Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of this thesis is to develop a 9.2 GHz low phase noise oscillator with a cylindrical cavity resonator. A cylindrical metal cavity with air as dielectric was used as a resonator. To minimise the phase noise of the oscillator, the resonator must be designed to have a high Q-factor. A high Q-factor was obtained by designing the resonator to operate in the TE011 mode. A tuning screw was used to tune the resonant frequency without significantly affecting the Q-factor. The tuning screw also separates the resonant frequencies of the degenerate TE011 and TM111 modes. The signal is coupled to the resonator by means of rectangular apertures. The coupling was designed to minimise the phase noise of the oscillator. A dual mode waveguide filter was developed and inserted into the oscillator loop in order to prevent oscillation at unwanted frequencies. Due to the excellent phase noise performance of the oscillator, it was not possible to measure the phase noise directly with the available phase noise meter. A measurement setup using two similar oscillators tuned to oscillate at frequencies differing by about 60 MHz was implemented. The output signals were down-converted to the difference frequency where the phase noise could be measured accurately. The output signal of the oscillator was measured at different locations in the loop and clearly showed that the resonator can be used as a filter to minimise the phase noise. The performance of the oscillators met all expectations. Phase noise levels of -115 dBc/Hz and -146 dBc/Hz were obtained at offset frequencies of 10 and 100 kHz. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie tesis is om ‘n 9.2 GHz lae faseruis ossillator met 'n silindriese holte resoneerder te ontwikkel. 'n Silindriese metaal golfleier holte met 'n lug diëlektrikum was gebruik as die resoneerder. Om die faseruis van die ossillator te minimeer moet die resoneerder ontwerp word om 'n hoë Q-faktor te hê. Om 'n hoë Q-faktor te behaal was die resoneerder ontwerp om in die TE011 orde te werk. Die resoneerder is toegerus met 'n verstelskroef wat die bedryfsfrekwensie verstel sonder om die belaste Q-faktor aansienlik te beïnvloed. Die verstelskroef skei ook die frekwensie van die degeneratiewe TE011 en TM111 ordes. Drywing word na die resoneerder gekoppel deur middel van reghoekige openinge. Die koppeling is ontwerp om die faseruis van die ossillator te minimeer. 'n Tweede orde dubbelmodes golfleier filter is ontwerp en in die ossillatorlus ingevoeg om ossillasie by ongewenste frekwensies te voorkom. Vanweë die baie lae faseruis van die ossillator was dit nie moontlik om die faseruis direk met die beskikbare faseruismeter te meet nie. 'n Meetopstelling met twee soorgelyke ossillators waarvan die frekwensies met ongeveer 60 MHz verskil is geïmplementeer. Die uittreeseine van die ossillators is afgemeng na die verskilfrekwensie waar die meetinstrument meer sensitief is en die faseruis akkuraat gemeet kan word. Die uittreesein van die ossillator is by verskillende punte gemeet en het duidelik getoon dat die resoneerder as filter gebruik kan word om die faseruis te minimeer. Die ossillators se werkverrigting het aan die verwagtinge voldoen. Faseruis vlakke van -115 dBc/Hz en -146 dBc/Hz by afsetfrekwensies van onderskeidelik 10 en 100 kHz is verkry.