Good day! I am currently designing a matching network with source resistance of 50 ohms and load resistance of 3600 ohms. I am planning to use the Low-Q Matching Network design, where L networks are connected or cascaded, to increase the bandwidth of the network. My question is, is there a limit on how many L matching networks I can connect? What are the drawbacks of having too many L networks in the design?

 

What frequency? What bandwidth?

I use this all the time, but it is for a single ham band at a time

 

Thanks, I use that also.

I am designing at 2.4GHz. There is no specific value yet for the bandwidth, but I want it to be as wide as possible. So, is there a limit on how many L networks I can connect? And what are the trade offs of having too many cascaded L networks. Thank you.

 

when you cascade l networks, they interact, and ou have to compensate for that. also loss increases with number of networks. badwidth is going to be a necessity to calculate the filter.

 

What do you mean by interact? And what will be compensated? Thank you.

 

the reactance of one l network will be connected to the next, and so forth. there isnt a way to isolate the reactance of one from another. compensation if for connecting one to another l network, you cant use the values for one l when you have two or more connected.

 

You can greatly reduce the interaction by putting a gain stage between each section.

 

Thanks, I use that also.

I am designing at 2.4GHz. There is no specific value yet for the bandwidth, but I want it to be as wide as possible. So, is there a limit on how many L networks I can connect? And what are the trade offs of having too many cascaded L networks. Thank you.

In this frequency range lumped component values may unsuitable. Are you familiar with microstripline design?

#1 Google hit
http://www.qsl.net/va3iul/Microstrip_Stripline_CPW_Design/Microstrip_Stripline_and_CPW_Design.pdf

 

If you use many sections in your filter, you might find that you need to add shielding between sections, and of course, the more stages, the greater the power losses.

As per PappaBravo, you will probbaly find transmission line matching techniques much easier to successfully deal with.