What is the frequency range of this RF power meter?

The device measures transmitter RF power at a frequency input of 0 to 500MHz.

How does the meter connect to a computer for display?

The meter connects to a PC via a USB port to display measurements using specific software instead of an LCD module.

Can this project measure RF power higher than 2W?

Yes, it can measure up to 50W by adding a simple 10-40dBm resistor attenuator.

How is the AD8307 probe powered?

The probe is self-powered by drawing power from the USB port through the USB IO Board.

What components are primarily found on the USB IO Board?

The board consists mainly of a PIC18F2550 microcontroller, a USB Type B connector, a 20MHz crystal resonator, two capacitors, and two resistors.

Does the meter support auto-ranging measurements?

Yes, it features auto-range RF wattage measurement across nW, uW, mW, and W ranges.

What unit of measurement does the output display use?

Output is displayed in dBm, Watts, and input voltage.

How is the probe connected to the main board?

The AD8307 probe connects to the USB IO Board using a three-wire cable.

USB 0-500MHz RF Power Meter with AD8307 using pic microcontoller

AD8307 USB 0-500MHz RF Power Meter Measurement of transmitter output RF power has never been easier and more precise.

By Ibrar Ayyub

PublishedOctober 7, 2022

Summary of USB 0-500MHz RF Power Meter with AD8307 using pic microcontoller

This article details the construction and specifications of an AD8307 USB RF Power Meter capable of measuring frequencies from 0 to 500MHz. The device utilizes a PIC18F2550 microcontroller and an AD8307 IC to convert analog signals into digital data displayed on a PC via USB software. It supports auto-ranging measurements from 1nW to 2W, extendable to 50W with an external attenuator, and draws power directly from the USB port.

Parts used in the AD8307 USB 0-500MHz RF Power Meter:

PIC18F2550 Programmed Microcontroller
AD8307 RF Power Meter IC
RF Power Meter Probe PCB
USB IO Board PCB
USB Type B Connector
20MHz Crystal Resonator
470K Resistor
10K Resistors (2x)
100 Resistors (2x)
470nF Ceramic Capacitor
100nF Ceramic Capacitors (5x)

AD8307 USB 0-500MHz RF Power Meter Component List:

1x PIC18F2550 Programmed Microcontroller
1x AD8307 RF Power Meter IC
1x RF Power Meter Probe PCB
1x USB IO Board PCB
1x USB Type B Connector
1x 20MHz Crystal Resonator
1x 470K Resistor (yellow purple yellow gold)
2x 10K Resistor (brown black orange gold)
2x 100 Resistor (brown black brown gold)
1x 470nF Ceramic Capacitor
5x 100nF Ceramic Capacitor

Technical Specifications:

Measures transmitter RF Power from 1nW to 2W (50W with 40dB attenuator) / -66.6dBm to 33dBm
Auto-range RF Wattage Measurement: nW, uW, mW and W
Frequency Input: 0-500MHz
Self-powered by USB port
Can measure higher RF power with addition of simple 10-40dBm resistor attenuator

AD8307 USB 0-500MHz RF Power Meter

Measurement of transmitter output RF power has never been easier and more precise. AD8307 USB 0-500MHz RF Power Meter allows to measure the power of transmitters from 1nW to 2W / 50W with 40dB attenuator. Output is displayed in dBm, Watts (nW, uW, mW and W range) as well as input voltage. USB RF Power Meter is based on popular AD8307 watt meter IC and PIC18F2550 microcontroller. Instead of using LCD display module the meter connects to a PC via USB port and displays measurements on a computer via USB RF Power Meter software. The software settings can be changed to use 10-50dBm attenuator and thus allowing to measure RF power higher than 2W.

AD8307 RF Power Meter Probe

AD8307 RF Power Meter Probe is used to measure the strength of RF power and may be mounted in a small metal enclosure. To measure output RF power of transmitter connect AD8307 probe input directly to the output of your transmitter (antenna output). AD8307 probe should be connected to USB IO Board by using three wire cable. The three wires provide power for the probe that is drawn from USB port through USB IO Board, ground wire and output that connects to PIC18F2550's PIN2 (A0).

USB IO Board

USB IO Board is used to sample voltage from AD8307 chip and pass the information in a digital format to a PC via USB port. The board consists of very few components; mainly PIC18F2550 microcontroller, standard USB Type B connector, breadboard compatibille PCB, 20MHz crystal resonator, two capacitors and two resistors.

For more detail: USB 0-500MHz RF Power Meter with AD8307

What is the frequency range of this RF power meter?
The device measures transmitter RF power at a frequency input of 0 to 500MHz.
How does the meter connect to a computer for display?
The meter connects to a PC via a USB port to display measurements using specific software instead of an LCD module.
Can this project measure RF power higher than 2W?
Yes, it can measure up to 50W by adding a simple 10-40dBm resistor attenuator.
How is the AD8307 probe powered?
The probe is self-powered by drawing power from the USB port through the USB IO Board.
What components are primarily found on the USB IO Board?
The board consists mainly of a PIC18F2550 microcontroller, a USB Type B connector, a 20MHz crystal resonator, two capacitors, and two resistors.
Does the meter support auto-ranging measurements?
Yes, it features auto-range RF wattage measurement across nW, uW, mW, and W ranges.
What unit of measurement does the output display use?
Output is displayed in dBm, Watts, and input voltage.
How is the probe connected to the main board?
The AD8307 probe connects to the USB IO Board using a three-wire cable.

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Ibrar Ayyub

I am an experienced technical writer holding a Master's degree in computer science from BZU Multan, Pakistan University. With a background spanning various industries, particularly in home automation and engineering, I have honed my skills in crafting clear and concise content. Proficient in leveraging infographics and diagrams, I strive to simplify complex concepts for readers. My strength lies in thorough...