What is an Isolator / Circulator?
A Circulator is a 3-port ferrite device used to route microwave signals from one port to another, Port 1-> Port 2, Port 2 -> Port 3, Port 3 -> Port 1. An Isolator is basically a circulator with port 3 terminated. It becomes a 2 port device which transmits a signal in port 1 and out port 2. Any reflected energy or any signal entering port 2 will be routed to port 3 where it is absorbed. Thus port 1 is “isolated” from port 2.
