Wideband power sensors

There is no better way to measure RF power than by using the ‘in-line’ sensor approach, and the latest product introductions from Bird Technologies Group, demonstrate why they are considered to be a world class RF test equipment manufacturer. The WPS range of Wideband Power Sensors has been extended with five new models, giving users an even greater choice of sensors to match their applications.

The devices are expected to find widespread use in the design, installation and maintenance of radio frequency systems including analogue and digital cellular, 3G, 4G, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, Tetra, APCO/P25, WiMAX and WLAN, CDMA, TDMA and WCDMA, as well as in specialised systems used in the transportation, tactical military, radar, avionics, marine, LMR, broadcast, paging, public safety, telematics and utilities sectors.

Bird is world-renowned for producing accurate and easy to use RF power measuring equipment, and the latest WPS products are no exception. Using the classic and well proven Bird Thruline design concept, coupled with the latest advances in digital signal processing technology, the WPS range provides superior performance.

The WPS range is now exclusively available in the UK and throughout Europe from specialist distributor, Aspen Electronics. The five new models cover a frequency range from 25MHz to 4GHz and a power measurement range from 25mW to 500W Average Power. Models include the 5012A with a frequency range of 350MHz to 4GHz and a power range of 150mW to 150W average, 400W peak and the 5018 with a frequency range of 150MHz to 4GHz and a power range of 25mW to 25W average, 60W peak.

Based on Bird’s innovative Thruline design concept, the WPS range is unique in the RF Power measurement sector in that all the major components required for power measurement are included in one module. The power sensors contain all the elements of a traditional RF power measurement system: a high power, low loss, high directivity coupler; two high accuracy detectors (one each for forward and reflected power measurements) plus digital processing circuitry for connection to a PC for capturing and storing readings, via a USB interface.

Measurements performed include true average power, peak power and duty cycle. Calculations performed include VSWR, return loss, reflection coefficient, crest factor, average burst power and CCDF. In addition, Bird’s free to download VPM2 software package brings virtual power meter and data logger functions to the PC, adding a host of extra features.

The WPS can be interfaced directly to the Bird 5000-XT handheld Digital Power Meter, and is compatible with the Bird SA range of Site Analysers and the Bird Signal Hawk™ range of handheld spectrum analysers.

With a quoted accuracy of ±5% of reading, the WPS does not need field calibration, and only requires calibration at a laboratory just once per year. By incorporating virtual instruments into the same unit, the WPS generates further saving on total annual calibration costs. For more information Aspen can provide the WPS Calibration technical note.

The Bird wideband power sensors are manufactured in the US and are RoHS compliant. Price and delivery are available on application to Aspen Electronics.