Power Meters Save Component Count for Transmitter Power

Five models are available in the WPS (Wideband Power Sensor) series of USB Thruline power meters by Bird.

They are available from Aspen Electronics. All are capable of measuring true average power, peak power and duty cycle, as well as VSWR / return loss, average burst power and CCDF. They also all work with any modulation scheme. 

The company believes it is one of the few manufacturers to offer RF equipment capable of measuring real-world transmitter power levels without the need to use directional couplers or high power attenuators. These USB power meters cover; 350MHz to 4GHz (150mW to 150W); 350MHz to 4GHz (25mW to 25W);  25MHz to 1GHz (500mW to 500W); 150MHz to 4GHz (100mW to 25W) and 25MHz to 1GHz (100mW to 100W). Insertion loss is less than 0.1dB (typically 0.05dB) with a VSWR of 1.1:1 maximum (typically 1.05:1), with a directivity specification of typically 30dB.  These parameters contribute to an average power accuracy for all models of ±4% of reading, or 0.17dB, over the full power range at +15 to +350C. 


Virtual Power Meter software is included. In addition the meters will interface with the manufacturer’s 5000-XT digital power meter, or the majority of the its SA / SH series of site analysers or SignalHawks. The company also offers the 7020 Power Sensor, a low cost USB power meter similar in operation to the 501XB.  It contains the same True Average Power measurement within the  350MHz to 4GHz range (0.15W to 150W), and has an identical accuracy of reading at ±4% +0.05W, or 0.17dB.

Click Here for more information on Bird Technologies.