[AFMUG] Measure return loss

[Adam Moffett]

What device could we use to measure return loss at microwave frequencies 
on a coax cable and/or antenna (N-connectors if that matters)?  A TDR 
perhaps?  Will this cost thousands of dollars or is there a cheap/simple 
tool?

A lot of coax testers I see online are targeted at CATV so I'm guessing 
they won't test at the higher frequencies that we care about in our 
business.  I'm afraid I'm too ignorant in this area to make a good 
product choice.

My root issue is that I have a piece of equipment which produces radio 
head alarms.  The manufacturer is telling us it's caused by "reflected 
power".  They say it could be the unit is faulty, or it could be your 
cables or antennas.  So I'm supposed to replace cables and antennas and 
then wait a few weeks to see if the problem comes back, then they'll RMA 
the radio if it does.  I'd like to stop wasting time and just have a 
definitive way to test the cables.