RF Component Testing with a USB Vector Network Analyzer
Using a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) for RF component testing for design and manufacturing is based on how the component performs. The analyzer is used in multiple ways from design to manufacturing to tuning, field monitoring and maintenance of antennas, filters, mixers, amplifiers, circulators, isolators, and other RF components. Key considerations component designers should pay attention to when finding an analyzer that fits their needs is a great dynamic range, low trace noise, and fast measurement speed.
Copper Mountain Technologies offer great and affordable solutions with metrology-grade accuracy for RF component testing for manufacturers and designers with 130 dB – 152 dB dynamic range, very low trace noise, and fast measurement speed to provide accurate testing results. We also have many resources for antenna design available on our Resources for IoT Designers page.
Key Considerations:
Dynamic Range
CMT USB Vector Network Analyzers have industry-leading dynamic range and sweep speed. These USB VNAs have a large frequency range with the option of frequency scan segmentation. This allows for optimal use of the device to realize the maximum dynamic range while maintaining high measurement speed, which is ideal for RF component testing.
Measurement Speed
A fast measurement speed is especially important in production environments when you need to do RF component testing quickly on the line. Copper Mountain Technologies VNAs have many models with fast measurement speed, like the Cobalt models with as low as 10 microseconds per point.
Cobalt VNAs for RF Component Testing
Our Cobalt Vector Network Analyzers deliver industry-leading dynamic range and sweep speed, with all the features engineers have come to expect included standard in our software: linear/logarithmic sweeps with multiple trace formats, power sweeps, time domain and gating conversion, frequency offset mode, fixture simulation (embedding/de-embedding), 16 independent channels with up to 16 traces each, markers with marker search tools and marker math, various conversion algorithms, and limit tests for pass/fail criteria, etc. We offer the Cobalt series in both 9 GHz and 20 GHz. The VNAs have the base models, a Direct Receiver Access (DRA) models, and Frequency Extension compatible models.
Related Products:
Compact VNA Series up to 18 GHz
Compact VNAs have a dynamic range up to 140 dB which allows them to maintain a wide measurement range at high measurement speeds.
Cobalt VNA Series up to 20 GHz
Cobalt VNAs have up to 152 dB dynamic range which allows them to maintain a wide measurement range at high measurement speeds.
Multiport Scalar Solution - RNVNA
Copper Mountain Technologies RNVNA solution is a customizable multiport network analysis solution for MIMO antennas and other 5G applications.
If you’re interested in learning more about how our USB VNAs can be used for RF component testing or to determine which instrument is most suitable to your unique application, ask an engineer!
