The propagation characteristics of a simulation partial discharge （PD） pulse and a steep front pulse in the XLPE power cable are investigated. Both the narrow pulses and the steep front pulses are applied to the initial terminal of the XLPE cable respectively

and the oscillograms at both terminals are simultaneously recorded using a digital oscilloscope. The characteristics of propagation and attenuation of pulses with different frequencies are analyzed

and then the determination philosophy of the bandwidth of the sensor for PD detection in cable is proposed.