Mini-Circuits PWR-8GHS vs PWR-8PW-RC vs PWR-9RMS-RC
The Mini-Circuits PWR-8GHS, PWR-8PW-RC and PWR-9RMS-RC are smart RF power sensors for different measurement requirements.
PWR-8GHS – cost-effective CW average power measurement
PWR-8PW-RC – peak, average, crest factor and pulse measurement
PWR-9RMS-RC – RMS average power for wideband modulated and multi-tone signals
The correct model should therefore be selected primarily by signal type and measurement requirement, not frequency range alone.
Key Specifications
| Parameter | PWR-8GHS | PWR-8PW-RC | PWR-9RMS-RC |
| Frequency Range | 1 MHz–8 GHz | 10 MHz–8 GHz | 50 MHz–9 GHz |
| Power Range | −30 to +20 dBm | −60 to +20 dBm | −60 to +20 dBm |
| Dynamic Range | 50 dB | 80 dB | 80 dB |
| Measurement Type | CW Average | Peak & Average | RMS Average |
| CW Signals | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pulsed Signals | No dedicated pulse analysis | Yes | Yes, ≥2% duty cycle |
| Modulated Signals | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Tone Signals | Not primary use | Not primary use | Yes |
| Peak Power | No | Yes | No |
| Crest Factor / Duty Cycle | No | Yes | No |
| Control | USB | USB / Ethernet | USB / Ethernet |
| RF Connector | N-Type | N-Type | N-Type |
PWR-8GHS: For CW Average Power
The PWR-8GHS covers 1 MHz to 8 GHz and measures power from −30 to +20 dBm.
It is designed primarily for average power measurements of CW and single-tone RF signals and connects directly to a PC through USB.
Typical applications include:
Signal generator calibration
CW amplifier output measurement
Laboratory RF measurements
Production test
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and sub-6 GHz wireless testing
Choose PWR-8GHS when you mainly need simple, cost-effective CW power measurement.
PWR-8PW-RC: For Peak, Pulse and Modulated Signals
The PWR-8PW-RC covers 10 MHz to 8 GHz with a wide −60 to +20 dBm measurement range.
Its key advantage is high-speed waveform measurement. Mini-Circuits specifies a 10 MHz video bandwidth and 20 million samples per second, supporting peak power, average power, crest factor and duty-cycle measurements.
It is suitable for:
Pulsed radar
OFDM and QAM signals
LTE and communication testing
Pulse profiling
Peak-to-average power measurement
Statistical RF signal analysis
It supports both USB and Ethernet, making it suitable for benchtop and remote automated test systems.
Choose PWR-8PW-RC when you need to see peak power or characterize pulse and modulation behavior.
PWR-9RMS-RC: For RMS Modulated Power
The PWR-9RMS-RC covers 50 MHz to 9 GHz and provides an 80 dB dynamic range from −60 to +20 dBm.
Unlike the peak sensor, it is optimized for accurate RMS average power measurement of:
CW signals
Wideband modulated signals
Multi-tone signals
Pulsed signals with moderate duty cycles of approximately 2% or greater
Mini-Circuits specifically positions the PWR-9RMS-RC for wideband modulated and multi-tone measurement.
Choose PWR-9RMS-RC when accurate average power of complex modulation is required but pulse waveform or peak analysis is not necessary.
Conclusion
These three Mini-Circuits power sensors target different RF measurement tasks:
CW Average Power → PWR-8GHS
Best for basic laboratory and production measurements of stable CW signals.
Peak + Average Power → PWR-8PW-RC
Best for radar pulses, digitally modulated signals and applications requiring peak power, crest factor or pulse profiling.
RMS Average Power → PWR-9RMS-RC
Best for accurate average-power measurement of wideband modulated and multi-tone RF signals.
For most users, the key question is simple: Do you need CW average power, peak/pulse analysis, or RMS average power for complex signals?
Stock, Price and RFQ
DataStorageIC supports sourcing for Mini-Circuits PWR-8GHS, PWR-8PW-RC, PWR-9RMS-RC and related PWR-series smart RF power sensors.
Contact us with the required model, quantity, destination and calibration requirements for current stock, price, lead time and RFQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between PWR-8GHS and PWR-8PW-RC?
PWR-8GHS is primarily a CW average power sensor with a −30 to +20 dBm range. PWR-8PW-RC extends the range to −60 dBm and supports peak, average, pulse, crest-factor and duty-cycle measurements.
Which model is best for pulsed radar signals?
The PWR-8PW-RC is the preferred model because it supports pulse profiling, peak and average power measurement, 10 MHz video bandwidth and 20 MS/s processing.
What is the difference between PWR-8PW-RC and PWR-9RMS-RC?
PWR-8PW-RC measures both peak and average power and can analyze pulse characteristics. PWR-9RMS-RC focuses on RMS average power and is better suited to wideband modulated and multi-tone signals when peak waveform analysis is not required.
Which model has the widest frequency range?
The PWR-9RMS-RC extends to 9 GHz, while PWR-8GHS and PWR-8PW-RC extend to 8 GHz. PWR-8GHS has the lowest starting frequency at 1 MHz.
