"Jimmie D" wrote in message
...
I need to measure the loss of aproximately 200ft of coax @ a freq of 1Ghz.
The normal procedure for doing this is to inject a signal at one end and
measure the power out at the other. Using available test eqipment this is a
real pain to do. I propose to disconnect the cable at the top of the tower
terminating it in either a short or open and measure the return loss at the
source end. I have done this and measured 6.75 db and I am assuming that
1/2 of this would be the actual loss of the cable. These numbers do fall
within the established norms for this cable. Can you think of a reason
thiis method would not be valid?


Jimmie

Half the return loss is a valid method of determining the transmission line
loss.

Frank