Understanding the Importance of Reflected Power in Combiner Systems
In a combiner system, power that’s reflected at the antenna port doesn’t make it to the antenna, instead, it is reflected back and dissipated as heat in the isolator output load termination. This causes a higher heat load on the cavities, the isolators, and the cable harness, leading to a decrease in combiner performance over time. This can result in increased maintenance requirements and a shorter lifespan for the combiner.
The difference between reflected power at the antenna versus the combiner is the loss in the length of cable between the antenna and the repeater. This loss reduces the reflected power dB-for-dB based on two times the cable loss. However, with a combiner, there’s only a few feet of cable between the repeater and the isolator, and usually less than 24″ from the cavity to the combiner’s antenna port. This means that there’s little to no reduction in the power that is reflected due to poor output return loss, increasing the heat load throughout the combiner.
If you want an antenna that radiates power going into it, instead of reflecting it back towards the repeater, a combiner system is the way to go. With minimal cabling and an isolator that dissipates heat, a combiner can maintain optimal performance over time, reducing maintenance requirements and extending the combiner’s lifespan. Plus, with our 5-year warranty, you can trust that you’re investing in a product that will deliver results for years to come!
