For example, the AMRC-8-7/16 is a 3-6GHz, 8-way combiner offering loss of only around 0.3dB whilst able to combine powers with output up to 1,000W easily. It is a radial design with eight N-type input ports and one 7/16 output port. Since the design is reciprocal, it can be used as a power splitter as well. The unit is of small size (190mm long, 56mm diameter) and low weight (1.1kg), being fabricated in aluminum. This device is unpainted but a black satin paint finish is also available.
Combining power from microwave amplifier modules is an increasing requirement as module pricing becomes lower and power and broadband capability increases. A solid state combined HPA can reach the output of vacuum tube devices but can also offer ‘graceful degradation’ upon failure of a single module rather than the catastrophic ‘all or nothing’ performance when a tube fails.
Designed and manufactured at Link Microtek’s facility in Basingstoke, these combiners are individually built to customer specifications. The company can offer wider band (1-6GHz) or narrower band (X-band) versions with different number of ports and connector configurations. A typical narrow band pulsed application would be for weather radar.
