RF power measurements on the R&S®CMA180 without an external sensor

The R&S®CMA180 can calculate RF power directly, without an external power sensor. Testing starts with selecting the TX or Expert scenario under the analog tab, then accessing the power tab. Set the center frequency, expected power and any external attenuation. Measurements can run continuously in free run mode. They can also be triggered by a signal threshold, an external signal or a remote command. Signals are filtered before power is measured, using either a Gaussian or bandpass filter with a user configurable bandwidth. Results are shown in real time as current, minimum and maximum values. Statistical averages and standard deviation are also calculated over the course of the measurement.