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Using two network analyzers to measure three waves

Question asked by irvine on Oct 17, 2007
Latest reply on Oct 17, 2007 by irvine

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Goal: measuring three output waves simultaneously.

Equipment: VNA 8510C and VNA 8720ES

My solution and problem: use wave from port 1 of 8510C as source wave. Lead one of output wave to port 2 of 8510C and lead the other two waves to the two ports of 8720ES. Put huge attenuation on power source 2 of 8510C and turn off powers of 8720ES. Directly measure the wave B on port 2 of 8510C and two ports of 8720ES. Is this procedure reasonable? But I meet a problem? The waves shown on 8720ES are not stable. Those two waves on 8720ES should be phase loop locked with the wave A on port 1 of 8510C. How can I achieve that? There is R channel on 8720ES, but how to make connection? Please give me suggestions and show me the procedure in details. Thanks a lot.

Shengyu

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Dr_joel

Oct 17, 2007 11:02 AM

The best way, of course, is to use one of our 4 port analyzers (N5242A or N5230A 4 port options). Then you will have no trouble at all.

With your setup, you must split the source signal from the 8510 source, send part of it to the R channel of the 8720 (there's a loop on the front panel), then take A/R and B/R to stabilize the phase. You can only do this in a CW mode. And, there will be a problem that the LO driving the down converters in the 8510 will have different phase noise than the down converters in the 8720.

Maybe a better way is to use an 8511 test set and do direct connection to the 8510 samplers. Still another is to remove the loops on the rear of the 8510 and drive the signals into the a1 and a2 receviers directly, then into port 1 and port 2, giving you 4 simultaneous receivers, and don't use the 8720 at all.

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irvine Oct 17, 2007 1:30 PM

Thank you, Joel.

As you said:
-------------------
Maybe a better way is to use an 8511 test set and do direct connection to the 8510 samplers. Still another is to remove the loops on the rear of the 8510 and drive the signals into the a1 and a2 receviers directly, then into port 1 and port 2, giving you 4 simultaneous receivers, and don't use the 8720 at all.
--------------------

I don't know how to directly connect 8510 sampler. Does that mean direct connect RF output of source to input of my testing system? And can I control the power level of RF source using the front button? In this case, can I do power flatness calibration? Do the loops on the rear of the 8510 refer to the extension A and B? What Jacks connect to a1 and a2? What are the max power for those a1 and a2 receivers? In that case, choose phase loop locked on a1? My test set is 8514B. Also for calibration each receiver, is it ok to connect same power level source to each receiver port and record each wave? Could you show me the operations in illustration. Do I need to open test set to make such connections or just connect them in rear of 8510? Also please refer me related manual pages and some cautions which I need to care about.

--------------------------
With your setup, you must split the source signal from the 8510 source, send part of it to the R channel of the 8720 (there's a loop on the front panel), then take A/R and B/R to stabilize the phase. You can only do this in a CW mode. And, there will be a problem that the LO driving the down converters in the 8510 will have different phase noise than the down converters in the 8720.
---------------------------
CW mode is only valid for single point (frequency)? If send part of signal into input of R channel, I should leave the output of R channel open or 50ohm terminated?

Thank you again.

Shengyu

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Dr_joel Oct 17, 2007 11:02 AM
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The best way, of course, is to use one of our 4 port analyzers (N5242A or N5230A 4 port options). Then you will have no trouble at all.

With your setup, you must split the source signal from the 8510 source, send part of it to the R channel of the 8720 (there's a loop on the front panel), then take A/R and B/R to stabilize the phase. You can only do this in a CW mode. And, there will be a problem that the LO driving the down converters in the 8510 will have different phase noise than the down converters in the 8720.

Maybe a better way is to use an 8511 test set and do direct connection to the 8510 samplers. Still another is to remove the loops on the rear of the 8510 and drive the signals into the a1 and a2 receviers directly, then into port 1 and port 2, giving you 4 simultaneous receivers, and don't use the 8720 at all.
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irvine Oct 17, 2007 1:30 PM
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Thank you, Joel.

As you said:
-------------------
Maybe a better way is to use an 8511 test set and do direct connection to the 8510 samplers. Still another is to remove the loops on the rear of the 8510 and drive the signals into the a1 and a2 receviers directly, then into port 1 and port 2, giving you 4 simultaneous receivers, and don't use the 8720 at all.
--------------------

I don't know how to directly connect 8510 sampler. Does that mean direct connect RF output of source to input of my testing system? And can I control the power level of RF source using the front button? In this case, can I do power flatness calibration? Do the loops on the rear of the 8510 refer to the extension A and B? What Jacks connect to a1 and a2? What are the max power for those a1 and a2 receivers? In that case, choose phase loop locked on a1? My test set is 8514B. Also for calibration each receiver, is it ok to connect same power level source to each receiver port and record each wave? Could you show me the operations in illustration. Do I need to open test set to make such connections or just connect them in rear of 8510? Also please refer me related manual pages and some cautions which I need to care about.

--------------------------
With your setup, you must split the source signal from the 8510 source, send part of it to the R channel of the 8720 (there's a loop on the front panel), then take A/R and B/R to stabilize the phase. You can only do this in a CW mode. And, there will be a problem that the LO driving the down converters in the 8510 will have different phase noise than the down converters in the 8720.
---------------------------
CW mode is only valid for single point (frequency)? If send part of signal into input of R channel, I should leave the output of R channel open or 50ohm terminated?

Thank you again.

Shengyu
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Using two network analyzers to measure three waves

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