RF/Microwave Power Dividers & RF Power Tappers

Microwave Power Dividers (splitters) are a subset of RF power dividers and RF power tappers, which are a common component in many RF/microwave circuits and systems. The main purpose of a RF splitter for microwave or RF applications is to split the power incident at the input port to a number of output ports. The number of outputs for a RF/microwave splitter is typically an even number, though 3-way splitters are somewhat common. RF dividers differ from RF divider/combiners, or RF combiners, as a radio frequency divider may be non-reciprocal and have dedicated inputs and outputs. RF tappers are a subset of RF power dividers, which may or may not have an even division of the input power to the outputs. Equal split power tappers are the most common type of RF tappers and often used in cellular communication systems, such as small cells and distributed antenna system (DAS) applications.

Key RF Power Divider/Microwave Power Divider Performance Parameters & Features

• Frequency range [Hz]
• Impedance [Ohms]
• Input VSWR
• Output VSWR
• Insertion loss [dB]
• Isolation [dB]
• Passive Intermodulation [dBc]
• Input power (CW) [dB]
• Input power (peak) [dB]
• Output port count

For cellular and other communication applications it is often necessary to use low passive intermodulation (PIM) components wherever possible. This includes using low PIM radio frequency tappers and radio frequency splitters when available. Most RF/microwave splitters are either 50 Ohm or 75 Ohm. Microwave power splitters can range from 2 way 50 Ohm RF power dividers to 12 Way 50 Ohm RF power dividers, typically. It is important to note that with radio frequency dividers, the greater number of dividing ports results in the total incident power at the input being divided to each output with some degree of loss. Hence, the output signal from a RF/microwave splitter will always be less than the input signal. RF dividers differ from RF hybrids, as the phase for each dividing port is equal, as well as the magnitude. For many RF divider applications it is important to have isolation between the dividing ports to prevent signals and reflections from a dividing port to couple into the other dividing ports.