Methods are described for exciting gases to states from which they emit coherent spontaneous radiation in the microwave frequency region. The excitation is produced by the application of short pulses of microwave power. The power subsequently radiated by the gas is calculated for several cases, and experimental methods used to detect the radiation are described. The problem of sensitivity is discussed and compared to the sensitivity obtainable in a continuous absorption experiment. The operation of a high resolution microwave spectrometer, which produces lines substantially narrower than the usual Doppler width, is described. The method used to stabilize the klystron used in these experiments, which is a modification of the Pound i.f. method, is given.