Vector Network Analyzer

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Answering Your Questions About Vector Network Analyzers

Whether it's for your mobile phone, your Wi-Fi, or the cloud, a vector network analyzer makes these common technological networks possible. To find a vector network analyzer to verify the performance of component parts or to make sure all products meet measurement specifications, look at the wide variety of vector network analyzers on eBay.

What does a vector network analyzer do?

A vector network analyzer (VNA) measures resistance of a microwave circuit, also known as an RF circuit, at its operating frequency, allowing you to verify the performance of components such as the antenna, amplifiers, cables, filters, and mixers. It measures the two parts making up a vector (the resistance and the phase) of the circuit. A VNA also measures changes in the magnitude and phase between two ports of a circuit. And by measuring frequency range, it can provide data to make a graph of impedance and gain over a frequency range. Able to provide a frequency measurement from 1 MHz to 145 GHz, these units typically come in 5 GHz to 40 GHz.

How do you calibrate a vector network analyzer?

There are different methods of calibrating a VNA setup. Two of the most commonly used methods are:

  • Open, short and load: The most common method used to calibrate is done with an open, short, and load (50 Ohm) element. Each element is connected at the point of measurement, which gives the VNA enough information to normalize the test setup and show any impedance at the calibration point.
  • Gain or loss calibration: Another commonly used method is gain or loss calibration. This method involves connecting two measurement points that connect to the input and output of the device being tested with a known element.
What S-parameter formats are used in vector network analyzers?

An S-parameter, also known as a scattering parameter, is an electrical characteristic of a signal in a complex network, and is commonly used in RF networks and applications. A VNA analyzes the signal behavior of S-parameters. The following formats are included:

  • Cartesian display formats (rectangular display formats)
  • Smith chart format
  • Polar format
  • Logarithmic magnitude format
  • Real format