Effects Of External Power Amplifier Impedance On Measurements

By CAP Wireless

Auxiliary RF and microwave power amplifiers are often used in conjunction with other test equipment to help evaluate aspects of performance of a particular component or system. The supporting amplifier is often considered an "ideal" amplifier during the initial configuration of the test and measurement system. This assumption can result in significant errors that end up with the user acquiring additional, higher power amplifiers to perform the necessary tests, adding the critical elements of time and cost to the process.

Higher power than that generally available from a commercial signal generator is often needed for lab or range test purposes. A few component examples include test of limiters, mixers, high power amplification stages, device burn out threshold determination. System examples include EMC/EMI test, radar cross section evaluation, stealth material and structure performance, ECCM immunity, and jammer simulation. Power requirements vary from 1/10 watt (20 dBm) to several hundreds or thousands of watts, depending on the application.