FieldFox Handheld FieldFox Handheld Education Series

• Interference Testing
Education Series Part 3:
Calibration Techniques for
Precise Field
Measurements
• Cable and Antenna Measurements
• Calibration Techniques
• Time Domain Measurements
• Precise Power Measurements
www.agilent.com/find/FieldFoxWebcasts

Tom Hoppin
Business Development Engineer
Co-Sponsored by

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

 November 28, 2012

Calibration Techniques for Precise

Field Measurements

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Outline

 FieldFox VNA and CAT modes

 T/R and S-Parameter Test Sets
 Systematic Errors
 User Calibration Types
o CalReady
o QuickCal
o Mechanical
 Advanced Topics
 Guided Calibration

Image courtesy of John Arthur, Wireless EDGE

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

FieldFox Modes and Measurement Parameters

Vector Network • S-parameters: S11, S21, S12, S22

Analyzer (VNA) • Time Domain

Combination
Analyzer

30 kHz to 26.5 GHz • Return Loss and VSWR

Cable and Antenna • Insertion Loss
Test (CAT) Analyzer • Distance to Fault (Time Domain)

Calibration techniques are the same for both modes

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

CAT and VNA Display Comparison

CAT Mode Full 2-port VNA Mode

Insertion Loss (|S21|) S21 S12

Return Loss (|S11|) S11 S22

• Magnitude • Magnitude and Phase

• Reduced Error Correction • Full 2-Port Error Correction Capability
• CAT also includes 1-port Insertion • S-parameter and T/R Hardware Options
Loss

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Forward and Reverse Measurement Capability

Forward-only Forward Reverse

Device
Under Test
(DUT)

S11 S21 S11 S21 S12 S22

Port 1 Port 2 Port 1 Port 2 Port 1 Port 2

Transmission / Reflection, (T/R) Full 2-Port S-parameter Configuration

Improved measurement accuracy with Forward and Reverse capability

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Measurement Comparison: Full 2-Port and Forward Only

Enhanced
Response Cal
(Forward Only)

Full 2-Port Cal

(Forward & Reverse)

Full 2-port calibration types correct for all systematic errors

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

FieldFox Calibration Requirements
Factory Calibration User Calibration
Calibration Plane
Adapter

Jumper
Cable

“CalReady”
Calibration Plane

Re-calibration
recommended Removes
12 to18 months systematic
errors
Certificate of
Calibration
“CalReady” Error Coefficients Frequent User Calibration
Stored Internally

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Sources of Systematic Errors
Simplified Hardware Configuration

FieldFox Analyzer Reflectometer

Test Cables
& Adapters

A
Device Under
R Test (DUT)
30 kHz to 26.5 GHz B

Reflectometer Forward Reverse

S11 = A/R S12 = A/R
• Tracking Errors S21 = B/R S22 = B/R
User • Random Errors
• Mismatch Errors Other
Calibration • Drift Errors
• Directivity Errors

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

User Calibration in the Field

Simple
• No cal kit required Cal Types
• Rapid calibration
CalReady
• Full 2-port cal (at test ports)
QuickCal
• Compensate for cables &
Normalization
adapters

Advanced

Calibration kit • Requires cal kit Cal Types

• Measure cal standards
• Full 2-port cal (all
+ configurations)
1-Port OSL
Full 2-port, SOLT
Full 2-Port, QSOLT
Enhanced Response

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

CalReady

Calibration Test
• Built-in
• Full 2-port Cal Antenna Cable DUT
(1-port) (2-port) (2-port)

Calibration Plane
Test

DUT
Jumper Cable
Cable

Full 2-port error correction at FieldFox test ports

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

 QuickCal
Calibration Test
1-Port Quick Cal 2-Port Quick Cal
Open
1 1 2
Cal Plane Cal Plane Cal Plane

DUT
Test Open Connect
Cable
Cal Plane
Cal Plane

*Optional Load *Optional Load

Full 2-port error correction with cable and adapter compensation

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Measurement Comparison: Rapid Calibration Types

QuickCal

Test
CalReady
DUT

Cable

DUT = Filter

QuickCal compensates for test cables and adapters

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

 Normalization & Response Calibration Types
Measurement Comparison of a 3-dB Attenuator
Calibration
(Normalization)

Thru Normalization Cal

Store
measurement
sweep

Test 2-Port Cal

DUT

Displays • Normalization stores “Thru” sweep to memory

Test / Memory
• Better to use CalReady or QuickCal

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Mechanical Calibrations

Type-N (f) Open Type-N (f) Short 1-Port Calibration

Calibration • Open
Standards • Short
Type-N (f) Thru (OSL) • Load
Cal Kit
4-in-1

2-Port Calibration
Type-N (f) Load • Short
Calibration
• Open
Standards
Cal Standards should • Load
(SOLT)
match DUT ports • Thru

Type-N (f) DUT Type-N (f)

Mechanical calibrations provide the highest level of measurement accuracy

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Mechanical Calibration: Full 2-port (Forward & Reverse)

Calibration Test
1 2

Cal Plane
S O L

DUT
Thru Cal Plane
S O L
Six
connections
required

Thru can be zero-length or

unknown length
(even the DUT itself)

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Comparing QuickCal and Mechanical Calibrations
Measurement of a Coaxial Cable

2-Port Cal

QuickCal

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Advanced Concepts : Insertable and Non-Insertable DUTs

Insertable
• Same connector type
DUT • Different gender
Type-N (m) Type-N (f)

Calibration Test

DUT
• No “Thru” adapter required • No adapter(s)
• QuickCal easy to implement required
• Mechanical Cal; (m) & (f) kits
Calibration required
Plane

1 2 1 2
FieldFox VNA FieldFox VNA

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Advanced Concepts : Insertable and Non-Insertable DUTs

Non-Insertable • Same connector type and gender

• Different connector types
DUT
Type-N (f) Type-N (f)

Calibration Test
Thru

DUT
• “Thru” adapter matches DUT
(f)
• QuickCal easy to implement
(f) • Mechanical Cal; (f) kit required here
Type N • “Unknown Thru” available in QuickCal
(m)-(m) and Full 2-Port cal types.
adapter
1 2 1 2
FieldFox VNA FieldFox VNA

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Non-Insertable DUT Measurements

X-Band Waveguide-to-Coax Adapter

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Calibration Types for T/R Test Sets
T/R Cal Types
Forward-only • Normalization/Response
• OSL (1-port)
• CalReady (Enhanced Response)
• QuickCal (Enhanced Response)
• Mechanical Enhanced Response

Enhanced Response Cal Procedure

S11 S21
Port 1 Port 2
1 2

S O L Thru
Three
connections
required

FieldFox with T/R

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Advanced Topics: Reciprocal and Non-Reciprocal DUTs
S21

S11 DUT S22

S12
Reciprocal Non-Reciprocal
S21 = S12 S21 = S12

Examples: Examples:
• Cables • Amplifiers
• Filters • Isolators
• Couplers • Circulators
• Attenuators

Use Reciprocal Enhanced Use Non-Reciprocal Enhanced

Response Cal Response Cal

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Cable Measurement Comparison

Enhanced Cal
w/ Non-Reciprocal

Enhanced Cal
w/ Reciprocal

Full 2-port Cal

CalReady

DUT Type Enhanced Response : Enhanced Response:

Non-Reciprocal (default) Reciprocal
Reciprocal (cable) Good Highest
Non-Reciprocal (amp) Highest Incorrect

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Advanced Concepts: Optimizing Dynamic Range

Low Output
Power

High Output
Power

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

FieldFox Guided Calibration – Cal Wizard

• FieldFox recommends calibration type

• Simple setup process
• Cal Wizard for step-by-step connections

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

FieldFox VNA Characteristics
• Carry precision with you - Agilent-quality measurements
• Best measurement stability over temperature and time
• 100 dB Dynamic Range
• Weather resistant, MIL-PRF-28800F Class 2 design
• 6.6 pounds (3 kg)
• 3.5 hour battery life

N9912A 4/6 GHz RF Analyzer

N9923A 4/6 GHz RF Vector Network Analyzer (VNA)
N9925A 9 GHz Microwave VNA
N9926A 14 GHz Microwave VNA
N9927A 18 GHz Microwave VNA
N9928A 26.5 GHz Microwave VNA
N9913/4/5/6/7/8A RF and Microwave Combination Analyzers

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

FieldFox Accessories
Calibration Kits
Coax, 4-in-1 Coax, 3-in-1 Waveguide

Other cal kits available

3.5 mm, Type N Type N, 7/16 X-Band, P-Band, K-Band

Phase Stable Test Cables

N9910X-704, type N(m) to TNC(f), 13 GHz

N9910X-709, 3.5 mm(f) to 3.5 mm(f), 26.5 GHz

N9910X-810, type N(m) to N(m), 6 GHz

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

Conclusions

• Introduced S-parameters basics for measuring S11, S21, S12 and S22
• Discussed Full 2-Port and T/R hardware options
• Discussed error correction and user calibration
• Introduced CalReady, QuickCal and Mechanical cal types
• Reviewed advanced topics including insertable and non-insertable DUTs

© 2012 Agilent Technologies

For More Information
Web: www.agilent.com/find/FieldFox
Literature:
- Techniques for Precise Interference Measurements in the Field, application note,
literature number 5991-0418EN
- Techniques for Precise Cable and Antenna Measurements in the Field, application
note, literature number 5991-0419EN
- Techniques for Precise Measurement Calibration in the Field, application
note, literature number 5991-0421EN
- FieldFox Handheld Analyzers, brochure, literature number 5990-9779EN

Third in a series of monthly application webcasts

• Sept 26, 2012: Interference Testing
• Oct 24, 2012: Cable and Antenna Measurements
• Nov 28 2012: Calibration Techniques
• Jan 23 2013: Time Domain Measurements
• Mar 27 2013: Precise Power Measurements

Registration: www.agilent.com/find/FieldFoxWebcasts
Co-Sponsored by Thank you for your time
Questions?
© 2012 Agilent Technologies
References

o Agilent Application Note: Network Analyzer Basics, Literature Number 5965-

7917E, August 2004

o Agilent FieldFox Analyzers N9913A, N9914A, N9915A, N9916A, N9917A,

N9918A, N9925A, N9926A, N9927A, N9928A, N9935A, N9936A, N9937A,
N9938A, User’s Guide, Literature Number N9927–90001, September 28, 2012

o Agilent Application Note: Techniques for Precise Cable and Antenna

Measurements in the Field, Literature Number 5991-0419EN, August 27, 2012,

o Agilent Application Note: Techniques for Precise Measurement Calibrations in

the Field, Literature Number 5991-0421EN, August 29, 2012

© 2012 Agilent Technologies