Why Migrate from Keysight 432A/B to Keysight N432A Thermistor Power Meter? - Migration Guide
Configuration Guides
Migration Guide
Seven Key Reasons
- Thermistor power sensor backward compatibility
- Built-in 6.5 digit digital multimeter (DMM)
- User selectable operating resistance
- IO connectivity remote interface
- Power sensor calibration factor storage in power meter
- Built-in range calibrator
- Enhanced user interface with numeric keypad and high resolution
- LCD display
Sustain Your Past Achievement and Enhance Your Measurement Performance by Migrating to the New N432A Thermistor Power Meter
In the 1960s, HP/Keysight Technologies, Inc. introduced the 432A/B digital/analog thermistor power meter, which has been on the market since.
The 432A/B thermistor power meters are mainly used for instrumentation and system calibration, as well as characterization via metrology and standard lab, calibration lab, or power meter calibration “self-maintenance”.
However, some new applications and technologies require better capability and performance in areas such as auto zeroing, built-in range calibrator, and digital multimeter.
Besides, many users prefer instrument connectivity interfaces such as USB 2.0 or Gigabit LAN, often coupled with a need for faster measurement throughput to handle more demanding test methodology.
Therefore, the transition from 432A/B digital/analog thermistor power meter to a new high-performance thermistor power meter requires careful consideration.
This document provides an overview and comparison of the new Keysight N432A thermistor power meter with existing 432A/B thermistor power meters. It also provides seven reasons to migrate from the HP/Keysight 432A/B to Keysight N432A thermistor power meter.
Introduction
Keysight Technologies is introducing the N432A thermistor power meter, a replacement for the legacy 432A/B thermistor power meters. The new N432A thermistor power meter, when used with temperature-compensated thermistor mount sensors, has a power range of –30 dBm to +10 dBm and a frequency range of 100 kHz to 18 MHz.
N432A Enhanced Features
- Frequency range: 100 kHz to 18 MHz
- Power range: –30 dBm to +10 dBm (10 mW to 1 μW)
- Selectable operating resistance: 100 Ω, 200 Ω, 300 Ω or 400 Ω
- Keysight thermistor mount sensor compatibility: 8478B, 478A and K/P/R/X486A
- Built-in 6.5 digit DMM
- External Vrf & Vcomp output (through BNC port at rear panel) for higher accuracy measurement
- Easy-to-use front panel interface
- Built-in test system (BIST) for ADC calibration without the need of a range calibrator
- Digital display output of power measurement (in mW or dBm unit)
- Recorder output
- Calibration factor table for manual inputs of the thermistor mount calibration factor
Thermistor Power Sensor Backward Compatibility
The new N432A thermistor power meter is designed to be fully compatible with the Keysight thermistor mount sensors. This compatibility protects your investment capital and makes the migration to the new thermistor power meter much easier.
The existing thermistor mount contains data showing the calibration factor (CF) at multiple frequencies, which are traceable to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at the frequencies where NIST provides calibration service.
This sensor compatibility accounts for the thermistor power meter being widely used in metrology and calibration lab for instrumentation and system calibration, as well as characterization.
The legacy 432A thermistor power meters require an external DMM to measure the Vref and Vcom voltage via the rear panel BNC output of 432A meter. However, this external DMM is only available at an additional cost.
The new N432A thermistor power meter is designed with an internal ADC, which is equivalent to a 6.5 DMM. This built-in DMM can measure the Vcomp and Vref internally, without the need for an external DMM.
The voltage measurement can display up to six digits. External Vref & Vcomp output (via BNC at rear panel) for higher accuracy measurement can be done via external DMM and is an optional setup.
Setting the bridge resistance
A bridge resistance can be set for the thermistor sensor to balance the bridges. There are four selectable bridge resistance values consisting of 100 Ω, 200 Ω, 300 Ω, and
400 Ω, with 200 Ω as the default value.
In some applications, such as the Voltage Standing Wave Reflection (VSWR) measurement of a power source/reference, the bridge resistance is switched to have both balanced and unbalanced conditions, so that the VSWR can be measured and calculated.
The unbalanced condition occurs when the bridge resistance selected is not the same as the operating thermistor resistance.