We demonstrate and model an on-chip frequency-domain transceiver which uses low-temperature-grown GaAs photoconductors to emit and detect continuous waves in the frequency range from 20 to 700 GHz propagating in a coplanar waveguide circuit. Our device has a possible frequency resolution (similar to 1 MHz) that is about 10(3) times better than similar devices used for time-domain spectroscopy, and is therefore appropriate for high-resolution spectroscopy with a "lab-on-a-chip"-type integrated circuit. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)01650-2].