Amplitude Technical Sales
RF power sensors offer a precise and cost-effective way to measure key parameters of RF components like filters and amplifiers. For filters, factors such as insertion loss, return loss, and frequency response (passband and stopband) are essential. For amplifiers, gain and the 1 dB compression point (P1dB) are also critical.
While high-end test equipment like vector signal generators and network analyzers are often used for these measurements, scalar instruments—such as spectrum analyzers, power meters, and digital voltmeters—can provide accurate and reliable results by measuring magnitude without phase. In this article, measurement setups for common filter and amplifier parameters using Mini-Circuits' portable test devices are explored.