Cable loss sweep is made when a short is connected at the end of the transmission line. This insertion loss test allows analysis of the signal loss through the transmission line and identifies problems in the system. High insertion loss in the feed line or jumpers can contribute to poor system performance and loss of coverage.
Different transmission lines have different losses, depending on frequency and distance. The higher the frequency or longer the distance, the greater the loss. This measurement returns the energy absorbed, or lost, by the transmission line in dB/meter or dB/ft. The average cable loss of the frequency range is displayed on the screen in the measurement settings summary area.
Cable Loss Measurement
To make Cable Loss measurements:
1. Press the Measurement main menu key and select Cable Loss.
2. Press Freq/Dist and enter the start and stop frequencies.
3. Press Amplitude, then enter the top and bottom power levels for the display or press Fullscale.
4. For the most accurate results, press the Calibration main menu key and perform a manual calibration of the instrument. Refer to Calibration Procedure.
Alternatively, you can skip this step and the instrument will automatically apply the factory calibration (1-Port ReadyCal).
5. Connect the Site Master to the Device Under Test.
6. Press the Limit main menu key and set the limit line as described in Limit Lines. This limit line is used only for visual reference and not a pass/fail guide. The pass/fail determination is based on the average cable loss.
7. Press Save (7), then Save to save the measurement data to file. Refer to Save File for details on setting the save location.
