Rohde & Schwarz R&S NRP-Z81 broadband power sensor combines all power meter functions
Honolulu, HI IMS 2007 June 5, 2007 Rohde & Schwarz today introduced the R&SNRP-Z81 broadband USB enabled power sensor that combines an RF detector, analog and digital signal processing, and all the evaluation logic of a peak power meter in a compact sensor that can be directly controlled by a PC via USB. The R&S?NRP-Z81 has a video bandwidth of up to 30 MHz and a rise time of 13 ns, which allows high-resolution envelope analyses, and complete statistical analysis of a signal can be performed within only a few milliseconds. For average power measurement, it has a dynamic range of 80 dB, and a frequency range of 50 MHz to 18 GHz, which enables it to be used to measure power levels in applications ranging from wireless communications through avionics, radar, and various military systems. For peak power measurements, the R&S NRP-Z81 has a dynamic range of 70 dB, which makes it possible to display signals at levels of -50 dBm. The low zero drift of <1 nW ensures high measurement repeatability, and average power of modulated or unmodulated signals can be measured from -60 dBm to +20 dBm. The R&S NRP-Z81 sensor can be directly operated via a PC or in combination with the R&S NRP base unit. Its trace mode allows graphic display of the signal as a trace, and common oscilloscope operating elements are used to configure the display and select the measurement function. The instrument provides a user-scalable display, so even the smallest details can be analyzed, and its marker functions make it simple to determine rise and fall times as well as minima and maxima. The R&S NRP-Z81 also makes it possible to determine the amplitude statistics of a signal. At maximum video bandwidth, it handles measurement and evaluation of Complementary Cumulative Distribution Function (CCDF) with one million sampled values in 12.5 ns. By defining gates or timeslots, power measurement and statistical analysis can be performed in signal synchronous measurement windows. The R&S NRP-Z81 power sensor is available now from Rohde & Schwarz.