Boonton 4530 Peak Power Meter User Manual - Manual (Page 165)

Boonton Electronics Appendix A
4530 Series RF Power Meter Sensors
A-1
Appendix A Sensors
SENSORS
This appendix lists the characteristics of most common Boonton Electronics sensors used with the 4530 Series RF
Power Meter. Those sensors listed generally are suitable for the great majority of standard measurements. Additional
sensor types are available for special requirements. Contact Boonton Electronics for assistance in selecting a special
sensor to meet your specific requirements.
Two basic types of sensors are available: Peak Power Sensors and CW Power Sensors. Models 56218, 56318, 56326,
56418, 56518, 57318, 57340, 57518 and 57540 are peak sensors, and should be used for peak and average power
measurements of CW and Modulated signals. CW power sensors listed are Models 51075, 51077, 51079, 51071, 51072,
51100, 51101, 51102, 51200, 51201, 51300, 51301, 51011(EMC), 51011(4B), 51012(4C), 51013(4E), 51015(5E), 51033(6E) and
51078. CW diode sensors should only be used for CW signals, or for measuring the average power of modulated
signals, provided the power remains withing the square-law region of the diode detector’s measurement range. Ther-
mal sensors may be used for measuring CW or modulated signals. See Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of this manual for more
information on available power sensor types and choosing the correct sensor for your application.
Applications for Peak Power sensors include peak power, average power, and peak-to-average ratio (crest factor)
measurements, continuous or time-gated, for all pulse and spread-spectrum telecom signals including GSM, GSM-
EDGE, CDMA, WCDMA, COFDM, and QAM. If the signal power envelope is not stationary, peak power peak power
capability is essential. All peak power sensors feature balanced dual-diodes for high sensitivity and even-order
harmonic suppression. Low input VSWR minimizes mismatch error. Frequency calibration factors (NIST-traceable)
and other data are stored within the peak power sensors. Linearity calibration is performed by the calibrator (internal
or optional 1 GHz external as required). The first listed group of peak power sensors (56000 series) requires the optional
Model 2530 1 GHz external calibrator (see Appendix B) for calibration, since their frequency range does not extend low
enough for 50MHz calibration. The 57000 series sensors are DC-coupled, and have an extended low-frequency limit in
the low-bandwidth setting, so are able to be calibrated from the built-in 50 MHz calibrator of the 4530 Series RF Power
Meter. All CW power sensors listed require only the built-in 50 MHz calibrator of the 4530 Series. One five-foot long
peak sensor cable is included per channel except when one or more CW sensors are ordered with the 4530. In this case,
a data adapter and cable is substituted for a peak sensor cable in each instance.
The following specification sheets list the characteristics of the various sensors mentioned above.