N9923A FieldFox RF Vector Network Analyzer 4/6 GHz

Date Sheet

Definitions

Specification (spec.)

Warranted performance. Specifications include guardbands to account for the expected statistical performance distribution, measurement uncertainties, and changes in performance due to environmental conditions. The following conditions must be met:

- FieldFox has been turned on for 10 minutes.

- FieldFox is within its calibration cycle.

- FieldFox remains at a stable surrounding environment temperature (between

- 10 to 55 °C) for 90 minutes prior to turn-on and during operation.

Typical (typ.)

Expected performance of an average unit at a stable temperature between 20 °C to 30 °C for 90 minutes prior to turn-on and during operation; does not include guardbands. It is not covered by the product warranty. The FieldFox must be within its calibration cycle.

Nominal (nom.)

A general, descriptive term or design parameter. It is not tested, and not covered by the product warranty.

Calibration

The process of measuring known standards to characterize an instrument’s systematic (repeatable) errors.

Corrected (residual)

Indicates performance after error correction (calibration). It is determined by the quality of calibration standards and how well “known” they are, plus system repeatability, stability, and noise.

Time Domain (Option 010)

Using time domain, data from transmission or reflection measurements in the frequency domain are converted to the time domain. The time-domain response shows the measured parameter value versus time.

Time stimulus modes

- Low-pass step

This stimulus, similar to a traditional time domain reflectometer (TDR) stimulus waveform, is used to measure low-pass devices. The frequency-domain data should extend from DC (extrapolated value) to a higher value.

- Low-pass impulse

This stimulus is also used to measure low-pass devices.

- Bandpass impulse

The bandpass impulse stimulates a pulsed RF signal and is used to measure the time-domain response of band-limited devices.

Windows

The windowing function can be used to filter the frequency-domain data and thereby reduce overshoot and ringing in the time-domain response.

Gating

The gating function can be used to selectively remove reflection or transmission time-domain responses. In converting back to the frequency domain the effects of the responses outside the gate are removed.

Vector Voltmeter (Option 308)

With vector voltmeter mode, you can characterize the difference between two measurements easily. The zeroing function allows you to create a reference signal, and characterize the difference between two device measurements.

- 1-port cable trimming - reflection or S11 measurement, magnitude and phase

- 2-port transmission - transmission or S21 measurement, magnitude and phase

- A/B and B/A - ratio of two receivers or channels, magnitude and phase –Need an external signal generator for the A/B or B/A measurement (must order Option 122).

The results are shown on a large display in digital format. Refer to the network analyzer section for magnitude and phase accuracy information.

USB Power Sensor Measurements versus Frequency (Option 208)

This feature allows FieldFox’s source frequency to be set independently from the power sensor (receiver) frequency. With frequency-offset using power sensor (FOPS), the frequency of both the source and receiver are swept, and the two track each other. The offset frequency can be negative, zero, or positive.

FOPS can be used to characterize the scalar transmission response of devices such as mixers and converters.

This frequency-offset capability is necessary for conversion loss/gain measurements on frequency-translating devices, since by definition, the input and output frequencies of the DUT are different. The FieldFox source stimulates the DUT and the power sensor is used as the measurement receiver.

Since power sensors are inherently broadband devices (not frequency-selective), the user should ensure that only the signal of interest is present at the power sensor input and that all others signals are filtered appropriately