Evaluation of a Wide-Band Method for the Measurement of the Reflection Coefficient of Microwave One-Port Networks

A method for measuring the magnitude and phase of the reflection coefficient of one-port networks is described. The measurements can be extended over wide frequency bands by stepping the signal frequency through the band. The measured value is referred to the impedance of solid conductor air-dielectric transmission lines which are considered primary standards of impedance. An error evaluation has been carried out and shows that this method is at least as accurate as the quarter-wavelength method. Examples of the measurement of coaxial terminations are given and compared to measurements by the quarter-wavelength method.