#167: How a Diode Ring Mixer works | Mixer operation theory and measurement
Why Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange recommends it
Electronics Stack Exchange users cite it as the reference explanation when building or trying to understand a diode ring mixer, including how the diodes switch and why a node acts as ground.
Recommended by 1 people across 1 different months, 2017 to 2024.
What it is
Alan Wolke (w2aew) explains how a classic double-balanced diode-ring mixer works, starting with basic mixer theory (sum and difference of LO and RF at the IF port, plus harmonic products). He compares oscilloscope math waveforms with the real mixer output, walks through the diode switching action, and shows the resulting spectrum on a spectrum analyzer.
What people said
Recommends Anthropomorphous Dodecahedron · 2017-08 · Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange · on “Diode ring mixer (difference between strong and weak LO)”
I've built a simple diode ring mixer according to this [this video] video. The mixer works, checked it on several frequencies. The application of the mixer is to isolate the IF from a 27 MHz FSK signal. As my LO I have a 27 MHz colpitts with 120 mVpp, and as RF I connected another 27Mhz colpitts with different capacitor values to produce a small frequency difference (although I suspect the difference would've been there even without extra measures). Here's the output on the scope: [LINK] I have a couple of questions in regards to the setup. 1) The LO voltage is quite low, around 120 mVpp. As far as I understand the mixing still happens even if the voltages are below the diode forward voltage, how
Cites user220456 · 2019-10 · Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange · on “Working of a Diode Ring”
I am trying to understand the working of a Diode ring circuit from this Video [this video] I find difficulty in understanding how the circuit works. How is the voltage at the point marked below is equal to ground? [LINK] When the RF is 10 MHz and the Local Oscillator is also 10MHz, then only the current flows, right? Can someone explain that circuit and how that marked terminal is taken as ground reference while he explains that circuit? And it would be great if someone could help with some frequency examples along with the working of the circuit
Cites user451625 · 2024-12 · Electrical Engineering Stack Exchange · on “understanding double balances mixer current polarity”
There is a manual in the link explaining the double balanced mixer. They say that when we look from the perspective of the RF signal on the right, We have a GND on the left side as presented in the photo. Two questions: 1.LO signal is also could be high frequency why the coils on the left are effective shorts? 2.Why when RF amplitude rises on the right side we have a current as in the red arrow, Its not very intuitive because the current is from high to low voltage potential. [this video] [LINK]