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How to Test Cables & Antennas Together in 2023

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May 2, 2023 - Vista, California - Axiom Test Equipment, Inc., an electronic test equipment rental and sales company has published a new blog post titled "How to Test Cables & Antennas Together in 2023" that covers how testing antennas and cables as an integrated assembly can reveal a great deal about how they will work together within their system. A variety of measurements can help characterize antennas with cables and some of the latest test tools can deliver those measurements when and where needed.

Diverse types of tests, such as frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) or time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurements, can confirm continuous impedance in a signal path formed by antennas and cables. These measurements check for reflections coming along the signal path, using continuous broadband frequency signals in FDR and pulsed signals in TDR. Test units capable of FDR and TDR measurements can isolate problems along the antenna/cable signal path, such as loose or worn connectors. Such measurements can provide information about the distance to a fault with much greater precision than, for example, from visible inspections along a coaxial cable.

Learn more about the most important equipment you will need when checking antenna/cable assemblies for optimum performance by reading the full blog post on Axiom's website: https://www.axiomtest.com/blog/How-to-Test-Cables-and-Antennas-Together-in-2023/

How to Test Cables & Antennas Together in 2023

Terrestrial communications, satellite communications (satcom), and radar systems rely on radios and antennas working together. Radio receivers, transmitters, and antennas are connected by various kinds of cables, including coaxial cables, and users count on them maintaining those connections. Breaks in cables, misaligned connectors, and other faults can degrade performance and must be checked upon antenna, cable, and system installation and during regular maintenance cycles. Testing antennas and cables separately can be beneficial but testing them as an integrated assembly can reveal a great deal about how they will work together within the system. A variety of measurements can help characterize antennas with cables and some of the latest test tools can deliver those measurements when and where needed, under battery power and in compact, portable packages.

Maximum transfer of electromagnetic (EM) energy through antennas and cables to and from transmitters and receivers requires a signal path with continuous impedance. Changes or disruptions in a nominal impedance, such as 50 or 75 ?, will cause signal reflections. A deviation in impedance can come from almost unnoticeable conditions, such as a loose connector. Diverse types of tests, such as frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) or time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurements, can confirm continuous impedance in a signal path formed by antennas and cables. These measurements check for reflections coming along the signal path, using continuous broadband frequency signals in FDR and pulsed signals in TDR. EM energy is lost in forward and reverse directions due to impedance mismatches and can be measured as insertion loss in the forward direction and return loss in the reverse direction. The right test tools can measure these losses as well as find faults in the cables or antennas that can cause significant losses of signal power.

Loss of signal power can result in loss of range in radar systems and loss of coverage in cellular and wireless communications systems. In high-power systems, lost signal power is dissipated as heat which can damage and degrade components, shortening their expected operating lifetimes. Several types of measurements can avoid antenna/cable interconnection problems during installation and identify faults during maintenance checks.

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Whatever type of testing your project requires, rent or buy quality test equipment from Axiom Test Equipment. For over 15 years Axiom Test Equipment has rented, sold, repaired and accepted trade-in of test equipment to support your test & measurement needs. If you would like help selecting any type of test equipment for your next project, contact Axiom Test Equipment's sales department at sales@transcat.com, call 760-806-6600, or browse Axiom Test Equipment's inventory online at www.axiomtest.com.

About Axiom Test Equipment

Get Exactly What You Need. Rent - Buy - Repair - Trade-In

Established in 2005, Axiom Test Equipment strives to continually improve itself and offer the best value for its customers. We offer our customers several practical, efficient and cost effective solutions for their business or projects' test equipment needs. Whether you need to rent & buy test equipment, repair test equipment, sell or trade equipment, we are committed to providing superior customer service and high quality electronic test equipment.

At Axiom Test Equipment we provide several services. We rent electronic test and measurement equipment. We also sell test equipment. If you have a piece of malfunctioning or broken test equipment we also have an in-house repair lab. For anyone seeking a way to offload their surplus or obsolete equipment, we offer a trade-in program or we can buy the equipment from you.

We stock a comprehensive inventory of equipment and can use our extensive network to find you those hard to get items. We believe in getting equipment to you quickly and at a competitive price.

Contacts

Fabian Garcia
Marketing Coordinator
Axiom Test Equipment
2610 Commerce Way 
Vista, CA  92081
Phone: (760) 806-6600

Web: www.axiomtest.com

E-Mail: fgarcia@transcat.com

Posted May 3, 2023