, a colleague of mine, some years ago now needed a 32 way combiner and to get the performance he needed he had to 'grow his own', cascaded minicircuits or similar parts had too high loss and inadequate phase match,
For your frequency range I would look at a part with a higher maximum frequency, the performance degrades faster at the higher frequencies than low, and your low end is 100MHz so the ADP2-4 or ADP2-20 may be a better choice.
Alright, I'll look into that. Thanks.i would highly recommend you breadboard this subsystem with connectorized parts, say 1:4 or more power combiners with sma connectors and semirigid cable connecting it all up.
Power combiners are not strictly "vector signal combiners", and you can get some interesting nulling and phase/amplitude distortions of two adjacent antenna sectors.
it would be best to breadboard it, and make SURE it is working like you expect before you layout out and fabricate a PCB board version of it.
I'd say they are strictly working as vectorial signal combiner, but the effect of vectorial signal addition may be unexpected in some cases. The ideal 16:1/1:16 combiner/divider has a gain of -12 dB, not sure if you're aware of this.Power combiners are not strictly "vector signal combiners", and you can get some interesting nulling and phase/amplitude distortions of two adjacent antenna sectors.
Dimly, yes I am aware. Thanks for checking, though. I'm given to understand that adding an amplifier after it would restore the gain but not the signal to noise ratio? Or is 'attenuation equals loss of noise figure' rule only for 'real' (resistive) loss?I'd say they are strictly working as vectorial signal combiner, but the effect of vectorial signal addition may be unexpected in some cases. The ideal 16:1/1:16 combiner/divider has a gain of -12 dB, not sure if you're aware of this.
You could look at :Alright, thanks for the advice. I have to say that I'm not confident I could design one from scratch and expect it to work properly with my current level of understanding. Don't suppose you'd know of a comprehensive theory document or simulation software or something like that?
Signal loss is loss and it does affect the system noise figure.Dimly, yes I am aware. Thanks for checking, though. I'm given to understand that adding an amplifier after it would restore the gain but not the signal to noise ratio? Or is 'attenuation equals loss of noise figure' rule only for 'real' (resistive) loss?
Alright, that looks like plenty to get my teeth intoYou could look at :
not comprehensive design data but will give you some idea of what is involved.
To get the best out of the wound components is part art part manual skill and part science., they are 3D structures that are difficult to model and the placement of windings has a significant effect on HF performance as does the ferrite used. I have worked with people who were good at designing them but never done anything but simple devices myself.
Signal loss is loss and it does affect the system noise figure.
Makes sense, thanks.An op amp would work as a combiner if it were near perfect. You don't see it used at much greater than audio or video frequencies because the imperfections become too serious; gain bandwidth product, noise figure & distortion etc.
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