Implementation of a microwave Dicke receiver

This article describes the implementation of a Dicke receiver with low-cost components. The equipment can be used to demonstrate the man-made emission of electromagnetic fields in the microwave range or as educational radio astronomy receiver. It is well known that the most critical blocks of the equipment for the measurement of the electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range (e.g. the radio telescopes) are the receivers. It must have low noise so that the systems are very sensitive and, consequently, it is possible to measure very small field differences.