Dummy Loads provide a way to absorb the high power Radio Frequency output of amplifiers used in the satellite industry.  On the test bench a dummy load together with a cross-guide coupler provide an excellent way of testing the output of the amplifier at the output flange.

Another application of dummy loads is when two amplifiers are running in redundant mode, both are transmitting but only one is connected to the antenna feed, the standby amplifiers output is absorbed by a dummy load.