Penetration Properties of the Materials

Objectives of this Chapter:

 Recognize the operation of a line of sight communications link.

 Identify the attenuation of microwave signals by different materials.
 Identify where a wire link system would be used.
 Investigate the attenuation of microwaves and the wire link system.

Items required for this Experiment:

 Microwave Communication Base

 Microwave Transmitter
 Microwave Receiver
 1 Plastic Sheet
 1 Hardboard Sheet
 1 Wide Metal Plate
 1 Free Standing bracket without pegs
 Microphone
 Audio Wire Cable
 Other Materials to test for microwave penetration properties ( useful but not essential )

Problems with Line of Sight Communication Path

At microwave frequencies, the path that the microwave takes is in straight line. Because of this,
when a communication system is set up using microwaves, it is sometimes referred to as Line of Sight
communication path. If there is a large distance between transmitter and receiver then the signal may
need to be boosted at regular intervals. This is illustrated in Figure 29 where the signal is transmitted in
a straight line from left to right and is boosted by the transmitter and receiver arrangement (known as a
REAPETER) in the center.
When setting up a direct line of sight communication path, it is important that tehre are no objects in
the line of sight that are likely to interfere with the transmission of the microwaves. If there are objects
that lie in the path of the microwave signal, then the signal will be attenuated. Figure 30 shows a line of
sight transmission path where the microwave signal has been attenuated by the trees that lie in the
transmission path.

Attenuation Constant

For each amterial an attenuation constant (α) can be calculated, which describes the amount by
which a microwave beam is attenuated in passing through one meter of the material. A material with a
low attenuation constant causes little attenuation. A thick piece of material will attenuate more than a
thin piece of the same amterial.

The attenuation constant for plastics is about 10-10 nepers/meter, that for hardboard equals
about 10-6 nepers/meter while that for metals equals about 106 nepers/meter. This means that, given
materials of a similar thickness. Metal attenuates microwave more than hardboard, which in turn has
greater attenuation than plastic. Note: 1 neper = 20/(ln 10) ≈ 8.686 dB.

When a microwave beam penetrates a material, the electric field intensity of the beam is
attenuated exponentially inside the material, as shown in figure 31.
 Figures 32 & 33 show the behavior of a microwave beam inside two materials having the same
thickness. But with different attenuation constants.

Another term that is used when talking about microwave absorption is skin depth. The skin
depth of a material is defined as the distance that a microwave beam can penetrate into the material,
before the electric field intensity decreases by 8.686 dB. Mathematically, skin depth is defined as:
 Using the previously quoted figures for attenuation constant, the skin depth of plastics equals
1010 m, that of hardboard equals 106 m, while the skin depth for metals is only 10-6 m ( or 10µm).

In a practical situation, the microwave path in a line of sight communication system must be
clear as possible. If there are materials in the path of the microwave beam that absorb the microwave
energy, then the link may be unreliable. If the signal is not strong enough at the receiver, then more
repeater stations will have to be constructed to boost the signal and this will increase the cost.

Because microwaves travel in a straight line, microwave antennas are often mounted as high up.
This is to avoid obstruction and to allow for the curvature of the earth.

In carrying out this next experiment, you will see that some materials which are likely to
interfere with microwave transmission. You will see that some materials absorb microwaves more than
others.

Practical Exercise:

 Connect the system as shown in figure 34.

 Set the transmitter switches and dials as shown in figure 35.

 Set the receiver switches and dials as shown in Figure 36.

 Set both the Transmitter and the Receiver Gain Controls to their midway positions. Switch
the power on.
 Adjust the Receiver Gain Control until the signal strength meter on the Receiver reads 2.5.
You may also need to adjust the Transmitter Gain Control to achieve this.
  Place the metal plate, hardboard sheet and plastic sheet in turn on the support bracket and
position them in the path of the microwave signal. If other materials are available (from
example, a book, damp and dry paper towels etc.) place them in the path of the microwave
signal, noting the effect that they have on the received signal.

Record the Receiver meter reading for the different materials in your student workbook.

6.3a Of the materials provided in the accessories kit, which material most strongly blocks microwaves?

o Plastic
 Metal
o Hardboard
o None of the materials affected the received signal

6.3b Microwave antennas are often mounted on tall towers or high up on the tops of buildings. Why is
this?

o So that microwave beams can be radiated into space.

o To allow for the curvature of the earth.
o So that microwave beams will pass over any obstruction.
 Both b and c.

 Switch the power off.

If we had to communicate and there were obstructions in t he way that would block
microwaves, then we could use a simple wire link, provided the distance was not too far.

Practical Exercise – A simple Wire Link

 Connect the system as shown in Figure 37.

 Set the Transmitter switches and dials as shown in Figure 38.

 Set the Receiver switches and dials as in Figure 39.

  Set both the Transmitter and Receiver Gain Control to their midway positions. Switch the
power on.
 Hold the microphone as far away from the loudspeaker as possible. Speak into the
microphone.

6.4a Can you hear your voice at the Receiver loudspeaker?

Yes Or No

 Set the Transmitter gain to fully counter-clockwise.

 Say the letter A into the microphone repeatedly and slowly rotate the Transmitter gain
control clockwise. Watch the signal meter on the Transmitter and the signal meter on the
Receiver as the dial is rotated.

The loudspeaker volume and each signal meter reading should increase as the Transmitter
gain control is rotated in a clockwise direction.
The signal receive by the receiver increases as indicated by the signal strength meter. Also
the sound from the speaker increases

 Set the Transmitter gain to mid-way.

 While speaking into the microphone, disconnect the wire cable from the AUDIO OUTPUT
socket at the Transmitter. Watch the signal meter on the Transmitter and the Signal meter
on the Receiver as the wire cable is disconnected.
No signal was received by the transmission.

Record what happens to the Receiver meter Reading on your student workbook.
6.4b What happens when the cable is disconnected?

A No sound comes from the loudspeaker but the receiver meter needle continues to move.

B Neither Transmitter nor Receiver meter needle moves, no sound comes from the
loudspeaker.

C Transmitter meter needle moves, the receiver meter needle does not move, no sound
comes from the loudspeaker.

D Both Transmitter and Receiver meter needles move together, no sound comes from the
loudspeaker.

 Disconnect the wire cable from the AUDIO INPUT socket at the receiver and adjust the
Transmitter and Receiver horn antennas so they face each other.
 Set the Receiver switch to demodulator and its gain control to the mid-position.
 Speak into the microphone and watch what happens to the Transmitter and Receiver meter
readings. Check that you can now hear your voice at the Receiver loudspeaker.
 Switch the power off.

The signal was received by the receiver.

Student Assesment:

1. When setting up a direct line of sight communications link, it is important that:

o No objects are present between the Transmitter and Receiver.

o There are objects present between the Transmitter and the Receiver.
o There are no repeaters between the Transmitter and the Receiver.
o There are trees between the Transmitter and the receiver.

2. Microwaves from a transmitter are not going to reach the receiver if:

o They are boosted by a repeater.

o The receiver is in line of sight with the Transmitter.
o The transmitter gain is too high.
o They are strongly attenuated.
3. If we wish to construct a communication link but the transmission path has many obstacles and
the destination is not far away, the simplest and cheapest option is to use a:
o Direct microwave link.
o Reflected microwave link.
o Cable.
o Satellite microwave link.

4. If distilled water has an attenuation constant of 2 x 10-5, then the distance that the microwaves
would have to penetrate to reduce the electric field intensity by 8.686 dB would be:
o 500 kilometers
o 50 kilometers
o 5 kilometers
o 2 kilometers

5. A thin piece of a material having a low attenuation constant will:

o Strongly attenuate microwaves
o Amplify microwaves
o Cause little attenuation to microwaves
o Reflect microwaves

6. Which of the following statements is true?

o The skin depth of a material is equal to the attenuation constant.
o Skin depth is measured in nepers/meter.
o The skin depth of metals is greater than for plastics.
o The skin depth of a material is equal to the reciprocal of the attenuation constant.