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APPLICATION NOTE
Differences in Application Between
Power Dividers and Power Splitters
Introduction
Power dividers are an RF microwave accessory constructed with equivalent 50 Ω
resistance at each port. These accessories divide power of a uniform transmission
line equally between ports to enable comparison measurements. Power dividers
provide a good impedance match at both the output ports when the input is
terminated in the system characteristic impedance (50 Ω). Once a good source
match has been achieved, a power divider is used to divide the output into equal
signals for comparison measurements. The power divider also can be used in test
systems to measure two different characteristics of a signal, such as frequency
and power, for broadband independent signal sampling. Besides dividing power it
also can act as power combiners because they are bi-directional.
Power splitters are constructed of two resistors. They are used for leveling
and ratio measurement applications to improve the effective output match of
microwave sources. The two-resistor configuration also provides 50 Ω output
impedance to minimize measurement uncertainty in source leveling or ratio
measurement applications.
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Power dividers Power splitters
• Divide a signal equally for
comparison measurements
• All ports have equivalent 16
²⁄
³
resistance
• Can be used as power combiners
• SWR 3:1
• Used in ratio measurements and
leveling loop applications
• Only the input port has a 50 Ω
resistance, the other two ports have
83.33 Ω impedance
• SWR 1:1
1
2
3
16
2
/3 ohm
16
2
/3 ohm
16
2
/3 ohm
1
2
3
50 ohm
50 ohm
Characteristics of power dividers and power splitters
Key specifications of Keysight Technologies, Inc. 11636C power dividers and
11667C power splitter
11636C power dividers 11667C power splitters
• Operating frequency: DC to 50 GHz
• ± 0.3 dB amplitude tracking
• ± 2º phase tracking
• Low SWR 1.67
• Operating frequency: DC to 50 GHz
• < 0.4 dB tracking between output
ports
• Excellent output: 1.10 SWR at the
auxiliary port