TRANSMISSION LINE

THEORY
Engr. Ricardo A. Banal Jr
 Transmission Media (Channel)
The Transmission media/communication channel
provides the path of information from the
transmitting end to the receiving end.

Transmitter CHANNEL Receiver

Noise
 Two Categories of Transmission
Media
1. Guided Transmission Media are those with some
form of conductor that provides conduit in which
electromagnetic signals are contained
Examples: Coaxial cable, fiber optic cables,
wave guides
2. Unguided Transmission Media are wireless
systems where in the signal is emitted through air,
vacuum (or sometimes water)
 Transmission Lines
Transmission line is a metallic conductor system used
to transfer electrical energy from one point to
another using electrical current flow.
A transmission line is two or more electric
conductors separated by a nonconductive insulator
(dielectric).
 Classification of Transmission
Lines
1. Balanced Transmission Line is one in which
neither wire is connected to ground. Instead. the
signal on each wire is referenced to ground. The
same current flows in each wire with respect to
ground. Although the direction of current in one wire
is 180 out of phase with the current in the other
wire.
 Classification of Transmission
Lines
2. Unbalanced Transmission Line is one in which
one conductor is connected to ground, whereas the
other is at signal potential. It is also called single
ended transmission Line
 Classification of Transmission
Lines
Balun (Balanced to Unbalanced) a circuit device
used to connect a balanced transmission line to an
unbalanced transmission line
 Types of Transmission Lines
1. Parallel Transmission Lines
Open-wire transmission Lines
Twin Lead
Twisted pair (UTP and STP)
Shielded Pair
1. Coaxial Lines
2. Waveguides
 Parallel Lines
Parallel -wire transmission lines are comprised of
two or more metallic conductors (usually copper)
separated by a non-conductive material called a
dielectric.
Common dielectric materials include air, rubber,
polyethylene, paper, mica, glass, and teflon
Includes Open Wire Line, Twin Lead and Twisted
Pair lines, and Shielded pair
 Open Wire Lines
Open Wire Transmission Lines - consists of two
wires that are generally spaced by insulating
spacers and use air as dielectric
 Open Wire Lines
This type of line is most often used for power lines,
rural telephone lines, and telegraph lines
An advantage of this type of line is its simple
construction. The principal disadvantages of this
type of line are the high radiation losses and
electrical noise pickup because of the lack of
shielding.
 Twin Lead
Twin Lead - essentially the same as the two-wire
open line except that uniform spacing is ssured by
embedding the two wires in a low-loss dielectric,
usually polyethylene.
 Twin Lead
Because the wires are embedded in the thin ribbon
of polyethylene, the dielectric space is partly air
and partly polyethylene.
This type of transmission line is commonly used to
connect a television-receiving antenna to a home
television set.
 Twisted Pair
Twisted Pair Transmission Lines - as the name
implies, the line consists of two insulated wires
twisted together to form a flexible line without the
use of spacers.
 Twisted Pair
It is not used for transmitting at high frequency
because of the high dielectric losses that occur in
the rubber insulation.
Commonly used in LAN cables for internet
connection and also for telephone lines (from PBX
to telephone set)
Classified into two categories, the UTP (Unshielded
Twisted Pair) and STP (Shielded Twisted Pair)
 Twisted Pair
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) consists of two
copper wires where each wire is separately
encapsulated in PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) insultion
 Twisted Pair
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) a parallel twisted pair
lines consisting of two conductors separated by a
dielectric material more than that of the PVC used.
 Shielded Pair
Shielded Pair - consists of parallel conductors
separated from each other and surrounded by a
solid dielectric. The conductors are contained
within braided copper tubing that acts as an
electrical shield.
 Shielded Pair
The assembly is covered with a rubber or flexible
composition coating that protects the line from
moisture and mechanical damage.
The principal advantage of the shielded pair is that
the conductors are balanced to ground; that is, the
capacitance between the wires is uniform
throughout the length of the line. This balance is
due to the uniform spacing of the grounded shield
that surrounds the wires along their entire length.
The braided copper shield isolates the conductors
from stray magnetic fields.
 Coaxial Lines
Coaxial Lines consists of a center conductor
surrounded by a dielectric material, then
concentric shielding and finally a rubber
environmental protection outer jacket.
There are two types of coaxial lines: rigid (air) and
flexible (solid) coaxial line. The physical
construction of both types is basically the same;
that is, each contains two concentric conductors.
 Coaxial Lines
The rigid coaxial line consists of a central, insulated
wire (inner conductor) mounted inside a tubular
outer conductor. In some applications, the inner
conductor is also tubular
 Coaxial Lines
Insulating spacers or beads at regular intervals
insulates the inner conductor from the outer
conductor. The spacers are made of pyrex,
polystyrene, or some other material that has good
insulating characteristics and low dielectric losses
at high frequencies.
The chief advantage of the rigid line is its ability to
minimize radiation losses. no electric or magnetic
fields extend outside of the outer conductor. The
fields are confined to the space between the two
conductors, resulting in a perfectly shielded coaxial
line. Another advantage is that interference from
other lines is reduced
 Coaxial Lines
The rigid line has the following disadvantages:
(1) it is expensive to construct;
(2) it must be kept dry to prevent excessive leakage
between the two conductors; and
(3) although high-frequency losses are somewhat
less than in previously mentioned lines, they are
still excessive enough to limit the practical length
of the line.
 Coaxial Lines
Flexible coaxial lines are made with an inner
conductor that consists of flexible wire insulated
from the outer conductor by a solid, continuous
insulating material. The outer conductor is made of
metal braid, which gives the line flexibility.
 Waveguides
The waveguide is classified as a transmission line.
However, the method by which it transmits energy
down its length differs from the conventional
methods. Waveguides are cylindrical, elliptical, or
rectangular in shapes
 Waveguides
A waveguide may be classified according to its cross
section (rectangular, elliptical, or circular), or
according to the material used in its construction
(metallic or dielectric).
The installation of a complete waveguide
transmission system is somewhat more difficult
than the installation of other types of transmission
lines.
 Uniformly Distributed
Transmission Line
The characteristics of a transmission line are
determined by its electrical properties, such as wire
conductivity and insulator dielectric constant and
its physical properties such as wire diameter and
conductor spacing.
Lumped Constants (Distributed Parameters)
Resistance Inductance
Capacitance Conductance
 Lumped Constant: Inductance
When current flows through a wire, magnetic lines
of force are set up around the wire. As the current
increases and decreases in amplitude, the field
around the wire expands and collapses accordingly.
The energy produced by the magnetic lines of force
collapsing back into the wire tends to keep the
current flowing in the same direction. This
represents a certain amount of inductance, which
is expressed in microhenrys per unit length.
Lumped Constant: Inductance
 Lumped Constant: Capacitance
Capacitance also exists between the transmission
line wires. Notice that the two parallel wires act as
plates of a capacitor and that the air between them
acts as a dielectric. The capacitance between the
wires is usually expressed in picofarads per unit
length. This electric field between the wires is
similar to the field that exists between the two
plates of a capacitor.
Lumped Constant: Capacitance
 Lumped Constant: Resistance
The transmission line has electrical resistance along
its length. This resistance is usually expressed in
ohms per unit length and is shown as existing
continuously from one end of the line to the other.
 Lumped Constant: Conductance
Because any dielectric, even air, is not a perfect
insulator, a small current known as leakage current
flows between the two wires. In effect, the
insulator acts as a resistor, permitting current to
pass between the two wires. This property is called
conductance (G) and is the opposite of resistance.
Conductance in transmission lines is expressed as
the reciprocal of resistance and is usually given in
micromhos per unit length.
Lumped Constant: Conductance
 Lumped Constants (Distributed Parameters)
Series DC Resistance Series Inductance
Shunt Capacitance Shunt Conductance
 Transmission Line Losses
Conductor/Copper Losses
One type of copper loss is I2R loss. In RF lines, the
resistance of the conductors is never equal to zero.
Whenever current flows through one of these
conductors, some energy is dissipated in the form of
heat. This heat loss is a power loss.
Another type of copper loss is due to skin effect. Skin
effect is a tendency for alternating current (AC) to flow
mostly near the outer surface of a solid electrical
conductor, such as metal wire, at frequencies above the
audio range. The effect becomes more and more
apparent as the frequency increases.
 Transmission Line Losses
Copper losses can be minimized and conductivity increased
in an RF line by plating the line with silver. Because silver is a
better conductor than copper, most of the current will flow
through the silver layer. The tubing then serves primarily as
a mechanical support.
 Transmission Line Losses
Dielectric Loss
Dielectric losses result from the heating effect on
the dielectric material between the conductors.
When there is a potential difference between two
conductors, the orbits of the electrons change. The
excessive negative charge on one conductor repels
electrons on the dielectric toward the positive
conductor and thus distorts the orbits of the
electrons. A change in the path of electrons
requires more energy, introducing a power loss.
 Transmission Line Losses
Radiation and Induction Loss
Induction losses occur when the electromagnetic
field about a conductor cuts through any nearby
metallic object and a current is induced in that
object. As a result, power is dissipated in the object
and is lost.
Radiation losses occur because some magnetic
lines of force about a conductor do not return to
the conductor when the cycle alternates. These
lines of force are projected into space as radiation
and this results in power losses. That is, power is
supplied by the source, but is not available to the
load.
 Transmission Line Losses
Radiation and Induction Loss
Induction losses occur when the electromagnetic
field about a conductor cuts through any nearby
metallic object and a current is induced in that
object. As a result, power is dissipated in the object
and is lost.
Radiation losses occur because some magnetic
lines of force about a conductor do not return to
the conductor when the cycle alternates. These
lines of force are projected into space as radiation
and this results in power losses. That is, power is
supplied by the source, but is not available to the
load.
 Transmission Line Primary
Constants
For Parallel line

Where:
s = spacing
d = conductor diameter
= permiability of medium
= pemittivity of medium
f = frequency in MHz using
d in meters
 Transmission Line Primary
Constants
For Coaxial line

Where:
d = inner diameter
D = outer diameter
 Example Problems
1. A coaxial cable has a inner diameter of 3 mm and
outer diameter of 9 mm, if the relative
permittivity is 2.3 and relative permiability is 1
and it is operating at 880 MHz., determine the
inductance, capacitance, resistance and
conductance of line.
2. A parallel line with core diameter of 2 mm and
wire spacing of 10 mm determine the inductance,
resistance, capacitance and conductance of the
line if r = 2, r = 1 and operates in 500 MHz
signal.
 Transmission Characteristics
Transmission characteristics of a transmission line
are called secondary and determined from the four
primary constants.
Characteristic Impedance
Propagation constant
 Characteristic Impedance
Characteristic Impedance (Zo) is the impedance seen
looking at an infinitely long transmission lines or
the impedance seen into a finite length of line that
is terminated in a purely resistive load.
 Characteristic Impedance
For Extremely Low frequency:

For Extremely High frequency

 Example Problems
1. The primary constant for a coaxial cable at
frequency of 10 MHz were determine
approximately as follows; L = 234 nH/m, C = 93.5
pF/m, R = 0.568 /m and G = 0. Determine the
characteristic impedance of the.
2. A coaxial cable has a inner diameter of 3.5 mm
and outer diameter of 9 mm. Determine its
characteristic impedance if r = r = 1.
 Characteristic Impedance
From a purely resistive approach, it can easily be
seen that the impedance seen looking into a
transmission line made up of an infinite number of
sections approaches characteristic impedance.
 Characteristic Impedance
In terms of Physical dimension
for Parallel Line

For coaxial line

 Example Problems
1. Determine the characteristic impedance for an air
dielectric coaxial transmission line with diameter
ratio 12.22.
2. Determine the characteristic impedance of two-
wire parallel transmission line with the following
specifications: copper spacing = 0.9 inches,
copper diameter = 0.025 inches
3. The characteristic impedance of a coaxial line is
45 ohms, determine the permittivity of the
dielectric if the outside and inside diameter are 9
and 3 mm respectively.
 Characteristic Impedance of
Other Transmission Lines
Microstrip
 Characteristic Impedance of
Other Transmission Lines
Multi-Track Microstrip
 Characteristic Impedance of
Other Transmission Lines
Stripline
 Characteristic Impedance of
Other Transmission Lines
Balanced 4 Wire
 Characteristic Impedance of
Other Transmission Lines
Single wire near ground
 Characteristic Impedance of
Other Transmission Lines
Parallel wire near ground
 Example Problems
1. What is the value of Zo for a single 0.1-in wide,
0.005-in thick track plus groundplane microstrip
line? Assume that the PC board is 0.075-in thick
and that the dielectric constant is 2.

2. A microstrip line is formed using a 0.095-in thick

PC board (Er = 1.8) with a bottom groundplane
and a double 0.15-in wide, 0.008-in thick track on
the top separated 0.2 in. What is Zo?
 Example Problems
3. A stripline is formed using multilayer board (Er =
2). The center track is 0.15-in wide and 0.0005-in
thick, and the PC board first layer thickness is
0.005-in thick, with an overall board thickness of
twice the single layer. What is Zo?
4. Parallel wire lines are used as transmission line
and is found 20 m above the ground. The line has
a each line has a core diameter of 20 mm and
they are separated 2 m to each other. Determine
the Zo of the line if Er = 1.
 Example Problems
5. What is the characteristic impedance of a single
wire transmission line 15 m above the ground.
The wire diameter is 10 mm. Er = 1
 Transmission Line Summary
1. The input impedance of a n infinitely long line at
radio frequencies is resistive and equal to Zo
(Zin = Zo )
2. Electromagnetic waves travel down the line
without reflections; such a line is called
nonresonant
3. The ratio of voltage to current at any point along
the line is equal to Zo.
(Zo = Vo/Io)
 Transmission Line Summary
4. Incident voltage and current at any point along the
line are in phase
5. Line losses on a nonresonant line are minimum
per unit length
6. Any transmission line terminated with purely
resistive load equal to Zo (ZL = Zo)
no reflected waves
V and I are inphase
Maximum transfer of power from source to
load
 Propagation Constant
Propagation constant (propagation coefficient) is
used to express the attenuation (signal loss) and
the phase shift per unit length of a transmission
line. It is used to determine the reduction in
voltage or current with distance as a TEM
propagates down a transmission lines.
Where:
Z = series impedance (R + jwL)
Y = shunt admittance (G + jwC)
= attenuation coefficient
= phase shift constant
 Propagation Constant
Attenuation Coefficient

Phase shift constant

 Propagation Constant
Phase shift constant in Free Space

Phase shift constant in other medium

 Example Problems
1. A signal will undergo a phase shift of how many
rad/m when propagating on a 25 m coaxial cable
with a velocity of 0.66c and operating at 5 MHz.
Also compute for the total phase delay in degrees.
2. A radio-frequency transmission line has a
capacitance of 46.8 pF/m and a phase constant of
30 deg/m. Determine the inductance of the line at
a frequency of 30 MHz.
3. Determine the attenuation in dB of 25 m length
transmission line if its distributed resistance is 20
ohms/m and characteristic impedance is 75 ohms.
 SEATWORK
1. A parallel wire line spaced at 1.27 cm and has a diameter
of 0.21 cm. Determine L, C and Zo of the line if r = 2 and
r = 1.
2. In a coaxial line, if the diameter is 0.51 cm and the center
conductor is 0.22 cm. Find L, C and Zo of the line if r = 2.3
and r = 0.98.
3. The Zo of a microstrip line is 75 ohms which is formed
using a 0.09-in thick PC board (Er = 1.8) with a bottom
groundplane and a double 0.10-in wide, 0.008-in thick
track on the top. By how much the track are separated?
4. The phase coefficient of a transmission line is 20 deg/m, if
the velocity of propagation is 2.5 x 10^8 m/s, what is the
operating frequency of the line?
 Transmission Line Parameters
1. Velocity Factor
2. Reflection Coefficient
3. Electrical Length
4. Standing Wave Ratio
5. Return Loss and Transmission Loss
6. Transmitted Power
7. Input Impedance
 Velocity Factor
Velocity factor is defined simply as the ratio of the
actual velocity of propagation of an
electromagnetic wave through a given medium to
the velocity of propagation through free space.

Where:
vf= velocity factor
vp = velocity of propagation
n = refractive index
 Example Problems
1. Calculate the velocity factor of a transmission line
if its distributed capacitance is 96.6 pF/m,
distributed inductance is 241.56 nH/m and a
relative dielectric constant of 2.3.
2. Determine the velocity of the signal travelling in a
transmission line with relative permittivity of 2.
 Electrical Length
Electrical length is the length of a transmission line
relative to the length of the wave propagating
down the line Where:
L = length
= wavelength
= 2f

Example:
What length of a standard RG-8/U coaxial cable would
required to obtain 45 deg phase shift at 300 MHz?
 Reflection Coefficient
Reflection is a transmission line pheonomena wherein
a portion of the incident energy is delivered back
to the source due to impedance mismatched
Reflection coefficient is a vector quantity representing
the ratio of reflected voltage to incident voltage or
reflected current to incident current
 Example Problems
1. Calculate the magnitude of reflection because of
the mismatch between a 75 line and (50 j25)
load.
2. In an improperly loaded transmission line,
determine the reflected from the load if the
incident power at the load is 5000 W and the
reflection coefficient is 0.71.
 Standing Wave Ratio
Standing wave is an interference pattern that exists
(because of impedance mismatched) when two
sets of travelling waves going on opposite direction
meets
 Standing Wave Ratio
Standing wave Ratio is a scalar quantity that
represents the degree of impedance mismatch or
defines as the ratio of the maximum voltage to the
minimum voltage or the maximum current to the
minimum current on a transmission line
Standing Wave Ratio
 Example Problems
1. Calculate the SWR if the forward power is 250 W
and the reverse power is 45 W

2. Determine the SWR of a 300- line whose load is

400 + j50 .

3. For a transmission line with incident voltage of 5 V

and reflected voltage of 3 V, determine the SWR.
 Transmitted Power
Transmitted Power is a portion of the incident power
consumed by the load or radiated by an antenna.

Example Problem
A generator sends a 75 mW down a 50 ohm line. The
generator is matched to the line, but the load is
not. If the coefficient of reflection is 0.6, how
much power is reflected and how much is dissipate
in the load?
 Transmitted Power
Transmitted Power is a portion of the incident power
consumed by the load or radiated by an antenna.

Example Problem
A generator sends a 75 mW down a 50 ohm line. The
generator is matched to the line, but the load is
not. If the coefficient of reflection is 0.6, how
much power is reflected and how much is dissipate
in the load?
 Input Impedance
Input impedance is the impedance seen at the input
of a loss less transmission line

Example
Calculate the effective inductance seen at the input of
an open circuit TL of length 0.12 m at 3 GHz.
Assume Zo = 75 , velocity factor = 0.65