Burst Measurements with the RTP Series Measurement Buffer Mode Application

ABSTRACT: Oftentimes it is necessary to take measurements of a pulsed signal over an extended period of time. This is important, for instance, in the test and measurement of high-power amplifiers where excessive heat dissipation can eventually distort or degrade the waveform. In addition to power droop, an amplifier may turn off altogether causing a momentary signal dropout, and extended measurement times can pinpoint these missing pulses. Furthermore, engineers often need to verify that the spacing between pulses remains the same over long time periods to ensure no drift has occurred. While extended measurements windows help catch important waveform phenomenon, zooming into specific portions of a signal burst also reveals valuable information. Engineers can utilize time gating techniques to include or exclude desired pulse regions from power measurement results. Boonton’s USB RF power sensors with Real-Time Power Processing (RTPP) technology deliver industry-leading performance, extended measurement duration, and packet time gating for efficient RF and microwave testing.