30 GHz Band Low Noise Receiver for 30/20 GHz Single-Conversion Transponder

This paper describes the design and performance of a low noise multicarrier receiver for a 30/20 GHz single-conversion satellite transponder. To develop a low noise receiver the following areas were examined: 1) analysis of spurious signals, 2) selection of devices most suitable for use on board the satellite, and 3) level diagram tradeoff studies. The receiver consists of a 30 GHz low noise GaAs FET amplifier, a 30/20 GHz GaAs Schottky barrier diode mixer, a dielectric resonated local oscillator, a 20 GHz high gain GaAs FET amplifier, and a 20 GHz high power (0.5 W) GaAs FET amplifier. The receiver has an 8 dB noise figure and a 48 dB gain in the frequency range from 28.395 GHz to 29.015 GHz (620 MHz frequency bandwidth).