The response to a step input or sharp change in detected output power is usually less than one second. This parameter is required to ensure that the response is quick enough to detect a varying leakage signal as the technician moves the instrument across an area of the microwave oven under investigation.
If the response is too slow a low level, varying signal may be missed. Conversely, if the response is too quick a rapidly varying signal may cause difficulty for the user as the display becomes difficult too read. This is particularly true in the case of digital displays and care must be taken in the design of the software that drives the display.