May 2, 2023 - Vista, California - Axiom Test Equipment, Inc., an electronic test equipment rental
and sales company has published a new blog post entitled "How to Test Cables & Antennas Together in 2023" that covers
how testing antennas and cables as an integrated assembly can reveal a great deal
about how they will work together within their system. A variety of measurements
can help characterize antennas with cables and some of the latest test tools can
deliver those measurements when and where needed.
Diverse types of tests, such as frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) or time
domain reflectometry (TDR) measurements, can confirm continuous impedance in a signal
path formed by antennas and cables. These measurements check for reflections coming
along the signal path, using continuous broadband frequency signals in FDR and pulsed
signals in TDR. Test units capable of FDR and TDR measurements can isolate problems
along the antenna/cable signal path, such as loose or worn connectors. Such measurements
can provide information about the distance to a fault with much greater precision
than, for example, from visible inspections along a coaxial cable.
Terrestrial communications, satellite communications (satcom), and radar systems
rely on radios and antennas working together. Radio receivers, transmitters, and
antennas are connected by various kinds of cables, including coaxial cables, and
users count on them maintaining those connections. Breaks in cables, misaligned
connectors, and other faults can degrade performance and must be checked upon antenna,
cable, and system installation and during regular maintenance cycles. Testing antennas
and cables separately can be beneficial but testing them as an integrated assembly
can reveal a great deal about how they will work together within the system. A variety
of measurements can help characterize antennas with cables and some of the latest
test tools can deliver those measurements when and where needed, under battery power
and in compact, portable packages.
Maximum transfer of electromagnetic (EM) energy through antennas and cables to
and from transmitters and receivers requires a signal path with continuous impedance.
Changes or disruptions in a nominal impedance, such as 50 or 75 ?, will cause signal
reflections. A deviation in impedance can come from almost unnoticeable conditions,
such as a loose connector. Diverse types of tests, such as frequency domain reflectometry
(FDR) or time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurements, can confirm continuous impedance
in a signal path formed by antennas and cables. These measurements check for reflections
coming along the signal path, using continuous broadband frequency signals in FDR
and pulsed signals in TDR. EM energy is lost in forward and reverse directions due
to impedance mismatches and can be measured as insertion loss in the forward direction
and return loss in the reverse direction. The right test tools can measure these
losses as well as find faults in the cables or antennas that can cause significant
losses of signal power.
Loss of signal power can result in loss of range in radar systems and loss of
coverage in cellular and wireless communications systems. In high-power systems,
lost signal power is dissipated as heat which can damage and degrade components,
shortening their expected operating lifetimes. Several types of measurements can
avoid antenna/cable interconnection problems during installation and identify faults
during maintenance checks.
Whatever type of testing your project requires, rent or buy quality test equipment
from Axiom Test Equipment. For over 15 years Axiom Test Equipment has rented, sold,
repaired and accepted trade-in of test equipment to support your test & measurement
needs. If you would like help selecting any type of test equipment for your next
project, contact Axiom Test Equipment's sales department at
sales@transcat.com,
call 760-806-6600, or browse Axiom Test Equipment's inventory online at
www.axiomtest.com.
About Axiom Test Equipment
Get Exactly What You Need. Rent - Buy
- Repair - Trade-In
Established in 2005, Axiom Test Equipment strives to continually improve itself
and offer the best value for its customers. We offer our customers several practical,
efficient and cost effective solutions for their business or projects' test equipment
needs. Whether you need to
rent & buy test equipment,
repair
test equipment, sell or trade equipment, we are committed to providing superior
customer service and high quality electronic test equipment.
At Axiom Test Equipment we provide several services. We
rent electronic test and measurement equipment. We also sell test
equipment. If you have a piece of malfunctioning or broken test equipment we also
have an in-house repair lab. For anyone seeking a way to offload their surplus or
obsolete equipment, we offer a trade-in program or we can buy the equipment from
you.
We stock a comprehensive inventory of equipment and can use our extensive network
to find you those hard to get items. We believe in getting equipment to you quickly
and at a competitive price.
Contacts
Fabian Garcia Marketing Coordinator Axiom Test Equipment 2610 Commerce
Way Vista, CA 92081 Phone: (760) 806-6600
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- Repair - Trade-In