Network Analyzers using RVNA and RNVNA software

Measured parameters

S11, Cable loss, when using a 1-port VNA.

S-parameters when using two or more Analyzers (separately or as a part of an RNVNA):

•Sii, where i is a value from 1 to N is taken.

•|Sij|, i ≠ j, i and j take a value from 1 to N (N is a number of Analyzers).

Number of measurement channels

Up to 4 logical channels for 1-port VNA.

Up to 16 logical channels for RNVNA.

Each logical channel is represented on the screen as an individual channel window. A logical channel is defined by such stimulus signal settings as frequency range, number of test points, etc.

Data traces

Up to 4 data traces can be displayed in each channel window for 1-port VNA.

Up to 16 data traces can be displayed in each channel window for RNVNA.

A data trace represents one of such parameters of the DUT as magnitude and phase of S-parameters, Cable loss.

Memory traces

Each data trace can be saved into memory for further comparison with the current values.

Data display formats

Logarithmic Magnitude, Phase, Expand Phase, Group Delay, SWR, Real, Imag, Linear Magnitude, Smith chart diagram, Polar, Cable loss.

Sweep type

Linear frequency sweep, logarithmic frequency sweep, and segment frequency sweep.

Measured points per sweep

From 2 to 100,001 for 1-port VNA.

From 2 to 16,001 for RNVNA.

Segment sweep

A frequency sweep within several user-defined segments. Frequency range, number of sweep points, IF bandwidth and measurement delay should be set for each segment.

Power settings

Two modes of output power level. Power levels depending on device.

Sweep trigger

Trigger modes: continuous, single, hold.

Trigger sources: internal, external, bus. The availability of this feature depends on the Analyzer model.

Trace type

Data trace, memory trace, or simultaneous data and memory traces.

Trace math

Data trace modification by math operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication or division of measured complex values and memory data.

Autoscaling

Automatic selection of scale division and reference level value to have the trace most effectively displayed.

Reference level automatic selection

Automatic selection of the reference level. After selection, the data trace shifts vertically so that the reference level crosses the trace in the middle.

Electrical delay

Calibration plane moving to compensate for the delay in the test setup. Compensation for electrical delay in a DUT during measurements of deviation from linear phase.

Phase offset

Phase offset by the specified value in degrees.

Calibration

Calibration of a test setup (which includes the Analyzer and adapter) significantly increases the accuracy of measurements. Calibration allows to correct the errors caused by imperfections in the measurement system: system directivity, source match, and tracking.

Calibration methods

The following calibration methods are available:

•Reflection normalization.

•Full one-port calibration.

•Normalization of the transmission coefficient module when using two or more vector analyzers (separately or as part of an RNVNA Analyzer).

•Full one-port calibration with normalization of the transmission coefficient module.

•Full two-port calibration with normalization of the transmission coefficient module.

Reflection normalization

The simplest calibration method. It has low accuracy.

Full one-port calibration

Method of calibration that ensures high accuracy.

Normalization of the transmission coefficient module when using two vector analyzers

The type of calibration that is used when measuring the transmission coefficient module of the DUT when using two or more vector analyzers (separately or as a part of an RNVNA Analyzer) connected to one USB controller. It has low accuracy.

Full one-port calibration with normalization of the transmission coefficient module

The type of calibration that is used for advanced normalization of the gear ratio. It allows to increase the accuracy of measuring the transmission coefficient by taking into account the coordination of the signal source with the measured device.

Full two-port calibration with normalization of the transmission coefficient module

The type of calibration that is used for advanced normalization of the gear ratio. It allows to increase the accuracy of measuring the transmission coefficient by taking into account the coordination of the source and receiver of signals with the measured device.

Factory calibration

The factory calibration of the Analyzer allows performing measurements without additional calibration and reduces the measurement error after reflection normalization.

Mechanical calibration kits

The user can select one of the predefined calibration kits of various manufacturers or define own calibration kits.

Electronic calibration modules

Copper Mountain Technologies’ automatic calibration modules (ACM’s) make Analyzer calibration faster and easier than traditional mechanical calibration and provides the highest accuracy.

Defining of calibration standards

Different methods of calibration standard defining are available:

•standard defining by polynomial model

•standard defining by data (S-parameters)

Error correction interpolation

When the user changes such settings as start/stop frequencies and number of points, compared to the settings of calibration, interpolation or extrapolation of the calibration coefficients will be applied.

Port Extension

Calibration plane compensation for delay in the test setup.

Data markers

Up to 16 markers for each trace. A marker indicates stimulus value and the measured value in a given point of the trace.

Reference marker

Enables indication of any maker values as relative to the reference marker.

Marker search

Search for max, min, peak, or target values on a trace.

Marker search additional features

User-definable search range. Functions of specific condition tracking or single operation search.

Setting parameters by markers

Setting of start, stop and center frequencies by the stimulus value of the marker and setting of reference level by the response value of the marker.

Marker math functions

Statistics, bandwidth, flatness, RF filter.

Statistics

Calculation and display of mean, standard deviation and peak-to-peak in a frequency range limited by two markers on a trace.

Bandwidth

Determines bandwidth between cutoff frequency points for an active marker or absolute maximum. The bandwidth value, center frequency, lower frequency, higher frequency, Q value, and insertion loss are displayed.

Flatness

Displays gain, slope, and flatness between two markers on a trace.

RF filter

Displays insertion loss and peak-to-peak ripple of the passband, and the maximum signal magnitude in the stopband. The passband and stopband are defined by two pairs of markers.

Port impedance conversion

The function of conversion of the S-parameters measured at 50 Ω port into the values, which could be determined if measured at a test port with arbitrary impedance.

Note: The function is applicable for reflection coefficients (S11, S22 etc.) measurement only.

De-embedding

The function allows to exclude mathematically the effect of the fixture circuit connected between the calibration plane and the DUT from the measurement result. This circuit should be described by an S-parameter matrix in a Touchstone file.

Note: The function is applicable for reflection coefficients (S11, S22 etc.) measurement only.

Embedding

The function allows to simulate mathematically the DUT parameters after virtual integration of a fixture circuit between the calibration plane and the DUT. This circuit should be described by an S-parameter matrix in a Touchstone file.

Note: The function is applicable for reflection coefficients (S11, S22 etc.) measurement only.

S-parameter conversion

The function allows conversion of the measured S-parameters to the following parameters: reflection impedance and admittance, transmission impedance and admittance, and inverse S-parameters.

Note: The function is applicable for reflection coefficients (S11, S22 etc.) measurement only.

Time domain transformation

The function performs data transformation from frequency domain into response of the DUT to radiopulse in time domain. Time domain span is set by the user arbitrarily from zero to maximum, which is determined by the frequency step. Windows of various forms allow better tradeoff between resolution and level of spurious sidelobes.

Note: The function is applicable for reflection coefficients (S11, S22 etc.) measurement only.

Time domain gating

The function mathematically removes unwanted responses in time domain which allows obtaining frequency response without influence from the fixture elements. The function applies reverse transformation back to frequency domain from the user-defined span in time domain. Gating filter types are bandpass or notch. For better tradeoff between gate resolution and level of spurious sidelobes the following filter shapes are available: maximum, wide, normal and minimum.

Note: The function is applicable for reflection coefficients (S11, S22 etc.) measurement only.

Analyzer control

Using external personal computer via USB interface.

Familiar graphical user interface

Graphical user interface based on Windows operating system ensures fast and easy Analyzer operation.

The software interface of Analyzers is compatible with modern tablet PCs and laptops.

Saving trace data

Saving the traces in graphical format and saving the data in Touchstone and *.CSV (comma separated values) formats on the hard drive are available.

COM/DCOM

Remote control via COM/DCOM. COM automation runs the user program on an Analyzer PC. DCOM automation runs the user program on a LAN-networked PC. Automation of the instrument can be achieved in any COM/DCOM-compatible language or environment, including Python, C++, C#, VB.NET, LabVIEW, MATLAB, Octave, VEE, Visual Basic (Excel) and many others.

Socket

Data transfer between the PC user and the computer that is connected to the device, can be also performed via Socket (TCP, port 5025).