Simplifying Power Added Efficiency Testing
Publication Number: 5991-2677EN
Publication Date: 2014.08.03
Language: English
Application Notes

Simplifying Power Added Efficiency Testing

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In most power added efficiency (PAE) test setups, multiple instruments are used to measure RF, voltage, and current. For example, measurements may require the use of an RF power meter or digital oscilloscope (DSO) with diode detectors to determine the RF power, while digital multimeters (DMM) or DC power analyzers are used to measure voltage and current. In some advance test cases a network analyzer such as the Keysight PNA-X are used. Test operators have to retrieve the measurement data via a remote program instead of viewing the measurement data directly on the test instruments. As this application note explains, the Keysight Technologies, Inc. 8990B peak power analyzer (PPA) provides an alternative setup which allows power added efficiency testing to be done on a single instrument.