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What is an Rf?

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Anonymous

11y ago
Updated: 11/10/2022

AN RF Isolator is really a three port device called an "RF Circulator" in which one port is always terminated correctly with a suitable load. RF Isolator are usually passive and are bandwidth limited.

Typical use: It used in the output of a RF Transmitters High Power Amplifiers but before a BP/ HP filter and the antenna.


Typical Function: To isolate a TX RF Power Amplifier output from receiving RF feedback from external sources. i.e. In this case the RF coupled in from other Antenna systems in close proximity. Such undesired RF feedback would cause intermodulation / harmonics products to be generated within the RF amplifier and consequently be re-radiated out along the the desired RF signal to the antenna and possibly cause interference. Often used on all TX's in two way radios sites to avoid local IM.


SIMPLIFIED: In other words an Isolator passes RF in one direction but attenuates RF in the other direction.

Note: The RF Isolator is slightly non linear and therefore it can cause low levels of intermodulation / harmonics. So it is good practice to place either a basic Band Pass or High pass filter after the RF Isolator to attenuate the unwanted IM products.


Tuning these RF Circulators / Isolators correctly requires a suitable network analyzer or combination of RF Bridge / Spectrum Analyzer with Tracking generator.

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Loma Schowalter

Lvl 13
2y ago

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