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Wireless & Mobility · Advanced

Return Loss

The ratio in dB of forward power to reflected power caused by impedance mismatch.

Definition

Return loss expresses VSWR on a logarithmic scale. Higher return loss means less reflected energy and a better match. A return loss of about 14 dB corresponds roughly to a 1.5:1 VSWR.

Exam tip

Higher return loss is better; lower VSWR is better.

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