Experiment No.

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

Course Code: ECE 503 Experiment No: 1

Group No.: 2 Section: EC51FC2
Group Members: Date Performed: 06/20/17
Bodegas, Greaciel Date Submitted: 06/27/17
Buyco, John Lorenz Instructor: Engr. Francis B. Malit
Carreon, Haja Kiev Erenz
1. Objective(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 concept of characteristics impedance and reflection in transmission line.

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 characteristics impedance and reflections.

3. Discussion:

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 a 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 called a transmission line or to
simply a line when convenient.

A transmission line is any two conductors with some length separated by a dielectric material. One
conductor is the signal path and the other is its return path. As the leading edge of a signal propagates
down a transmission line, the electric field strength between two oppositely charged conductors creates a
voltage between them. Likewise, the current passing through them produces a corresponding magnetic
field. A uniform transmission line terminated in its characteristic impedance will have a constant ratio of
voltage to current at a given frequency at every point on the line.

To ensure good signal integrity, it is important to maintain constant impedance at every point along
the way. Any change in the characteristic impedance results in reflections which manifests itself into noise
on the signal.
 Transmission line characteristics are based on an infinite line. A line cannot always be terminated
in its characteristic impedance since it is sometimes operated as an open-ended line and other times as a
short-circuit at the receiving end. If the line is open-ended, it has a terminating impedance that is infinitely
large. If a line is not terminated in characteristic impedance, it is said to be finite. The energy is not
absorbed but is returned along the path available, which is the transmission line.

In mathematical treatment of a transmission line, all the properties (velocity of propagation,

attenuation, distortion of signals) are explain in terms of four line constant. These are:
L = the inductance of the 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 variations is not usually so rapid as to spoil the usefulness of the
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 LINES

1. Set the TLD511 controls a 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 0.5 Hz. Set the frequency to 0.75Hz.

3. Connect up the system as shown in Figure 1.1

 4. Operate the switch for step input to A briefly until the light has appeared in the second column.
Observation:
The input signal was the only transmitted signal to the terminal B and this signal remained constant
at zero(0) voltage

5. Send the pulse from terminal B to A by operating step input to B. Observe that the pulse
disappear at the end. Why?
By operating the step input to B, the input signal was transferred to the terminal A that made the
end input signal disappear

6. Change line length to 2L and raise the output voltages of the generator to give full height indication
in each column. Describe the shape of the wave:
The shape of the wave seen upon setting the given characteristics was sine wave.

7. Operate hold. What part of the wave is shown?

Upon operating the hold function, the positive part and the negative part of the wave were shown in
the interface.

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:
As the frequency increases the speed shown in the interface also increases and the phase of the
wave became more compressed.

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 of length L.

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 allowing continuous variation between 2 and 0.5Hz.
Choose a frequency about 1.75Hz.
3. Connect up the system as shown in Figure 1.2.

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

5. Gradually raise the distributed attenuation to max.

Observation:
The amplitude decreases as the attenuation is gradually set up to its max value.

6. Reduce the frequency of the generator.

Observation:
The speed of the wave decreases as the frequency decreases.

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.
Observation:
By setting the attenuation control about mid-way, the amplitude of the input signal was reduced as
it is being transferred.

9. Repeat the various amounts of attenuation.

10. Transfer the 600R terminator to the A end of the line. Operate the step input to B switch.
Observation:
By operating the step input to B, the input signal did not reflect back because of the load (600R),
which is purely resistive.
PART C: TERMINATIONS, SIMPLE CASES

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

3. Connect the equipment as shown in 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 wide as in Figure 2.2, will the travel to terminal B end of the line and
disappear.
Why?
The input signal disappear as it is being transferred to the load(600R), which is purely resistive.

5. This time remove the terminator from B end of the line and send a pulse from A. Observe and
record results.

Figure 2.3
6. Place a short-circuit link across the line at B (where the 600R terminator was) and again send a
pulse from A. Observe and record results.

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 results below.

Figure 2.5
8. Operate the step input to A switch. Release only the switch after has reached B. When the line at
rest remove the 600R terminator.
Observation:
Upon removing the load(600R) after the line was set at rest, the amplitude of the signal increases.

9. Operate the step input to A switch. Release only the switch after the reflected signal has returned
to A.
Observation:
The signal reflects back and forth until its amplitude depleted.

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

Explain:
The input signal loops from positive to negative part.

11. Set the line length 2L. Replace the 600R terminator at B (a value lower or higher than 600R).
12. Raise the function generator output to give a travelling 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
This experiment demonstrates how a step input signal is generated, processed and how it is
affected when connected to a function generator with a load. For the experiments on this chapter, using the
transmission line demonstrator, it can be observed that a generated step input signal can be manipulated
(as far as the transmission is concerned) using a purely resistive load. The configuration is a step input
signal from point A to point B with point B having the load. Signal generated from A to B does not reflect
back, while removing the purely resistive load from the configuration reflects the signal back to point A,
from this, it can be said that a step input signal transmitted to a point with a purely resistive load does not
reflect the signal back thus validating the concept of a perfect conductor , on the other hand, having no load
at the end transmission point reflects the signal back. Lastly, it is also observed that the variation of
frequency, voltage, line length and attenuation, affects the transmitted signal waves.

7. Interpretation
In this experiment, we were tasked to analyze how the electrical signal propagates inside the
transmission line. The data shows that, If the load impedance does not perfectly match the characteristic
impedance of the line, there will be a reflected signal that propagates toward the source. The signal also
appears to be a constant voltage whose phase is dependent upon physical position along the line. The
voltage seen at one particular point on the line will be the vector sum of the transmitted and reflected
sinusoids

8. Conclusion
We therefore conclude that the various parameters such as voltage, frequency and attenuation
could affect the transmission of signal. When the signal is attenuated, its amplitude decreases and could
easily losses its power. On the other hand, when the frequency is increased the propagation speed of the
signal increases and vice versa, therefore the frequency is directly proportional to the propagation speed of
the signal. We can also conclude that the unmatched characteristic impedance could result to reflected
signal and the matched characteristic impedance could properly transmit the signal without losses and
could make a good conductor.

9. Questions and Problems:

1. Give examples of causes of attenuation.

Inherent attenuation can be caused by a number of signaling issues including:

Transmission medium - All electrical signals transmitted down electrical conductors cause an
electromagnetic field around the transmission. This field causes energy loss down the cable and
gets worse depending upon the frequency and length of the cable run. Losses due to Crosstalk
from adjacent cabling causes attenuation in copper or other conductive metal cabling.

Conductors and connectors - Attenuation can occur as a signal passes across different conductive
mediums and mated connector surfaces.
2. Compare the reflected wave in an open, short and properly matched line?

For an open circuit, reflected waves would be of constant amplitude depending on the voltage set.
For a short circuit, the reflected wave amplitude varies. For a properly matched line which is having
a load of 600R, there are no reflected waves it is because matched impedance load gives
maximum power transfer and therefore there is no loss.

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

Unmatched characteristic impedance on wires produces reflection of signals and for signal
transmission this is not advisable thus we need to terminate a line at its characteristic impedance
to avoid power loss as well as to transmit properly, not doing so will cause the signal to reflect back
negating the efficiency of signal transmission.

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

Extension Cords do carry current but is not suitable for transmission of signals or is not a
transmission line because of the fact they cannot be used to carry currents in the radio frequency
range (30 khz above) because the energy tends to radiate off the cable as radio waves, causing
power losses. A television antenna on the other hand is exactly opposite and is a transmission line
because it do transmit electrical signals within the radio frequency range and has a constant
characteristic impedance and by having so this material is preferable for signal transmission, also
when we compare an antenna cable and an extension cord it can obviously be seen they are of
different structure with the former being well more insulated, this is to avoid power losses.