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White Paper: RF Power Measurement Techniques For Digital Communication Systems

Bird Technologies Group

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Description

The measurement of radio frequency power in digitally modulated and post-combiner signals presents a challenge due to the high peak to average power ratios found in 8-VSB, COFDM, and other non-constant envelope signals. Testing was conducted as a result of this supposition to compare square-law diode detector based power meters to other methods of power measurement. Data was collected using two different digital modulation types while using a CW power source to establish reference data. The testing was performed at the laboratories of an international transmitter manufacturer during March of 2001. The results indicate that properly designed square-law diode detectors yield the same accuracy as the traditional standards for RF power measurement, the calorimeter and the thermocouple based power meter.