By John L. Huff, Staff Engineer, Times Mirror Cable Television
Swept radio frequency return loss using a spectrum analyzer and tracking generator with time selection will provide a new dimension in the measurement of cable quality and integrity.
The return loss bridge has been a standard of measurement for the Cable Television industry. The bridge's shortcomings are impedance balance, frequency bandwidth, connector adapters, and scan loss.
A spectrum analyzer, tracking generator, and a radio frequency counter with Time Selective Swept Return Loss will open up new avenues into coaxial cable testing and measurement. This technique could be particularly valuable in an HDTV environment. It is possible to analyze the effect of a single or a multiple of reflections from coaxial cable, connectors or other passive devices.