Construction Coordinator Practice Exam

What is defined as the difference in decibels (dB) between the signal power applied to a terminated cable and the reflected signal power?

1. Signal loss

2. Return loss

3. Attenuation

4. Reflection coefficient

The correct answer is: Return loss

Return loss is defined as the difference in decibels (dB) between the signal power applied to a terminated cable and the reflected signal power. This measurement indicates how well a device, such as a connector or an entire cable system, is matched to its load. A higher return loss value signifies that most of the signal power is transmitted to the load, while only a small fraction is reflected back to the source. This is crucial in ensuring efficient signal transmission and reducing potential signal degradation. Signal loss refers more to the attenuation of the signal power due to factors like distance and medium characteristics, rather than specifically addressing reflections. Attenuation measures the loss of signal strength as it travels through the cable, while the reflection coefficient defines how much of the incident signal is reflected due to impedance mismatch. In contrast, return loss is a specific metric focused on the ratio of the transmitted versus reflected signals in the context of impedance matching.