What does increasing frequency generally do to the transmission line’s performance in terms of loss?

Increasing the frequency in a transmission line generally leads to an increase in measured loss. As the frequency of the signal increases, several factors contribute to this higher loss. One key factor is the skin effect, where at higher frequencies, electrical currents tend to flow near the surface of conductors rather than through the entire cross-section. This increases the effective resistance of the conductor, resulting in greater energy loss as heat.

Additionally, higher frequencies may lead to increased dielectric losses in insulating materials used in transmission lines. These materials can absorb some of the energy, converting it to heat, which further contributes to overall loss in the system. Reflections also become more pronounced at higher frequencies due to impedance mismatches, which can lead to additional losses.

Thus, it is a well-established principle in telecommunications and electrical engineering that as frequency increases, transmission line performance typically diminishes in terms of loss, making the option that states an increase in measured loss as the correct choice.