{"id":1450,"date":"2020-01-09T08:00:45","date_gmt":"2020-01-09T13:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.pasternack.com\/?p=1450"},"modified":"2020-01-21T09:39:21","modified_gmt":"2020-01-21T14:39:21","slug":"rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/blog\/rf-testing\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\/","title":{"rendered":"RF Test Equipment Series: Load Pull Testing Primer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Load Pull measurements is a class of non-50 Ohm measurements that is used during the design, model extraction, and performance testing of a variety of RF\/Microwave devices. A main topic of discussion with load-pull testing is the evaluation of amplifier designs in a large signal sense. Load-pull testing essential consists of taking signal measurements from the reflections of a device while a device is connected to a varying load. This type of testing reveals the behavior of a device under varying load conditions, which is often essential for designs that may face a wide range of load impedances in practice.<\/p>\n<p>The results of load pull testing are several sets of data, consisting of measured a- and b-waves, as well as other parameters that can be calculated from the results. These parameters include gain, power, and efficiency. The large-signal input impedance of the DUT, power sweep curves at various impedance states, and the iso-contours of the output power can also be plotted in real-time during the measurements.<\/p>\n<p>Typical Load Pull testing involves a signal source, some type of signal measurement equipment, and a variable load\/tuner that can handle the power of the operating power of the device under test (DUT). Several types of signal measurement equipment can be used, such as spectrum analyzer, RF power meters, vector receivers, and etc. The type of source, tuner, and receiver determines the methods of testing, of which, each has their advantages and disadvantages.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Types of Load Pull<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Basic, Traditional, and\/or Scalar Load Pull<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022 Involves the use of a signal source, input tuner, DUT, output tuner, and RF power meters<\/li>\n<li>\u2022 A relatively simple and potentially inexpensive setup that is highly modular and can readily be adapted to high precision measurements<\/li>\n<li>\u2022 The instrumentation is generally all scalar, and a network analyzer is required to yield vector-based parameters<\/li>\n<li>\u2022 The actual delivered power is unknown due to source tuner and DUT mismatch<\/li>\n<li>\u2022De-embedding to the DUT plane is required<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Vector-Receiver Load Pull (Real-time Load Pull)<\/em><\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022Requires a vector-receiver, signal source, source tuner, and input tuner<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Measurements are referenced to the DUT plane and no de-embedding is required.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Available and actual power delivered is measurable<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Vector measurements, such as AM\/PM can be made<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Avoids inaccuracies introduced by impedance tuners<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Harmonic and intermodulation parameters can be measures<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Unable to measure modulated signals<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Use of narrow-band ADCs limits wideband signal decoding capability<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Couplers are required between the signal source and DUT reduce achievable VSWR to the DUT<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Open-Loop Active Load Pull<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022Much like Vector-receiver load pull with the difference that mechanical impedance tuners are replaced with active tuning chains made up of signal sources with magnitude and phase control circuitry.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Can be modified to enable harmonic load pull with addition of a multiplexer, passives, coupler, and combiners.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Can reach Gamma levels greater than one for very large VSWR measurements.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Speed advantages compared to mechanical tuning<\/li>\n<li>\u2022\u2022Design may be more readily adapted to probe station<\/li>\n<li>Relatively expensive compared to other load pull methods<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Cannot measure modulated signals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Hybrid-Active Load Pull<\/em>\u2022Includes both active and passive load pull.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022Combinations can mitigate some of the disadvantages of each distinct method.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Leads to a mixed-cost and mixed-complexity design<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Mixed-Signal Active Load Pull<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>\u2022A form of active load pull that uses wideband ADCs and DACs along with upconverters\/downconverters to enable wider bandwidth operation.<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Enables faster measurement speeds<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Wideband impedance control<\/li>\n<li>\u2022Modulated signals with bandwidths above 100 MHz can be generated and measured<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Useful Load-pull Testing Links<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pasternack.com\/nsearch.aspx?Category=Calibration+Kits+Portable%5ECalibration+Kits%5ECalibration+Kits+Components&amp;keywords=calibration+ports+vna&amp;sort=y&amp;searchtype=1&amp;view_type=grid\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u2022Pasternack VNA Calibration Kits<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pasternack.com\/nsearch.aspx?Category=Cable+Assemblies&amp;Rfinca99rfcablegn=PE-VNA-HF%5EPE-VNA-R%5EFlexible+Cable%5EPE-TC110%5EPE-FF430&amp;sort=y&amp;view_type=grid\">\u2022Pasternack Phase Stable (VNA) Coaxial Cables<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pasternack.com\/nsearch.aspx?Category=Cable+Assemblies&amp;Rfinca99rfcablegn=160+Series%5EPE-P141%5EPE-P142LL%5EPE-P300LL%5EPE-P102&amp;sort=y&amp;view_type=grid\">\u2022Pasternack Cable Generic Test Cable Assemblies<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pasternack.com\/nsearch.aspx?Category=Cable+Assemblies&amp;Rfinca99designtype=Skew+Matched+Pair&amp;sort=y&amp;view_type=grid\">\u2022Pasternack Skew Matched Pair Coaxial Cable<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pasternack.com\/nsearch.aspx?Category=Adapters&amp;Rfinad99con1series=1.0mm%5E2.4mm%5E1.85mm%5E2.4mm+NMD%5E2.92mm%5E2.92mm+NMD%5E3.5mm%5E3.5mm+NMD%5E7mm&amp;sort=y&amp;view_type=grid\">\u2022Pasternack Precision Coaxial Adapters<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pasternack.com\/nsearch.aspx?Category=Adapters&amp;sort=y&amp;view_type=grid\">\u2022Pasternack In-series and Between-series Adapters<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pasternack.com\/nsearch.aspx?Category=Microwave+Probes%5ETools+Miscellaneous&amp;keywords=PE2PB&amp;sort=y&amp;view_type=grid\">\u2022Pasternack RF Coaxial Probe<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pasternack.com\/nsearch.aspx?Category=Cable+Assemblies&amp;Rfinca99con1series=Straight+Cut+Lead%5eTrimmed+Lead&amp;sort=y&amp;view_type=grid\">\u2022Pasternack Coaxial Probe Leads<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pasternack.com\/nsearch.aspx?Category=Antennas%5ESpecialty+Waveguide+Antennas%5EWaveguide+Antennas%5EWaveguide+Antennas+with+Waveguide+to+Coax+Adapters&amp;sort=y&amp;view_type=grid\">\u2022Pasternack Antennas<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Load Pull measurements is a class of non-50 Ohm measurements that is used during the design, model extraction, and performance testing of a variety of RF\/Microwave devices. A main topic of discussion with load-pull testing is the evaluation of amplifier designs in a large signal sense. Load-pull testing essential consists of taking signal measurements from ..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[481],"tags":[550,483,463],"class_list":["post-1450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rf-testing","tag-load-pull-testing","tag-rf-test-equipment","tag-rf-testing"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>RF Test Equipment Series: Load Pull Testing Primer - Pasternack Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"\/blog\/rf-testing\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"RF Test Equipment Series: Load Pull Testing Primer - Pasternack Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Load Pull measurements is a class of non-50 Ohm measurements that is used during the design, model extraction, and performance testing of a variety of RF\/Microwave devices. A main topic of discussion with load-pull testing is the evaluation of amplifier designs in a large signal sense. Load-pull testing essential consists of taking signal measurements from [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"\/blog\/rf-testing\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Pasternack Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-01-09T13:00:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-01-21T14:39:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Peter McNeil\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Peter McNeil\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/rf-testing\\\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/rf-testing\\\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Peter McNeil\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/326df634ca01e2e320234e9aab876e02\"},\"headline\":\"RF Test Equipment Series: Load Pull Testing Primer\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-01-09T13:00:45+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-01-21T14:39:21+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/rf-testing\\\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":632,\"keywords\":[\"Load Pull Testing\",\"RF Test Equipment\",\"RF Testing\"],\"articleSection\":[\"RF Testing\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/rf-testing\\\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/rf-testing\\\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\\\/\",\"name\":\"RF Test Equipment Series: Load Pull Testing Primer - Pasternack Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2020-01-09T13:00:45+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-01-21T14:39:21+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/326df634ca01e2e320234e9aab876e02\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/rf-testing\\\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/rf-testing\\\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/rf-testing\\\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"\u00a0\u00a0Pasternack Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"RF Test Equipment Series: Load Pull Testing Primer\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Pasternack Blog\",\"description\":\"The Engineer&#039;s RF Source\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/326df634ca01e2e320234e9aab876e02\",\"name\":\"Peter McNeil\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/03b2ed3f5bdaec4dd3b873feef39d6c5c3b938be0ba443afd079064fc755279c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/03b2ed3f5bdaec4dd3b873feef39d6c5c3b938be0ba443afd079064fc755279c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/03b2ed3f5bdaec4dd3b873feef39d6c5c3b938be0ba443afd079064fc755279c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Peter McNeil\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.pasternack.com\\\/author\\\/pete_mcneil\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"RF Test Equipment Series: Load Pull Testing Primer - Pasternack Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"\/blog\/rf-testing\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"RF Test Equipment Series: Load Pull Testing Primer - Pasternack Blog","og_description":"Load Pull measurements is a class of non-50 Ohm measurements that is used during the design, model extraction, and performance testing of a variety of RF\/Microwave devices. A main topic of discussion with load-pull testing is the evaluation of amplifier designs in a large signal sense. Load-pull testing essential consists of taking signal measurements from [&hellip;]","og_url":"\/blog\/rf-testing\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\/","og_site_name":"Pasternack Blog","article_published_time":"2020-01-09T13:00:45+00:00","article_modified_time":"2020-01-21T14:39:21+00:00","author":"Peter McNeil","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Peter McNeil","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"\/blog\/rf-testing\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"\/blog\/rf-testing\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\/"},"author":{"name":"Peter McNeil","@id":"\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/326df634ca01e2e320234e9aab876e02"},"headline":"RF Test Equipment Series: Load Pull Testing Primer","datePublished":"2020-01-09T13:00:45+00:00","dateModified":"2020-01-21T14:39:21+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"\/blog\/rf-testing\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\/"},"wordCount":632,"keywords":["Load Pull Testing","RF Test Equipment","RF Testing"],"articleSection":["RF Testing"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"\/blog\/rf-testing\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\/","url":"\/blog\/rf-testing\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\/","name":"RF Test Equipment Series: Load Pull Testing Primer - Pasternack Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2020-01-09T13:00:45+00:00","dateModified":"2020-01-21T14:39:21+00:00","author":{"@id":"\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/326df634ca01e2e320234e9aab876e02"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"\/blog\/rf-testing\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["\/blog\/rf-testing\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"\/blog\/rf-testing\/rf-test-equipment-series-load-pull-testing-primer\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"\u00a0\u00a0Pasternack Blog","item":"\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"RF Test Equipment Series: Load Pull Testing Primer"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"\/blog\/#website","url":"\/blog\/","name":"Pasternack Blog","description":"The Engineer&#039;s RF Source","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/326df634ca01e2e320234e9aab876e02","name":"Peter McNeil","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/03b2ed3f5bdaec4dd3b873feef39d6c5c3b938be0ba443afd079064fc755279c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/03b2ed3f5bdaec4dd3b873feef39d6c5c3b938be0ba443afd079064fc755279c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/03b2ed3f5bdaec4dd3b873feef39d6c5c3b938be0ba443afd079064fc755279c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Peter McNeil"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/blog.pasternack.com"],"url":"\/blog\/author\/pete_mcneil\/"}]}},"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1450","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1450"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1450\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1463,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1450\/revisions\/1463"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}