Enable browser cookies for improved site capabilities and performance.
Here's the page we think you wanted. See search results instead:
Keysight Technologies
Toggle Menu
Chat Live
Contact Us
Welcome

Welcome

  • My Profile
  • Logout
  • Login
  • Register
Quote
  • Your Instant Quote is empty.
  • Request a Quote
  • How to Buy or Rent
Italia

Confirm Your Country or Area

Italia

  • 中国
  • 日本
  • 繁體中文
  • 한국
  • Россия
  • Brasil
  • Canada
  • Deutschland
  • France
  • India
  • Malaysia
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • Hong Kong, China
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Mexico
  • Netherlands
  • Singapore
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland (German)
  • Thailand
  • more...

Please Confirm

Confirm your country to access relevant pricing, special offers, events, and contact information.

  • Products + Services
    • Oscilloscopes + Analyzers
      • Oscilloscopes
      • Spectrum Analyzers (Signal Analyzers)
      • Network Analyzers
      • Logic Analyzers
      • Protocol Analyzers and Exercisers
      • Bit Error Ratio Testers
      • Noise Figure Analyzers and Noise Sources
      • High-Speed Digitizers and Multichannel DAQ Solutions
      • AC Power Analyzers
      • DC Power Analyzers
      • Materials Test Equipment
      • Device Current Waveform Analyzers
      • Parameter and Device Analyzers, Curve Tracers
    • Meters
      • Digital Multimeters (DMM)
      • Phase Noise Measurement
      • Power Meters and Power Sensors
      • 53200 Series RF and Universal Frequency Counter / Timers
      • LCR Meters and Impedance Measurement Products
      • B2980 Series Femto / Picoammeter and Electrometer Meters
    • Generators, Sources + Power
      • Signal Generators (Signal Sources)
      • Waveform and Function Generators
      • Arbitrary Waveform Generators
      • Pulse Generator Products
      • HEV/EV/Grid Emulators and Test Systems
      • DC Power Supplies
      • Source Measure Units
      • DC Electronic Loads
      • AC Power Sources
    • Software
      • Application Software
      • Application Software Testing
      • PathWave Design Software
      • PathWave Test Software
      • Productivity Software
      • Software Enterprise Agreement
      • All Design + Test Software  
    • Wireless
      • Wireless Network Emulators
      • Channel Emulators
      • Nemo Wireless Network Solutions
      • 5G OTA Chambers
      • Wireless Analyzers
      • IoT Regulatory Compliance Solutions
    • Modular Instruments
      • PXI Products
      • AXIe Products
      • Data Acquisition – DAQ
      • USB Products
      • VXI Products
      • Reference Solutions
      • All Modular Instruments  
    • Network Test
      • Protocol and Load Test
      • Network Test Hardware
      • Cloud Test
      • Performance Monitoring
      • 5G NR Base Station Test
      • Radio Access and Core Network Test
      • Network Modeling
      • All Network Test  
    • Network Security + Visibility
      • Network Packet Brokers
      • Cloud Visibility
      • Network Taps
      • Bypass Switches
      • Network Security
      • Application and Threat Intelligence
    • Additional Products
      • In-circuit Test Systems
      • Application-Specific Test Systems And Components
      • Parametric Test Solutions
      • Photonic Test & Measurement Products
      • Laser Interferometers and Calibration Systems
      • Monolithic Laser Combiners & Precision Optics
      • MMIC Millimeter-Wave and Microwave Devices
    • Services
      • KeysightCare Service and Support
      • KeysightAccess Service
      • Calibration Services
      • Repair Services
      • Technology Refresh Services
      • Test as a Service (TaaS)
      • Network/Security Services
      • Consulting Services
      • Financial Services
      • Education Services
      • Keysight Support Portal
      • Used Equipment
      • All Services  
    • All Products, Software, Services  
  • Solutions
    • 5G
    • Cloud
    • Connected Car
    • Data Center Infrastructure
    • Design + Automation
    • Emerging Technologies
    • Energy Ecosystem
    • High-Speed Digital System Design
    • Internet of Things
    • Manufacturing Test
    • Measurement Fundamentals
    • Network Security
    • Network Test
    • Network Visibility
    • SDN, NFV, Virtualization
    • Software Test Automation
    • All Solutions  
  • Industries
    • Aerospace + Defense
    • Automotive + Energy
    • Communications
    • Education
    • Enterprise
    • Government
    • Semiconductor
    • Service Providers
    • All Industries + Technologies  
  • Insights
    • Discover Insights
    • Success Stories
    • Blog
    • Keysight University
  • Resources
  • Buy
  • Support
    • Keysight Product Support
    • Ixia Product Support
No product matches found - System Exception
Network Analyzer Dynamic Range – Understanding and Improving
Application Notes

Network Analyzer Dynamic Range – Understanding and Improving

Show Description

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • Dynamic range defined
  • Nose floor defined
  • Improving dynamic range
  • Averaging
  • IF BW reduction
  • Choosing the best method
  • Dynamic range, segmented sweep, and the configurable test set
  • Summary
  • References

Introduction

Achieving the highest possible network analyzer dynamic range is extremely important when characterizing many types of microwave devices, and in some cases, is the key factor in determining measurement performance. To achieve the greatest dynamic, range from a network measurement system, it is important to understand the essence of dynamic range and the methods that can be employed to increase it. Armed with this knowledge, the designer can choose the method that achieves the best results with the least impact on other instrument parameters such as measurement speed.

Dynamic range defined

Network analyzer dynamic range is essentially the range of power that the system can measure, specifically:

  • Pmax: The highest input power level that the system can measure before unacceptable errors occur in the measurement, usually determined by the network analyzer receiver’s compression specification.
  • Pref: The nominal power available at the test port from the network analyzer’s source.
  • Pmin: The minimum input power level the system can measure (its sensitivity), set by the receiver’s noise floor. Pmin depends on the IF bandwidth, averaging, and the test set configuration.

The two common definitions for dynamic range are:

  • Receiver dynamic range: Pmax - Pmin
  • System dynamic range: Pref - Pmin

Achievable dynamic range depends upon the measurement application.

  • Systemic dynamic range: The dynamic range that can be realized without amplification such as when measuring passive components such as attenuators and filters.
  • Receiver dynamic range: The system’s true dynamic range if it is considered a receiver. An amplifier may be required to realize the receiver’s full dynamic range. This can be the device under test, or an external amplifier added to the measurement system.

Noise floor defined

The receiver's noise floor is an important network analyzer specification that helps determine its dynamic range. Unfortunately, “noise floor” is not a well-defined term and it has been defined in several ways over the years.

The results of an experiment to compare some common noise floor definitions are shown in Figure 2. In this experiment, Gaussian random noise with a noise power of –100 dBm was simulated, and the noise floor was calculated using four definitions:

  • The solid line shows the RMS value of the noise, which is equal to the noise power of –100 dBm.
  • The dashed line (–101 dBm) is the mean value of the linear magnitude of the noise, converted to dBm. – The dotted line (–102.4 dBm) is the mean value of the log magnitude of the noise.
  • The dot-dash line (–92.8 dBm) is the sum of the mean value of the linear magnitude of the noise and three times its standard deviation, converted to dBm.

Keysight Technologies’ vector network analyzers (VNAs), such as the PNA or ENA series, use the RMS value to define the receiver noise floor. This is a commonly used definition and is easy to understand because it is the receiver's equivalent input noise power.

Change email?
Required field

Required field

Required field

Required field

Required field

Required field

Required field

Required field

Required field

Required field

Required field

Required field

Required field

Required field

Required field

By clicking the button, you are providing Keysight with your personal data. For information on how we use this data, see the Keysight Privacy Statement.

Thank you!
Download

Discover

  • Products + Services
  • Solutions
  • Industries
  • Events
  • Keysight University

Insights

  • Discover Insights
  • Success Stories
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Community

Partners

Support

  • Keysight Product Support
  • Ixia Product Support
  • Manage Software Licenses
  • Product Order Status
  • Parts

About Keysight

  • Newsroom
  • Investor Relations
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement
  • Careers

  • Facebook: Connect with Keysight LinkedIn: Connect with Keysight Twitter: Connect with Keysight YouTube: Connect with Keysight WeChat:Connect with Keysight
  • © Keysight Technologies 2000–2022
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Feedback