Concepts and Features
R&S
®
ZNA
159
User Manual 1178.6462.02 ─ 12
Measurement
System error correction Scalar Power calibration
SMARTerCal
Meas. of wave quantities or
ratios on linear DUTs
Not possible
--> Use SMARTerCal
Not necessary
Yes
Meas. of wave quantities or
ratios on non-linear DUTs
Not possible
--> Use SMARTerCal
Yes
Power (source) and meas. receiver, sup-
ported in combination with SMARTerCal
Yes
Power sweep, e.g. for com-
pression point measurement
Yes
Power (source): Yes
Meas. receiver: not necessary
Not necessary
Frequency conversion mea-
surements on linear DUTs
Not possible
--> Use SMARTerCal
Not necessary
Yes
Frequency conversion mea-
surements on non-linear DUTs
Not possible
--> Use SMARTerCal
Yes
Power (source) and meas. receiver, sup-
ported in combination with SMARTerCal
Yes
In general, a power calibration involves two stages:
1.
Source power calibration:
An external power meter is connected to the calibra-
tion plane. The analyzer uses the power meter readings to calibrate its reference
receiver. Subsequently, it modifies its source power so that the calibrated reference
receiver reading corresponds to the desired source power value (flatness calibra-
tion).
Tip:
It is also possible to perform the source (flatness) calibration using the power
meter (without previously calibrating the reference receiver).
This is particularly suitable if a source and a reference receiver from different VNA
ports are combined via
Direct Generator/Receiver Access
(and
2.
Measurement receiver calibration:
The analyzer uses the calibrated source sig-
nal to adjust the power reading at the receive port.
5.5.6.1
Source Power Calibration
A source power calibration ensures accurate power levels of the generated waves at
an arbitrary calibration plane in the measurement path. Typically the calibration plane
corresponds to the input of the DUT.
In a frequency sweep, the power at the calibration plane is maintained at a constant
"Cal Power" value. The source power calibration eliminates frequency response errors
in the signal path between the source and the calibration plane. It is possible to intro-
duce an arbitrary attenuation or gain into the signal path so that the cal power is not
restricted to the power range of the source. A typical application for a power calibration
in a frequency sweep is the measurement of the gain of an amplifier across a fre-
quency range but at a fixed input power.
In a power sweep, the power calibration ensures that the power at the calibration plane
is either constant or a linear function of the stimulus power. A typical application for a
power calibration in a power sweep is the measurement of the gain of an amplifier
Calibration
