Specifications

NOTE
MS462XX firmware version 1.15 or later is
required for automatic operation.
Assurance Assurance is the process of validating a calibration.
This is done by comparing the measurement of a
standard within the AutoCal module with previ
-
ously stored measurement results.
A standard of intermediate match and insertion loss
is built into the AutoCal module and measured at
the time of characterization. Assurance is invoked
under:
Utility/Diagnostics/AutoCal Assurance
The item is then measured again and the results are
compared to those of the original measurement. If
they agree within computed uncertainties, then the
assurance test will pass. If the test has not passed,
the module may not be properly connected or the
characterization has drifted out of specification. If
checking connections/cables does not help, then a
re-characterization (either by the user or by the fac-
tory) may be required.
The issue of calibration uncertainties in general and
AutoCal uncertainties specifically are addressed in
separate application notes. Consult the factory or
your sales representative for more information.
Assurance may or may not be available depending
on the firmware version, see the latest application
guide or consult the factory.
Characterization Characterization is the process of characterizing the
AutoCal module based on a good calibration ob
-
tained by other means. The characterization is per
-
formed by the factory at the time of manufacture
and then typically re-characterized every 6 months.
You may also perform a re-characterization if the
module is operated in a harsh environment or if you
desire a higher characterization point density in a
given frequency range.
To help understand the last point, note that factory
characterization must be done over the full fre
-
quency range of the module (10 MHz- 9 GHz) using
the maximum calibration point count (1601). As a
result, Auto Calibrations performed over smaller
AUTOCAL 4-PORT AUTOCAL
MS462XX OM 9-11