The calibration utility functions and management menus and dialog boxes are:

 

The CAL OPTIONS menu and related sub-menus provide access to advanced calibration options either before or after a calibration procedure has been completed.

 

 

Flexible calibration is the ability to select a sub-set of a currently active calibration status. For example, if a Full 2 Port calibration has been completed, flexible calibration allows the calibration to be reduced to a Transmission Frequency Response calibration. Select toggles flexible calibration off and on.

Use Flexible Cal Setup to change the parameters above. Select displays the FLEXIBLE CAL SETUP dialog box.

Interpolation allows additional interpolated measurement points between calibrated measurement points. This is useful if the user wants to zoom into a specific area without having to recalibrate the instrument. The interpolated points must lie within the calibration frequency points. Select toggles interpolation OFF and ON with a default state of OFF.

If this button is unavailable, isolation calibration was not performed. The isolation calibration procedure is started by a button on the calibration type menu.

If this button is available, isolation calibration was performed, and select toggles isolation calibration OFF and ON.

Manual adapter removal extracts the behavior of the adapter from the setup after a successful calibration. Select displays the MANUAL ADAPTER REMOVAL dialog box.

Hybrid calibration takes either up to four 1-port cals and hybridizes them into a 2-port, 3-port, or 4-port cal, or takes two 2-port cals and hybridizes them into 1 4-port cal.

Cal Merge allows merging two calibration files into a single file where the calibrations can use different methods at different frequencies. The calibrations must be of the same calibration type. Select displays the CAL MERGE dialog box.

Use network extraction to generate an S-Parameter (.s2p) file for a set of networks. The file can ben be embedded or de-embedded as required. Select displays the NETWORK EXTRACTION dialog box.

 

 

Use the Flexible Cal Setup dialog box to define a calibration sub-set of the currently active calibration.

 

The flexible calibration setup feature makes it possible to select a subset of the S-Parameters to be corrected from the available full-term calibration.

 

 

Use manual adapter removal to extract the electrical behavior of an adapter after a successful calibration procedure. This is especially useful when the DUT configuration is not entirely compatible with common calibration procedures such as having different connectors at each end.

 

Adapter removal permits accurate measurement of non-insertable devices. The process involves using an adapter of known electrical length and performing two full 12-term calibrations. In the procedure below:

Select the port pair to be used from the following port combinations: 1,2; 1,3; 1,4; 2,3; 2,4; or 3,4.

Calibration merge allows merging two calibration files into a single file where the prior calibrations can use different methods (such as SOLT and SSLT) at different frequencies. The calibrations must be the same calibration type (such as Full 1 Port) and be available on the instrument hard drive. Calibration merge has other requirements (described below) as to the number of points, start and stop frequencies, and front panel settings.

 

Cal Merge allows merging two RF calibration files into one calibration file. The RF calibrations can be done using different methods and different frequencies.

 

 

 

 

 

The network extraction features provides a method of generating an S-Parameter (S2P) file for a set of networks. The S2P file can then be embedded or de-embedded into the VNA’s error coefficient as required. The first NETWORK EXTRACTION dialog box allow selection of one of the seven types of extraction available.

 

 

The network extraction feature provides the method for generating the S-Parameters for a given set of networks. This generated S2P file can then be embedded or de-embedded into the VNA error coefficient at a later stage. The table below summarizes the types of network extractions and their general attributes. Follow the cross references for additional information about each type of network extraction.

 

The outer and inner files must meet the following requirements:

 

 

 

 

 

Network Extraction provides the means of generating SnP files of networks. The generated files can than be embedded or de-embedded. Based on the type of extraction chosen, multiple SnP files may be generated, as shown in the graphics for each extraction type. Port Swapping can be performed in the Embedding/De-embedding menus.

All calibration files must be Full cals, of the same Cal type, and over the same exact frequency points.

 

 

 

Network Extraction provides the means of generating SnP files of networks. The generated files can than be embedded or de-embedded. Based on the type of extraction chosen, multiple SnP files may be generated, as shown in the graphics for each extraction type. Port Swapping can be performed in the Embedding/De-embedding menus.

Cal A and Cal B must share a common test port. Cal A in this extraction type must only be a full 1-port cal, which is ideal if a Thru is not available. Both cals must have the exact same frequency points.

 

 

 

 

Network Extraction provides the means of generating SnP files of networks. The generated files can than be embedded or de-embedded. Based on the type of extraction chosen, multiple SnP files may be generated, as shown in the graphics for each extraction type. Port Swapping can be performed in the Embedding / De-embedding menus.

All calibration files must be Full cals, of the same Cal type, and over the same exact frequency points.

 

 

 

Network Extraction provides the means of generating SnP files of networks. The generated files can than be embedded or de-embedded. Based on the type of extraction chosen, multiple SnP files may be generated, as shown in the graphics for each extraction type. Port Swapping can be performed in the Embedding/De-embedding menus.

These extraction types are for cases where an inner-cal is not possible. The network measured is assumed symmetrical, and SnP files generated using Divide-By-Two (2) schemes. An option is given to zero-out the match terms instead of fully allocating them to the outer-ports.

 

 

 

 

Network Extraction provides the means of generating SnP files of networks. The generated files can than be embedded or de-embedded. Based on the type of extraction chosen, multiple SnP files may be generated, as shown in the graphics for each extraction type. Port Swapping can be performed in the Embedding/De-embedding menus.

All calibration files must be Full cals, of the same Cal type, and over the same exact frequency points.

 

 

 

 

Network Extraction provides the means of generating SnP files of networks. The generated files can than be embedded or de-embedded. Based on the type of extraction chosen, multiple SnP files may be generated, as shown in the graphics for each extraction type. Port Swapping can be performed in the Embedding/De-embedding menus.

These extraction types are for cases where an inner-cal is not possible. The network measured is assumed symmetrical, and SnP files generated using Divide-By-Two (2) schemes. An option is given to zero-out the match terms instead of fully allocating them to the outer-ports.

 

 

 

Network Extraction provides the means of generating SnP files of networks. The generated files can than be embedded or de-embedded. Based on the type of extraction chosen, multiple SnP files may be generated, as shown in the graphics for each extraction type. Port Swapping can be performed in the Embedding/De-embedding menus.

These extraction types are for cases where an inner-cal is not possible. The network measured is assumed symmetrical, and SnP files generated using Divide by 2 schemes. An option is given to zero-out the match terms instead of fully allocating them to the outer-ports.

 

 

Use the CAL KIT/AUTOCAL menu to install, save, and restore calibration kit characterization files between an external memory device, the instrument firmware, and a hard drive on the instrument or on a network.

 

 

Use the INSTALL (AUTOCAL CHARACTERIZATION/CAL KIT) dialog box to install the calibration kit coefficients file or AutoCal Characterization files in the instrument firmware for subsequent use. A recommended best practice is to keep the cal kit serial number as part of the file name.

 

 

 

Use the SAVE (AUTOCAL CHARACTERIZATION/CAL KIT) dialog to save a Calibration Kit Coefficients file or an AutoCal Characterization file from the VNA firmware to external location such as the instrument hard drive, a network drive, or an external memory device. This is useful for storing in the instrument hard drive multiple files from available cal kits or AutoCal modules.

An alternate method is to use a Windows program such as File Manager to copy the file from the supplied USB memory device onto the hard drive. In that case, we recommend using the default locations mentioned later in this paragraph.

 

The available buttons and fields on the dialog depend on the radio button selection in the Select File Type area.

If Cal Kit is selected, the fields of Line Type, Cal Method, and Cal Kit Name are available (shown at right in Figure: SAVE (AUTOCAL CHARACTERIZATION/CAL KIT FILE Dialog Box above) with the values in drop-down menus.

 

Use the CAL KIT INFO dialog box to review the available instrument calibration kit information.

 

 

The available buttons and fields on the dialog depend on the radio button selection in the Select File Type area.

 

 

Use the RESTORE DEFAULT COEF. dialog box to restore firmware-stored Cal Kit Coefficients fields back to their default coefficients. For best performance, either install the cal kit coefficients file supplied with your cal kit, or enter your user-defined coefficients before starting this procedure. The restore function is not available to AutoCal kits as they do not have restorable characterization data.

 

Use this dialog to restore factory coefficients to available calibration kits.

 

 

The table below shows the available calibration kits in the Select Cal Kit field of the RESTORE DEFAULT COEFFICIENTS dialog box. The available kits depend on the input combination selected for Line Type Media and Cal Method