Power Splitters are devices used to split a single Radio Frequency (RF) line into one or more output lines. These are passive devices and are used predominantly in the field of radio technology.
These splitters transmit a defined amount of electromagnetic power in a transmission line to a port, enabling the transmitted signal to be used in another circuit.
Latest Power Splitters are built to retain signal strength with any modulation loss. However, multiple output ports on the splitter will decrease the signal strength coming into the splitter.
There are two types of power splitters-
1) Restive Power Splitter – These splitter use resistors that maintain the characteristic impendence, however, the use of resistors introduces the loss above that of the minimum caused by splitting.
2) Hybrid Power Splitter – These splitters use transformers that provide a minimum level of loss.
Power Splitter, when inserted into a circuit, some loss of power will occur as no component is completely loss-less.
• Advantages of a restive power splitter: they use resistors and can be made easily within a circuit.
• A low cost device.
The main disadvantage of a restive power splitter is that signal power loss is over and above the power lost on account of multiple output port.
• The advantages of Hybrid power splitter: Have lower loss of power on splitting.
• It also enables higher levels of performance visa Vis the restive counterpart.
The disadvantages of a Hybrid Power splitter: These use transformers, hence can be more complicated to manufacture. Transformers have a limited frequency range. This limits its overall range of hybrid power splitters.
Raditek offers many types of power splitters on its website.