High Sensitivity Full Waveguide Ku-Band Harmonic Mixer

The design of a full waveguide band harmonic mixer with vastly improved sensitivity covering the band 12.4 - 18.0 GHz is described. Details of the design of the mixer mount configuration together with the design of the diplexer are provided. The mixer, operating at a harmonic number of 6, provides a maximum conversion loss of 19 dB, a minimum conversion loss of 10 dB and a typical conversion of 14 dB at room temperature.