Specifications
With two internal signal sources, the PNA-X provides fast measurements 
of both fixed and swept IF responses.
Time-domain gating can remove ripple by removing unwanted, 
time-delayed responses due to spurious signals.
DUT 
Both SMC and VMC can be used to 
measure converters with embedded 
LOs, without need for access to 
internal time bases.
Swept LO 
Fixed IF 
Fixed LO 
Swept IF 
Tips from the experts
• Narrowing the IF bandwidth helps eliminate 
spikes on the measurement trace that result 
from LO feed through and other spurious signals 
from the DUT
• To prevent source-unleveled errors when 
measuring devices with high-level spurious 
outputs (such as unfiltered mixers), it is often 
helpful to increase the amount of source 
attenuation to provide better isolation between 
the DUT and the PNA-X
• When making VMC measurements on multi-
stage converters, it is best to create a single 
“meta-LO” signal that can be used to drive the 
reference and calibration mixers
• When measuring unfiltered mixers, time-domain 
gating can be a useful tool to reduce ripple by 
removing undesired, time-delayed responses 
due to spurious signals
SMC’s match correction greatly reduces mismatch errors in 
conversion loss/gain measurements, eliminating the need for 
attenuators at the ends of the test cables.
VMC’s match correction greatly reduces mismatch errors in 
group delay measurements, eliminating the need for attenuators 
at the ends of the test cables.
21










