Insertion loss Attenuation
measurement
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• When a device or network is inserted in the
transmission line, part Pi of the input signal
power Pr is reflected from the input terminal
• And the remaining part Pi – Pr which actually
enters the network is attenuated due to the
non-zero loss of the network.
• The output signal power Po is therefore less
than Pi.
• Therefore, insertion loss is defined by the
difference in the power arriving at the
terminating load with and without the
network in the circuit.
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Insertion loss = Reflection loss + Attenuation loss
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Experimental setup for Insertion loss
and attenuation measurements
• The relative power levels are measured by using detectors and a VSWR
meter.
• DC1 and DC2 are two identical directional couplers.
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The microwave source is set to a suitable
frequency and the 1 kHz square wave
modulation level is adjusted for a peak reading
on the VSWR meter at A with minimum input
attenuation.
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For a crystal detector to work in the square-law
region the power level is adjusted to get a
reading in the 30 dB range of the VSWR meter.
The input power from port A is set to zero dB or
1.0 using gain control.
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Frequency is read from the cavity frequency
meter when a dip is observed in the VSWR
meter.
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Connecting matched load Z0 to ports A and C
and VSWR meter to port B, without disturbing
any other set-up, the reading in the VSWR meter
gives the ratio Pr/Pi, the return loss.
The reflection loss 1 – (Pr/Pi) is calculated.
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1. The microwave source is set to a suitable frequency
and the 1 kHz square wave modulation level is
adjusted for a peak reading on the VSWR meter at A
with minimum input attenuation.
2. For a crystal detector to work in the square-law region
the power level is adjusted to get a reading in the 30
dB range of the VSWR meter. The input power from
port A is set to zero dB or 1.0 using gain control.
3. Frequency is read from the cavity frequency meter
when a dip is observed in the VSWR meter.
4. Connecting matched load Z0 to ports A and C and
VSWR meter to port B, without disturbing any other
set-up, the reading in the VSWR meter gives the ratio
Pr/Pi, the return loss.
5. The reflection loss 1 – (Pr/Pi) is calculated.
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• Now the input attenuator is adjusted to give
an attenuation equal to the dB coupling of the
directional coupler.
• The matched load is connected to ports A and
B, and the VSWR meter to port C without
disturbing any other setup.
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• The reading in the VSWR meter gives the ratio
P0/Pi, the insertion loss.
• Attenuation of the network under test can be
determined by subtracting the dB reflection
loss from the dB insertion loss.
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• Now the input attenuator is adjusted to give
an attenuation equal to the dB coupling of the
directional coupler.
• The matched load is connected to ports A and
B, and the VSWR meter to port C without
disturbing any other setup.
• The reading in the VSWR meter gives the ratio
P0/Pi, the insertion loss.
• Attenuation of the network under test can be
determined by subtracting the dB reflection
loss from the dB insertion loss.
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The main errors in this measurement
are the following
1. Pi, P0 and Pr may not all be capable of
operating the crystal detector within its
square-law region.
2. Both the directional couplers may not have
the same characteristics.
3. There is some degree of mismatch between
the various components in the set-up.
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