Experiment No.

1
WAVE PROPAGATION IN A TRANSMISSION LINE DEMONSTRATING THE EFFECTS OF
LOSSES, ATTENUATION, AND STANDING WAVES

Course: ECE503 Experiment No.: 1

Group No.: 6 Section: EC51FC1
Group Members: ANTHONY SAGCAL Date Performed: 06/19/2017
PAULA ISABEL SIGNO, BRYAN TADURAN Date Submitted: 06/23/2017
GRACE AMIEL TUPAS Instructor: ENGR. FRANCIS B. MALIT

1.Objectives(s):
This activity aims to introduce the basic concepts of transmission line and its abnormalities and
effects. This experiment will provide the students to analyze how the electrical signal propagates
inside the transmission line and how it reacts to the irregularities on the line. This will also help the
students to understand the concepts of characteristics impedance and reflections in transmission
lines.
2.Intended Learning Outcomes(ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
2.1 Understand and explain the propagation of a signal in a match or non-resonating line.
2.2 Determine the effects of losses, attenuation, and dispersion, on the amplitude, frequency, and
phase of a signal
2.3 Define the characteristic impedance and reflections
3.Discussion:
Propagation in a Transmission Line

There are many situations in which it is desired to connect a generator (source of electrical
power) to distant load (power absorbing device). The generator usually is of high power source,
as in a power station, and the load is of low power, as with in a microphone; which maybe in of low
frequency. Usually the power station, is a radio transmitter. In each case a pair of conductors is
required to convey the power from the generator to the load. Such a pair of conductors is called a
transmission line or to simply a line when convenient.

When a signal is applied at one end of transmission line at one end, the other end is not
immediately affected. Instead the signal travels along the line with finite velocity, and reaches the
load somewhat later. The potential difference between the conductors is associated with the
magnetic field. Those fields interact with each other and with the line to form a guided
electromagnetic wave travelling along the line. The maximum speed that a wave can have is
similar to the speed of light which is 3108 m/s. In lines having solid materials around the
conductors the speed or propagation could be much lesser. If a sinusoidal signal is applied to the
line, different phases of the sine-wave will be distributed in distance along the line owing to its
propagation characteristics. A complete cycle of the wave occupies a distance along the line
which is called the wavelength. The wavelength is inversely proportional to the frequency f of the
wave. They are related to the propagation velocity v using the formula v= f.
Attenuation and Dispersion

The flow of current in the conductors resistance gives rise to energy losses. Further
losses arise due to imperfections in the isolation between conductors, such as surface leaking
across insulators, known as dielectric losses. In consequence if the power of a signal is W(watts)
at the sending end of the line, it may be reduced to 1/2W at some distance along the line; the
same further on again it will be 1/4W. The signal is said to be attenuated. The diminution in power
is exponential: the decrease is by a given factor per unit distance.
In mathematical treatment of a transmission line, all the properties (velocity of propagation,
attenuation, distortion of signals) are explain in terms of four line constants. These are:
L = the inductance of line per unit distance (H/m)
C = the capacitance of the line per unit distance (F/m)
R = the resistance of the line per unit distance (/m)
G = the conductance of the line per unit distance (S/m)

The line constants in fact are only constant for a particular frequency, and may vary from
one frequency to another. However, the variation is not usually so rapid as to spoil the usefulness
of this theory.
4.Equipment:
1 - Transmission Line Demonstrator (TLD511)
1 Function Generator, Sine (eg Feedback VPG608)
1 600R Terminator
2 Links
1 Extension Cord
5.Procedure:
PART A: PROPAGATION IN A TRANSMISSION LINE

1. Set the TLD511 controls as follows:

i. Hold/run set to run
ii. Line length set to 8L
iii. Distributed attenuation set to min

2. Set the function generators output voltage to zero. The generator frequency should on a
range allowing continuous variation between 2 and 0.5Hz. Set the frequency to 0.75Hz.
3. Connect up the system as shown in Figure 1.1
 Figure 1.1

4. Operate the switch for step input to A briefly until the light has appeared in the second
column. Observation: All the lines lighted up from left to right until the second
column but we need to hold the step input switch to A or else only a few columns of
lines will light at a time.

5. Send a pulse from terminal B to A by operating step input to B. Observe that the pulse
disappear at the end. Why? The same can be observed when we switched the step
input to B but it is reversed.

6. Change line length to 2L and raise the output voltage of the generator to give full height
indication in each column. Describe the shape of the wave. It moves in a sinusoidal-like
pattern and we need to set the output voltage of the function generator to 5V peak
to peak.

7. Operate hold. What part of the wave is shown? All the lines will hold up except for the
first one.

8. Release hold and operate again at a different part of the input cycle: different parts of the
sine wave are displayed, but always the same fraction of a wavelength.

9. Release hold again and raise the frequency gradually to 2Hz. Point out the reduce
wavelength and operate hold again. Observation: The wave moves faster.

10. Determine v (for TLD511) using the formula 4L m/s where L is the length in meters. Find
the propagation time of the line length L. If we increase the frequency to 2Hz, the total
wavelength shall be reduced.

PART B: ATTENUATION AND DISPERSION

1. Set the TLD511 controls as follows:
i. Hold/run set to run
ii. Line length set to 2L
iii. Distributed attenuation set to min

2. The generator frequency should on a range following continuous variation between 2 and
0.5 Hz. Choose a frequency about 1.75Hz.
3. Connect up the system as shown in Figure 1.2

Figure 1.2

4. Raise the generators output voltage to give a travelling sine wave display of full column
amplitude. Point out that amplitude is the same at all points in the line

5. Gradually raise the distributed attenuation to the max

Observation: We need a 9V peak to peak voltage to raise the amplitude of each lines
to max. The traveling pulse only reach the 9th column and the amplitude of each line
decreases.

6. Reduce the frequency of the generator.

Observation: The output wave becomes slower.

7. Disconnect the line connecting to the generator. Set the length to 8L Set the distributed
attenuation control about mid-way.

8. Operate the step input to A switch until the second display column lights, to produce a
travelling pulse.
Observe: The column lights travel at 2 columns at a time.

9. Repeat the various amount of attenuation.

 10. Transfer the 600R terminator to the end A end of the line. Operate the step input to B
switch. Observation: The amplitude moves at 2 line lights at a time in the reversed
direction and the amplitude varies.

PART C: TERMINATIONS, SIMPLE CASES

1. Set the TLD511 controls as follows:

i. Hold/run set to run
ii. Line length set to 8L
iii. Distributed attenuation set to min

2. Set the function generators output voltage to zero and its frequency to 1.5Hz.

3. Connect the equipment as shown on Figure 2.1

Figure 2.1

4. Operate the switch for step input to A briefly until the light has appeared in the second
column. A pulse, two columns as wide as in Figure 2.2, will then travel to terminal B end
of the line and disappear. Why? The pulse disappeared because of the 600R
terminator.

Figure 2.2
5. This time remove the terminator from B end of the line and send a pulse from A.
Observe and record the results. The light line still travel 2 columns at a time but at the
end of the light line, the amplitude increased and the light lines traveled back.

Figure 2.3

6. Place a short-link across the line at B (where the 600R terminator was) and again send a
pulse from A. Observe and record the results. The light lines with 2 columns of
amplitude travelled from left to right except for the last line, and then the traveled
back from right to left but in the negative peak amplitude.

Figure 2.4

7. Reconnect the set-up of Figure 2.1. Operate the step input to A switch to send a pulse
from A, then immediately operate it in the reverse direction to send a pulse from B.
Record the results below. The light lines from both directions each with 2 columns of
amplitude traveled towards the middle and collided with each other.
 Figure 2.5

8. Operate the step input to A switch. Release only the switch after the signal has reached
B. When the line is at rest remove the 600R terminator.
Observation: All the light lines travelling with 2 columns of amplitude each lighted up
and removing the 600R terminator cause the amplitude to increase and the
eventually reverted back to its original amplitude.

9. Operate the step input to A switch. Release only the switch after the reflected signal has
returned to A.
Observation: blank!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10. Repeat procedure 8 and 9 of part C, using short-circuit link at termination B.

Explain: blank!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11. Set the line length to 2L. Replace the 600R terminator at B ( a value lower or higher than
600R)

12. Raise the function generator output to give a traveling wave of about half-scale amplitude.

13. Remove the terminator from B. Observe the standing wave.

14. Vary the frequency in the range to 2Hz. Observe the change in wavelength and always
a maximum voltage at termination B.

15. Return the frequency to 1.5Hz. Plug in a short-circuit link in parallel with termination B.
Observe the places of the node and antinodes where they have changed locations.
6. Observation:

7. Interpretaion:

8. Conclusion:

9. Questions and Problems:

1. Give examples of causes of attenuation.

2. Compare the reflected wave in an open, short and properly matched line?

3. Why do we need to terminate a line at its characteristic impedance? What are the effects
of not doing so?

4. Why is an ordinary extension cord usually is not considered a transmission line, while a
television antenna of the same length would be?

5. What is the relationship between the frequency and attenuation?