Hi,
I am in the need for a 3.5mm cal kit for our 8753D and I am hesitating whether I should get a new (or used) 85033E (which is not supported in the VNA - need cal coeffs to be added manually) or try to find a used 85033D from some reputed second hand dealer. How much would be wise to spend on a used 85033D with one year warranty and valid Keysight cal? Or is it worth going for the 85033E? I read somewhere that the D and E uses the same cal coeffs, does that mean that I could calibrate using a 85033E kit using the pre-defined 85033D cal set already in our VNA?
I am in the need for a 3.5mm cal kit for our 8753D and I am hesitating whether I should get a new (or used) 85033E (which is not supported in the VNA - need cal coeffs to be added manually) or try to find a used 85033D from some reputed second hand dealer. How much would be wise to spend on a used 85033D with one year warranty and valid Keysight cal? Or is it worth going for the 85033E? I read somewhere that the D and E uses the same cal coeffs, does that mean that I could calibrate using a 85033E kit using the pre-defined 85033D cal set already in our VNA?
> Hi,
>
> I am in the need for a 3.5mm cal kit for our 8753D and I am hesitating whether I should get a new (or used) 85033E (which is not supported in the VNA - need cal coeffs to be added manually) or try to find a used 85033D from some reputed second hand dealer. How much would be wise to spend on a used 85033D with one year warranty and valid Keysight cal? Or is it worth going for the 85033E? I read somewhere that the D and E uses the same cal coeffs, does that mean that I could calibrate using a 85033E kit using the pre-defined 85033D cal set already in our VNA?
Buying used cal kits, especially 3.5 mm, is a hit and miss affair!
I don't think you will find an 85033D with a one year warranty and Keysight calibration. The cost of getting cal kits calibrated is very high, and not worthwhile on low end kits. I think my 85052B and 85054B cost about 3x as much to get calibrated as my VNA.
You might find a cal kit with a warranty and a cal certificate from $random_lab, which is not worth the paper it is written on.
The 85033D and E are very similar. I think the E has the inductance of the shorts defined, but not the D, but you wont be able to enter them into the 8753 anyway, and they are pretty insignificant.
I would go for an 85033E myself. If nothing else, they are newer, so less likely to be screwed up.
Drop me a private email to drkirkby@kirkbymicrowave.co.uk I might have something of interest to you.
Dave
Edited by: drkirkby on Sep 17, 2014 11:30 AM