Low-Cost 10-Watt CW Power Amplifier for Satellite Communication

This study introduces a cost-effective power amplifier designed for satellite communication applications. The amplifier employs a low-cost surface-mount packaged transistor, typically reserved for low-duty cycle pulsed test conditions, but uniquely adapted here for continuous wave (CW) operation. To mitigate the risk of thermal overload, the design process prioritized efficiency. This was achieved through the implementation of a harmonic tuning approach, with particular attention given to the real part of the impedances experienced by the transistor. Simulations and empirical measurements confirmed the amplifier’s robust performance, delivering a minimum output power of 40 dBm, a drain efficiency ranging from 32% to 42%, and a power gain of 7 to 10 dB across the full bandwidth of 7.25-7.75 GHz, which is allocated for space-to-earth communication links.