RF Probe Calibration Measurements


Calibration readings for a germanium diode 4.7M resistor .01 cap RF probe
like the one at http://www.io.com/~n5fc/rfprobe2.htm

If you compare the observed voltage readings at low power levels to the expected readings given at
http://www.minicircuits.com/pages/pdfs/dg03-110.pdf you can see significant departures below 100mW
or below RF probe observed voltages of about 2.0 volts.

Calibration was done with a K2,a switchable attenuator, a 50 ohm load and
a W7ZOI/W7PUA AD8307 power meter with 40 dB tap.

KL7R Jan 2007





Power Meter Reading (dBm) Power (Watts) RF Probe Reading (Volts)
-20 10u 0.002
-10 100u 0.013
-6 .25m 0.030
-3 .5m 0.051
0 1m 0.100
7 5m 0.270
8 6.4m 0.350
11 12.5m 0.560
14 25m 0.930
17 50m 1.350
20 100m 2.200
26 0.4 4.500
27 0.5 5.000
30 1.0 8.000
32 1.6 10.400
33 2.0 11.000
34 2.5 12.750
36 4.0 14.500
37 5.0 16.250
38 6.4 18.900
39 8.0 20.300
40 10.0 22.500