Disclosed is an apparatus and methodology for insuring measurement accuracy and performance reliability in the operation of devices employed to interrogate SAW devices. The present subject matter relates to an arrangement and methodology that provides an interrogator paired together with a separate receiver, which may comprise a second interrogator, functioning together to perform a self-testing operation. The interrogator may be a handheld device that is temporarily paired with a separate receiver or a like device or the interrogator may correspond to more or less permanently paired set of devices physically placed in an array.