MA24118A Microwave USB Power Sensor, 10 MHz to 18 GHz

True-RMS USB power sensor measuring average power from 10 MHz to 18 GHz over a 60 dB dynamic range.

Frequency range: 10 MHz to 18 GHz
Dynamic range (CW): –40 dBm to +20 dBm
Dynamic range (Timeslot): –40 dBm to +20 dBm
Dynamic range (Scope): –40 dBm to +20 dBm

Datasheet

Overview

The Anritsu MA24118A is a USB power sensor that measures average power from 10 MHz to 18 GHz over 60 dB of dynamic range. It uses a dual-path architecture in which two diode detector paths are kept in their square-law region and the output of the appropriate path is selected, giving True-RMS measurements, comparable to a thermal sensor, across the full frequency and power range. This allows average power measurements of CW, multi-tone and digitally modulated signals without a limit on modulation bandwidth. A built-in attenuator improves SWR and reduces mismatch error.

The sensor contains a microcontroller, signal conditioning, ADC and power supply, so it works as a complete miniature power meter. Calibration factors, linearity and temperature corrections are stored inside the sensor, and the USB cable carries only corrected digital power data, so no 1 mW reference calibrator is required. Calibration standards are traceable to NIST.

Triggering and measurement modes

The MA24118A has a software-based internal trigger and an external trigger input on an MCX connector. In Scope mode the sensor displays power versus time with gate and fence regions to include or exclude portions of a burst; in Time Slot mode it reports the average power of up to 128 individual slots within a 300 ms capture, with user-definable exclusion periods for slot transitions. The ADC samples at 140,000 samples per second, and positive or negative trigger delay can be applied. Scope and Time Slot modes are available from a PC via PowerXpert or remote programming commands.

Compatibility

The sensor is controlled from a Windows PC using the supplied PowerXpert application, which provides a power-meter style display, data logging and power-versus-time graphing. It is also compatible with Option-19-enabled Anritsu handheld and benchtop instruments, including Site Master (S3xxE), Spectrum Master (MS271xE and MS2720T), Cell Master (MT821xE), BTS Master (MT822xB), VNA Master (MS202xA/B and MS203xA) and MS271xB Economy Spectrum Analyzers, connected through a USB A to micro-B cable. Multiple sensors can be controlled from a single PC, and a USB-to-LAN converter allows remote monitoring beyond the 5 m USB cable limit.

Key Features

Broad frequency range, 10 MHz to 18 GHz
True RMS measurements over 60 dB dynamic range
NIST traceable calibration
Compatible with Option-19-enabled Anritsu handheld instruments
Built-in internal and external trigger (Scope and Time Slot modes used with a PC)
High power handling, +33 dBm damage level
1 mW reference calibration need eliminated
Removable silicone protective covering for field durability
Dual-path detector architecture keeps diodes in the square-law region
Built-in attenuator for low SWR and reduced mismatch error
Calibration factors, linearity and temperature corrections stored in the sensor
Time Slot mode supports up to 128 slots and 300 ms capture time
Scope mode with gate and fence, noise immunity factor and trace averaging
Negative and positive trigger delay
Two-colour LED reports sensor status
N connector designed for use with a torque wrench
DC block at the RF input and ESD protection
Supplied with PowerXpert PC application and a software toolkit with sample source code
Multiple sensors can be controlled from a single PC
Worldwide calibration and service centers

Specifications

Sensor

Frequency range	10 MHz to 18 GHz
Dynamic range (CW)	–40 dBm to +20 dBm
Dynamic range (Timeslot)	–40 dBm to +20 dBm
Dynamic range (Scope)	–40 dBm to +20 dBm
SWR	< 1.17, 10 MHz to 150 MHz; < 1.12, 150 MHz to 2 GHz; < 1.22, 2 GHz to 12 GHz; < 1.25, 12 GHz to 18 GHz
Signal channel rise time	8 µs Typical
Video bandwidth	50 kHz Typical
Sampling rate	140 ks/s Typical
Measurement ranges	Range 1, +20 dBm to –7 dBm typical; Range 2, –7 dBm to –40 dBm typical; auto ranging between range 1 and 2

Measurement Uncertainty

Measurement uncertainty	< 4% Expanded uncertainty with K=2 for power measurements of a CW signal greater than –20 dBm with zero mismatch errors
Linearity	< 3%
Cal factor	< 2.3% at 10 MHz; < 1.5%, 50 MHz to 18 GHz Expanded uncertainty with K=2 for absolute power measurements on a CW signal at 0 dBm at calibration frequencies 10 MHz, 50 MHz, 100 MHz, 300 MHz, 500 MHz, and 1 GHz to 18 GHz in 1 GHz increments
Noise	< 8 µW, Range 1; < 40 nW, Range 2 Expanded uncertainty with K=2 after zero operation, 1 average, 20 ms aperture time for 5 minutes; noise decreases as the square root of the number of averages and aperture time (e.g. 3.5 nW with 128 averages)
Zero set	< 1 µW, Range 1; < 10 nW, Range 2 Expanded uncertainty with K=2 after zero operation when measured with 1 average and 20 ms aperture time for 5 minutes
Zero drift	< 0.5 µW, Range 1; < 3 nW, Range 2 Expanded uncertainty with K=2 after one hour warm-up and zero operation, 1 average, 20 ms aperture time, temperature kept within ±1 °C
Effect of temperature	< 1.4%
Effect of digital modulation	< 0.5%, < +18 dBm; < 1.4%, > +18 dBm Measurement error with reference to a CW signal of equal power and frequency at 25 °C

System

Measurand	Average power
Measurement resolution	0.01 dB max via PowerXpert, 0.001 dB max via remote command Resolution in PowerXpert is 2 digits after the decimal; native sensor resolution is 3 digits after the decimal
Offset correction	–100 dB to +150 dB Available only through the PowerXpert application; no remote command in the sensor firmware
Averaging	Auto, Manual
Averaging type	Moving, Repeat
Number of averages (manual)	1 to 40,000 Maximum in Continuous Average and Timeslot modes is 40,000; in Scope mode the maximum equals 8231936 divided by data points
Auto average resolution	1 dB, 0.1 dB, 0.01 dB, 0.001 dB 0.001 dB averaging resolution is not available in PowerXpert; defined as the decimal place to which the reading becomes stable
Auto average source (slot # or scope data point number)	Timeslot: 1 to 128; Scope: 1 to 1024

Continuous Average Mode

Duty cycle correction	0.01% to 100%
Aperture time	0.01 ms to 300 ms
Measurement time	N x (Capture Time x 2.5) + Td + Tcom Throughput at the A end of the USB A to Micro-B cable (p/n 2000-1606-R); Td = 0 for Capture Time >9 ms, 3 ms for 2 ms < Capture Time <9 ms, 5 ms for Capture Time < 2 ms; Tcom = 5 ms command processing time

Scope Mode

Capture time	0.01 to 300 ms
Data points	1 to 1024
Resolution	0.007 ms, max via remote command; 0.01 ms, max via PowerXpert
Measurement time	N x (Capture Time x 3.75) + (Pn x Tdp) + Tcom N = number of repeat averages (1 for moving average mode); Pn = number of points; Tdp = 0.05 ms communication delay per point; Tcom = 5 ms command processing time

Timeslot Mode

Maximum number of slots	128
Slot width	0.01 ms to 100 ms
Maximum capture time	300 ms Slot width x number of slots
Resolution	0.007 ms, max via remote command; 0.01 ms, max via PowerXpert
Exclusion periods	Start exclusion 0 ms to 10 ms; End exclusion 0 ms to 10 ms
Measurement time	N x (Capture Time x 3.75) + (Pn x Tdp) + Tcom N = number of repeat averages (1 for moving average mode); Pn = number of points; Tdp = 0.05 ms communication delay per point; Tcom = 5 ms command processing time

Trigger

Source	Bus, Continuous, Internal and External Bus trigger not available in the PowerXpert application

Internal Trigger

Dynamic range	–20 dBm to +20 dBm
Level accuracy	± 0.5 dB Typical
Slope	Positive or negative
Delay range	–5 ms to +10 s
Delay resolution	10 µs

External Trigger

Impedance	100 kΩ
Type	TTL/CMOS
Slope	Positive or negative
Delay range	–5 ms to +10 s
Delay resolution	10 µs
Positive threshold voltage	2.0 V Typical
Negative threshold voltage	1.2 V Typical
Hysteresis	0.8 V Typical

General

RF connector	N male
Interface to host	USB 2.0 full speed (compatible with USB 1.0 and 1.1)
Current consumption	150 mA Typical
External trigger input	MCX (female), 12 V max
Damage levels at RF port	+33 dBm, ± 20 V DC
Size	25 mm x 45 mm x 110 mm Excluding N connector and silicone protective covering
Weight	230 g (0.51 lb)

Environmental

Operating temperature range	0 °C to 50 °C Tests performed per MIL-PRF-28800F (Class 2). The brochure text states accuracy is assured over 0 °C to 55 °C; the specification table value is used here
Storage temperature range	–51 °C to +71 °C Tests performed per MIL-PRF-28800F (Class 2)
Humidity	45% relative humidity at 55 °C (non-condensing); 75% relative humidity at 40 °C (non-condensing); 95% relative humidity at 30 °C (non-condensing) Tests performed per MIL-PRF-28800F (Class 2)
Shock	30 g half-sine, 11 ms duration Tests performed per MIL-PRF-28800F (Class 2)
Vibration	Sinusoidal: 5 Hz to 55 Hz, 3 g max.; Random: 10 Hz to 500 Hz, Power Spectral Density: 0.03 g²/Hz Tests performed per MIL-PRF-28800F (Class 2)
EMC	EN 61326
Safety	EN 61010-1

PowerXpert v2.0 PC Requirements

Processor and RAM	Minimum: Equivalent to Intel Pentium III with 1 GB RAM or Intel Pentium IV with 512 MB RAM; Recommended: Equivalent to Intel Pentium IV with 1 GB RAM
Operating system	Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP and Windows 2000
Hard-disk free space	100 MB Minimum
Display resolution	1024 × 768 Minimum
Interface	USB 2.0 full speed (compatible with USB 1.0 and 1.1)

Specifications are taken from the manufacturer's documentation. See the datasheet for complete and current values.

Applications

General purpose RF and microwave power measurement
Aerospace and defense
Satellite
Cellular
Production test and ATE systems
R&D of wireless devices and systems
Cellular base station installation and maintenance
Microwave point-to-point radio installation and maintenance
TDMA time slot power measurement (GSM/EDGE, TD-SCDMA)
Burst power measurement (WiMAX)
Remote antenna power monitoring via LAN

Included

10585-00021 Quick Start Guide
2000-1605-R 1.5 m BNC (m) to MCX (m) cable
2000-1606-R 1.8 m USB A to Micro-B cable with latch
PowerXpert data analysis and control application
Software toolkit with sample program and source code for ATE control

Options & Accessories

Option	Description
MA24118A-097	Option 97, Accredited Calibration to ISO17025 and ANSI/NCSL Z540 — Test report and uncertainty data included.
MA24118A-098	Option 98, Standard calibration to ISO17025 and ANSI/NCSL Z540
MA24118A-099	Option 99, Premium calibration to ISO17025 and ANSI/NCSL Z540 — Test report and uncertainty data included.
01-200	Calibrated torque wrench for N connector
2000-1614-R	5.0 m USB A to Micro-B cable with latch
3-1010-123	Power attenuator, DC to 8.5 GHz, 30 dB, 50 W, 50 Ω — N (m) to N (f)
3-1010-124	Power attenuator, DC to 8.5 GHz, 40 dB, 100 W, 50 Ω — N (m) to N (f)
3-1010-122	Power attenuator, DC to 12.4 GHz, 20 dB, 5 W, 50 Ω — N (m) to N (f)
42N50-20	Power attenuator, DC to 18 GHz, 20 dB, 5 W, 50 Ω — N (m) to N (f)
42N50-30	Power attenuator, DC to 18 GHz, 30 dB, 50 W, 50 Ω — N (m) to N (f)
510-90	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 3.3 GHz, N (m) to 7/16 DIN (f)
510-91	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 3.3 GHz, N (f) to 7/16 DIN (f)
510-92	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 3.3 GHz, N (m) to 7/16 DIN (m)
510-93	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 3.3 GHz, N (f) to 7/16 DIN (m)
33NFNF50B	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 18 GHz, N (f) to N (f)
33NNF50B	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 18 GHz, N (m) to N (f)
33NN50B	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 18 GHz, N (m) to N (m)
34AN50	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 18 GHz, GPC-7 to N (m)
34ANF50	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 18 GHz, GPC-7 to N (f)
34NFK50	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 18 GHz, N (f) to K (m)
34NFKF50	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 18 GHz, N (m) to K (f)
34NK50	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 18 GHz, N (m) to K (m)
34NKF50	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 18 GHz, N (m) to K (f)
1091-26	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 18 GHz, N (m) to SMA (m)
1091-27	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 18 GHz, N (m) to SMA (f)
1091-80-R	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 18 GHz, N (f) to SMA (m)
1091-81-R	Precision coaxial adapter, DC to 18 GHz, N (f) to SMA (f)