Webcast Reminder: RF & Microwave Component Measurement

Fundamentals

From Keysight Engineering Education

How to measure s parameter
IF filter = anti alias filter

Improve noise floor but we … lower spped

Processor = normarally is CPU

PXI alloow to expend network port

10-12 ports
How about absorption of wave, if we use rough conductors?DUT?, how it can account
Hi, if for absorption you mean the loss that the DUT have, this will be a quantity that we will
measure with the Network analzyer. absorption or loss due to cable , connectors will be
quantified and taken out by the measurement by calibration..Joel will talk about it in few slides!

Is there a difference between SWR and VSWR? On an ENA (E5071C) I can only choose
SWR.
Hi Serdar, SWR and WSWR are equivalent. By definition VSWR stands for Voltage Standing
Wave Ratio, and is also referred to as Standing Wave Ratio (SWR). VSWR is a function of the
reflection coefficient, which describes the power reflected from the antenna. If the reflection
coefficient is given by s11 or reflection coefficient or return loss, then the VSWR is defined by
the following formula:

For example ; I am using VNA at 67 GHz, My device conductor surface rough ness is 0.3
um. when i am measuring (some of the waves are absorbed by total internal reflection
due to the surface roughness
you will have some loss due to the surface roughness, but it is not very easy to separate this
quantity from the other reflection...methodology like time domain can help to troubleshoot the
system, if this is what you want

Hi. To convert S parameters to dBm, do you have to multiply by 10*log or 20*log ?

with the Network analyzer you measure the s-parameter in linear form real and imaginary to
covert in dBm you will use 20*log

Please can you confirm what the expected resolution is when we using the time domain
functionality? Thank you!
First, resolution is defined as the ability to resolve two closely spaced responses, or a measure
of how close two responses can be to each other and still be distinguished from each other.
The resolution in time domain is dependent by different factors. The most important one is the
Frequency span. Frequency Span Influence on Response Resolution being inversely
proportional. Bigger is the span smaller is the resolution, meaning broader is the frequency
range of your analyzer better is the ability to see closely spaced response. To give you some
number if you have an instrument with a 40 GHz span with the right setup you should be able
to see discontinuity that are separated of about 2 mm. A quite good application note on the
topic is the following: http://literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/5989-5723EN.pdf

Hi. Those PXI Multiport VNA for MIMO systems upto which freq do they work?
Yes, MIMO multiport device characterization be an application. we have model up to 26.5 Ghz
and up to 32 ports

What is the usual duration of time when the calibration is invariant?

the time in which the calibration can be considered valid is dependent of several parameters,
mainly temperature, environmental condition, quality of the cables used in the setup,
calibration kit and so forth...in practice, keeping within -3 deg C of calibration temperature
should keep the calibration good. using high quality cables and well maintained calibration will
minimize the need of re-calibration. We specify S21 drift vs. temperature to something like
0.01-0.03 dB /deg C depending on frequency

How accurate can a PXI VNA be if used outside the recommended temperature range,
even with a fresh calibration?
Very accurate. IF you use an Ecal, it is good from maybe 15C to 32C, . If you use mechanical cal
kit, depends entirely on the stability of the kit but in general they are in that range as well.
What is the range of temperature you are expecting? For very wide ranges (-30 to 85) you can
use "calpods" that are intended to calibrate systems in Thermal Chamber
environments. https://www.keysight.com/en/pc-2274317/calpod-calibration-refresh-
module?cc=US&lc=eng

can you elaborate on the "noise floor" term ?

in simple word it represent the receiver noise floor and can help to calculate the instrument
dynamic range fro more info please see the following application
note: http://literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/5980-2778EN.pdf

what means IF ?
IF-Intermediate Frequency..this is the output frequency of the down-converter stage that goes
to the ADC to be processed

How about the effect of bridge connectors when you does a normalization?
with a normalization calibration you are not taking in account the contribution of the bridge.
this is something that you will compute with one port or full two port calibration

Do you usually use CIC or FIR, or IIR filters in the DSP?

it depends of the application and on the type of signal you want to measure FIR and IIR are
preferred but not unique

The end.

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