Ba1-x-ySryCaxTiO3 (x = 0.2-0.5, and y = 0, 0.05 and 0.1) ceramics were prepared by conventional ceramic method at 1400 degrees C, and their structural and dielectric properties were characterized near the solubility limit. It was found that the solubility limit lay around x = 0.24 for Ba1-xCaxTiO3 series, x = 0.30 for Ba0.95-xSr0.05CaxTiO3 series, and x = 0.34 for Ba0.9-xSr0.1CaxTiO3 series, respectively. The dielectric constant increased obviously near the solubility limit. Appropriate tunability values (n(inverted right perpendicular) = 0.22-0.38) were obtained in the Ba0.95-xSr0.05CaxTiO3 and Ba0.9-xSr0.1CaxTiO3 samples near the solubility limit and in the insoluble area, though the samples contained large fraction of non-ferroelectric phase. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.