Undergraduate Microwave and Antenna Lab
Housed in ME4140 (Mackenzie Building) Undergraduate Microwave and Antenna Lab at Carleton’s Department of Electronics provides students with a dedicated facility for hands-on RF and antenna experimentation. Equipped with professional-grade tools funded by Carleton Undergraduate Engineering Students’ Equipment Fund (CUESEF) and Faculty of Engineering and Design (FED), in addition to generous donations from Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) and mmWave Test Solutions (Denmark), the lab supports undergraduate teaching by enabling accurate measurements and prototyping of microwave circuits and antennas up to 6 GHz.
Acknowledgement
The Undergraduate Microwave and Antenna Lab would like to sincerely thank Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) and mmWave Test Solutions (Denmark) for their generous equipment donations. Their valuable contributions of high-end RF and microwave instruments have significantly enhanced our laboratory capabilities, enabling students to gain hands-on experience with professional-grade tools up to and beyond 6 GHz. This support plays a vital role in strengthening undergraduate education in RF, microwave, and antenna engineering at Carleton University.
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Microwave Measurements
The lab is fully equipped with high-quality microwave test instruments capable of operation up to at least 6 GHz. Available tools include a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) for S-parameter characterization, a Spectrum Analyzer (SpecA) for frequency-domain analysis, signal/frequency generators, power sensors, and precision attenuators. These instruments, enhanced through generous donations from Rohde & Schwarz (R&S), give students the ability to perform precise measurements of microwave components and antennas in a teaching-focused environment.
Antenna Anechoic Chamber
The lab features a home-made anechoic chamber optimized for single-plane far-field measurements. The chamber provides a controlled, low-reflection environment covering frequencies up to about 8 GHz. It is ideal for characterizing antenna radiation patterns and gain in one principal plane and is supported by equipment donations from mmWave Test Solutions (Denmark) to enhance undergraduate antenna design and validation experiments.
Other Resources
Beyond measurement equipment, the lab includes a high-end soldering station specifically designed for surface-mount technology (SMT) components, a hot plate for reflow soldering, and in-house 3D printing capabilities with Bambu Lab H2D printers. These tools allow students to rapidly fabricate custom antenna mounts, holders, fixtures, and prototype structures, while also enabling efficient assembly, repair, and testing of their own RF and microwave circuits — bridging the gap between simulation and real hardware in undergraduate projects.
Soldering Station
3D Printer
Undergraduate Courses Supported
This facility directly supports key undergraduate courses including ELEC 4503 (RF Lines and Antennas), ELEC 4502 (Microwave Circuits), ELEC 4907/ELEC 4908 (Final Year Capstone Project), and ELEC 3907 (3rd Year Special Projects Lab). The combination of professional donated instrumentation and the custom anechoic chamber ensures students gain practical, industry-relevant experience in microwave engineering and antenna design.
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