PAM-118A

The Com-Power PAM-118A is a battery-powered wideband preamplifier covering 500 MHz to 18 GHz, designed to improve system sensitivity for radiated emissions measurements across the microwave frequency range. With 40 dB of typical gain, ±2.5 dB flatness, and a noise figure below 3 dB, it is well-suited for placement at the receive antenna in chamber or OATS setups where cable attenuation, switch matrix losses, and increasing antenna factors above 1 GHz would otherwise push weak DUT emissions below the analyzer noise floor.

Key specifications include a minimum output power of +12 dBm at 1 dB compression, 40 dB of typical reverse isolation, a maximum input/output VSWR of 2.2:1, and 50 Ω precision N-type female connectors at both ports. Battery operation via an internal 6V / 2 Ah NiMH rechargeable pack eliminates ground-loop and power-lead coupling issues during quiet measurements. An external +15 VDC / 500 mA adapter is also supported.

The PAM-118A is effective for a wide range of above-1 GHz measurement tasks including radiated emissions pre-scans and final compliance runs under CISPR 32 and FCC Part 15, harmonic and spurious characterization of clocks, DC-DC converters, and wireless modules (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular), and chamber verification sweeps with broadband horn or log-periodic antennas. At 3- and 10-metre test distances, it recovers far-field signals that would otherwise be unresolvable at the receiver. It is a receive-only device and should not be used in transmit or immunity injection chains. It pairs directly with the PAM-840A or PAM-840H for complete 500 MHz to 40 GHz radiated emissions coverage.