Re: Envelope Detector
A diode detector can have maybe 25 dB or so of dynamic range. You want an RF Power source that can be pulse amplitude modulated. In the high power state, you want an RF signal close to the maximum signal range to be detected. In the low power (off) state you need to attenuate that maximum RF power state by at least that 25 dB, although more attenuation is ok too.
A standard microwave switch with pin diodes or fets is fine to do the pulse modulation. If you application is slow, a lot of times the RF signal generator can also be amplitude modulated to produce this RF pulse.
It is important to use an analog load that is the similar in impedance to one you will use in the final circuit. For instance, if you are using an op amp inverter for the detected video voltage, you would do the test with a high impedance oscilloscope input. This is important if you want to get an accurate view of the detector's response time.