Do vendors state on data sheet the unloaded Q of inductor or loaded? Would you say it's loaded when it's measured since it technically in a circuit?
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If you are using a Q meter then the inductor is unloaded. Any other sort of meter is loading the inductor though its calibration should show the actual unloaded Q. The loaded q is normally a function of the circuit more then the inductor. The higher the loaded Q the more loss the circuit will have. For the lowest loss, you need a coil with a high unloaded Q and a low loaded Q.
Frank