Rohde & Schwarz Launches R&S NTS RF Power Transfer Standards

Rohde & Schwarz has expanded its portfolio of metrological reference solutions with the introduction of the R&S NTS thermoelectric RF power transfer standards, enabling traceable RF power measurements up to 170 GHz.

Accurate power measurement underpins high‑quality manufacturing, quality assurance and regulatory compliance, with international standards requiring regular calibration traceable to national references. Traditional thermistor mount standards have long served this role, but production ceased years ago, spares are scarce and new frequency bands such as D‑band are not covered. R&S NTS directly addresses this gap.

Designed as a modern, drop‑in successor to legacy thermistor mounts, the compact R&S NTS sensors integrate seamlessly into existing microcalorimeter setups without extra base units. They connect directly to commercially available, traceably calibrated DC nanovoltmeters, allowing laboratories to retain familiar workflows. Rohde & Schwarz also provides software support to streamline migration from thermistor‑based methods to thermoelectric technology.

At the heart of R&S NTS is a thermoelectric detector chip engineered specifically for metrological RF‑DC substitution, building on more than two decades of experience from the company’s R&S NRP power sensors and refined for the highest accuracy. Two highly symmetrical RF and DC heaters enable virtually identical RF‑DC substitution, while an optimised heater design ensures excellent linearity, cutting operating‑point influence on the calibration factor to the parts‑per‑million per milliwatt range. Tight impedance matching and a very flat frequency response reduce uncertainty across the operating range. Usability in precision environments is further enhanced by a high maximum input power of +20 dBm and fast settling times.

Additional metrology‑focused features include a 4‑wire DC heater connection for precise power substitution, low‑impedance DC lines to minimise parasitic heating losses, and an integrated temperature sensor to compensate even minute thermal effects. All models feature a robust push‑pull DC connector, low thermal mass and optional electronic device identification to support automated calibration workflows.

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