Method and apparatus for measuring return loss

A return loss meter for base stations, comprising:

• a first transceiver having a first transmitter and a first receiver;
• a second transceiver having a second transmitter and a second receiver;
• means for cross coupling the first transmitter to the second receiver and the second transmitter to the first receiver;
• means for measuring coupled power of the first transmitter using the Received Signal Strength Indicator of the second receiver;
• means for measuring coupled power of the second transmitter using the Received Signal Strength Indicator of the first receiver;
• means for measuring transmitted power of the first transmitter via a switched directional coupler using the RSSI of the second receiver;
• means for measuring the transmitted power of the second transmitter via the switched directional coupler using the RSSI of the first receiver.

A method for remotely measuring return loss of an antenna in a base station having a plurality of transceivers, comprising the steps of:

• at the base station:
• cross coupling a first transmitter having a first antenna to a second receiver backend;
• cross coupling a second transmitter having a second antenna to a first receiver backend;
• measuring reflected and transmitted power of the second antenna via a second directional coupler capable of being switched between the second antenna and the first receiver backend and via a device capable of measuring received signal strength at the first receiver backend, wherein a first directional coupler and the second directional coupler comprise a dual directional coupler coupled to a first attenuator and a second attenuator and wherein the dual directional coupler, comprises a coupler having a first input port and a second input port and first output port and a second output port, the first input port receives transmitted power from the first transmitter, while the second input port receives reflected power and out of band energy from the second antenna, the first output port provides coupled transmitted power through the first attenuator while the second output port provides coupled reflected power and out of band energy through the second attenuator and a switching means for providing a desired coupled power output for measuring return loss.