The least expensive tool to use not requiring bunches of math and that shows useful data is from Bird. Nice little unit and about $20,000 less than the Anritsu we have that does the same thing. http://www.birdrf.com/Products/Analyzers/Site-Hawk/SK-4000-TC-SiteHawk-Analyzer.aspx#.VnL4f_krLIU
On Thu, Dec 17, 2015 at 12:00 PM Brian Webster <[email protected]> wrote: > Cheapest way is to use a watt meter on one end with a known transmit power > on the other, calculate loss. Also measure SWR at the radio with a meter > that covers that range, you can calculate the return loss based on SWR > readings. > > > > Thank You, > > Brian Webster > > www.wirelessmapping.com > > www.Broadband-Mapping.com > > > > *From:* Af [mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Jaime Solorza > *Sent:* Thursday, December 17, 2015 10:51 AM > *To:* Animal Farm > *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Measure return loss > > > > Check out Commscope website for some tools ,calculators and tips. Watt > meter is what we use with a Bird Tester but only up to 2.4 > > On Dec 17, 2015 8:41 AM, "Adam Moffett" <[email protected]> wrote: > > Specifically 3.6ghz in this case. > In a perfect world I would hope for something that can test from 2.4 up to > 6ghz. > > On 12/17/2015 10:40 AM, Jaime Solorza wrote: > > What frequency? > > On Dec 17, 2015 8:29 AM, "Adam Moffett" <[email protected]> wrote: > > 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. > > >
