Specifications

NETWORK ANALYZERS
370 For product ordering information, see pages 4 – 10
The 3658 series AutoCal
®
modules are automatic calibrators that
provide fast, repeatable, and high-quality coaxial calibrations up to
40 GHz. These modules contain precisely characterized calibration
standards that aid in the removal of normal systematic errors when us-
ing vector network analyzers (VNAs). AutoCal
®
is available in five
models: 0.04 to 18 GHz, with N (m) to N (f) connectors, 0.01 to 6 GHz
and 0.04 to 20 GHz, with K (m) to K (f) connectors, and 0.04 to 40
GHz, with K (m) to K (f) connectors.
AutoCal
®
modules come with a data file characterizing each stan-
dard in the calibrator module. Each module is guaranteed to perform
to its specifications for 6 months without re-characterization.
Following this period, re-characterization can be performed by the
customer, or by sending the module to the nearest service center.
Test port cable converter sets aid the user in calibrating a VNA for
testing non-insertable devices and devices with SMA or 3.5 mm con-
nectors. Test port converter sets are available for K Connector
®
,
SMA, and 3.5 mm connectors. Adapter removal calibration is re-
quired for N type non-insertable device testing.
AutoCal
®
has a direct serial interface to the 37xxx and MS462x series
of Anritsu vector network analyzers. The control software is built-in to
the VNA. For operation with the 360B and/or older generation 37xxx
models, an external PC running Microsoft Windows
®
with a National
Instruments IEEE488.2 GPIB interface card is required.
Features
•
Calibration types
1-port S
11
and S
22
calibration, and full 2-port, 12-term OSLT calibra-
tions can be performed with AutoCal
®
.
•
True thru
Inherently, the internal calibrator thru is not as accurate as an exter-
nal direct thru connection. The true thru mode offers the choice of
manually removing the AutoCal
®
module for a true thru calibration.
•
Isolation cal
Isolation cal is offered as part of a full 2-port calibration. The user is
given the option of skipping isolation, using the default averaging fac-
tor during isolation, or entering a custom averaging factor.
•
Switch averaging
The mechanical module uses an electromechanical switch to select
the calibration standards. Switch averaging is offered to reduce the
effects of the electromechanical switch’s non-repeatability. A 6 dB
reduction of non-repeatability can be achieved by increasing switch
averaging by a factor of four, at the expense of the overall calibration
time.
•
Thru update
Due to cable movements and aging, periodically updating the thru
portion of a full, 12-term calibration is recommended. Thru update
mode offers the choice of simply performing a direct manual thru
step to update a current calibration. This is easily performed without
having to invoke the AutoCal
®
module.
•
Manual control
Manual control offers the ability to connect any of the internal stan-
dards to the test ports of the VNA. This feature could be used to
manually verify a calibration.
•
Adapter removal
VNA calibration for testing non-insertable devices, requires phase
equal insertables. If this is not possible or is undesirable, adapter re-
moval calibration is the solution. Adapter removal requires two full
12-term calibrations, moving an adapter from one test port cable to
the other between calibrations (a job AutoCal
®
makes quick and
easy). Internal software mathematically subtracts the effect of the
adapter, yielding the desired adapterless measurement.
VECTOR NETWORK ANALYZER AUTOMATIC CALIBRATOR
3658 Series
10 MHz to 40 GHz
Automatic, High-Reliability, and High-Quality Calibrators for Coaxial Device Measurements