I'm looking to make a simple microwave communicatino link for short distances (like just withing a room, or maybe from one room to an adjacent room). From my understanding, all I need to transmit around 10GHz is a gunn diode, and that a gunn diode's operation is very simple.
However, I'm not sure what the simplest method for receiving a 10GHz signal is. Is there a single-component solution like for transmitting (a reception equivalent to the gunn diode)?
Also, do I need to operate a gunn diode in a tuned cavity? From what I've been reading online, most setups that involve a gunn diode transmitter, involve placing that diode in a tuned cavity. Is this absolutely esential? Will a gunn diode not oscillate if it's not placed in a cavity? If it does oscillate when it's not placed in a cavity, what frequency will it tend to oscillate at?
As for how to power it, are gunn diodes polarity sensitive like other diodes? Also, would I need a current limiting resistor in series with a gunn diode like I would for an LED, to prevent too much current from flowing? What is the typical threshold voltage for a gun diode? Is it usually like 5volts or maybe 12? Or do these specs tend to vary from manufacturer to manufacturer?