Common Sources of RF Power Measurement Uncertainty

Many of us are frequently making RF power measurements with purposes that range from system reliability and network coverage to safety and accuracy required for precision processes. However, system components and even the power sensor itself have uncertainties associated with them that factor into the accuracy of the RF power measurement. We will be discussing some of these common sources of uncertainty such as temperature, linearity, harmonics, and mismatch, and how they can affect your RF power measurement. We will also take a look at considerations you can make to reduce uncertainty and improve your measurements.