Gain, Path Loss, Spectrums, and Noise in Microwave Circuits and Antennas - Radio Design 201 #5

This episode of Radio Design 201 (Microwave Circuits and Antennas) focuses on fundamentals of communication links, including how to calculate received signal level, and the role of noise in a system's ability to detect and demodulate the signal. At microwave frequencies, the antennas used often have high directivity and gain, allowing for very long range communication. Signal path-loss is considered and the use and effects of path-loss exponents from 2 to 5 is explained. The video concludes with demonstrations of spectrum analyzers, including a TinySA Ultra and a comparison of the TinySA to an older high-performance Hewlett Packard unit. Correction: 14:17 For the dipole antenna, the formula shown for Ae should be multiplied by the half-wave dipole's gain G of 1.6. The formula is for a purely isotropic antenna with a gain of 1.