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Advice on microcontroller controlled VHF antenna switch

时间:04-07 整理:3721RD 点击:
I have two H-type VHF antennas that I want to be able to switch between to pick up 150 MHz radio transmitter signals. After going through the switch the signals will be fed one at a time into a receiver that has a minimum discernible signal range of -150 dBm. The switch will not be used for transmitting, only receiving weak signals (on average -80 dBm to -130 dBm at the receiver). The entire setup will be configured for 50-ohm impedance.

I need to be able to select which antenna is currently connected to the receiver by using a switch that can be controlled through a microcontroller with minimal losses in signal gain.

I've researched using electromechanical relays to do the antenna switching, including coaxial switches made by Dow-Key. However, I think a solid-state solution maybe preferable as the switching between antennas needs to occur every second or so.

Hittite manufactures a range of SPDT surface mount IC switches such as the HMC197A: Hittite Microwave - HMC197A, SPDT

...and Mini-Circuits has similar IC options such as the MSW-2-20+: http://www.minicircuits.com/pdfs/MSW-2-20+.pdf

I'm still quite new to RF circuit design and am unsure if either of the above mentioned ICs would work well for antenna switching in my application. I'm particularly concerned if their insertion loss and isolation is sufficient for working with weak signals.

Since I am unsure what difficulties with impedance, insertion loss, and isolation between antennas that might arise if I try building my own PCB for the surface mount ICs, I also found that Mini-Circuits makes a packaged SPDT RF switch, the ZX80-DR230+: http://www.minicircuits.com/pdfs/ZX80-DR230+.pdf

The ZX80-DR230+ has an insertion loss of around 0.7 dB, would this significantly affect the receiver's ability to pick up a weak signal (-130dBm)?

I'm hoping that someone with more RF experience than I might be able to give some advice on the ideal microcontroller operated antenna switch. Thanks in advance!

If losses must be low and for optimal S/N, do not use any switching before first LNA. For simpler MCU interfacing and more reliable function use electronic switching after the LNA. Dual gate cmos or PIN diode switching are common as switching elements and allows high switching frequency with less noise during switching.
If 0.7 dB loss in a switch is a problem, coaxial cable from antenna must be a much bigger problem?

In my opinion the ZX switch from Mini Circuits can work quite well at your levels of -130 dBm or so. A 0.7 or 1.0 dB loss is negligible.
The switch would be best located as close to the switched antennas as possible as only DC power supply and the control wire are to be run there from your receiver.
Make sure you protect the switch and the "indoor" circuitry from transient overvoltages like lightning etc.

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