Frequency Accuracy Performance Test

This test verifies the frequency accuracy and range of the PNA's source output, and verifies the Test Port Output – CW Accuracy specification.

For single source PNAs, this test is only performed on Port 1, and the specification only applies to this port. For dual source PNAs, Port 3 is also tested. The process is the same as for Port 1.

Power levels:

For troubleshooting help, see Frequency Accuracy Troubleshooting.

Option <SYN>

Options in angle brackets such as <SYN> are assigned by TME to facilitate testing and do not reflect product options. PNA models with a high-accuracy synthesizer have a different frequency accuracy specification than models without the high-accuracy synthesizer. (Refer to the product datasheet for information regarding the product specifications.) These models will be assigned option <SYN> by TME to support testing required for the different specification. Note that PNA models assigned option <SYN> can only run the Recommended Variant.

To determine if the UUT has this high-accuracy synthesizer and will therefore be assigned option <SYN> in TME, open the ClosedAbout window on the PNA. If the Synthesizer Revision is 7.0 or greater, the UUT will have the high-accuracy synthesizer. These models will also run the Initial Frequency Accuracy test to verify this test.

Equipment requirements for models assigned option <SYN>

Required Test Equipment

Below is the required test equipment for this test. Select the link that applies to your model.

 

Test Equipment — Table A

PNA Microwave Analyzers:
 

N5230A/C Opt. 02x, 12x, 14x, 22x, 24x
N5241A/AS/B/BC, N5242A/AS/B, N5242AH85, N5249A/AS/B
N5221A/AS/B, N5222A/AS/B
N5231A/AS/B, N5232A/AS/B, N5239A/AS/B

Test Equipment

Recommended Model

Alternate Model

Frequency counter

53230A1 Opt. 010 and 115

53132A1 Opt. [010 or 012] and 124

53131A Opt. 010 and 124

53181A Opt. 010 and 124

53150A/51A/52A2 Opt. 001

Frequency Reference 3
(optional)

internal

house standard4

Adapter Type-N (m) to 3.5 mm (m)

1250-1743

equivalent

Adapter Type-N (f) to BNC (m)

1250-1477

equivalent

Adapter 3.5 mm (m) to 3.5 mm (m)
(only required for 5315x counters)

1250-1478

83059A

Adapter SMA (f) to BNC (m)

1250-2015

equivalent

Cable RF 3.5 mm (f) to 3.5 mm (f)

85131-60013
(more flexible)

85131-60010
(less flexible)

BNC cable 5

any

any

  1. PNA models assigned Option <SYN> can only use these frequency counter models:

    • 53230A with Options 010 and 115

    • 53132A with Options 012 and 124

      Note the following for the 53132A counter when used with PNA models assigned option <SYN>:

    Option 012 (ultra-high stability timebase) is required when using an internal frequency reference.

    Option 010 (high stability timebase) is allowed when using an external frequency reference providing it has a frequency accuracy of 1.e-7 or less.

  2. The 53150/51/52A counters are not allowed with the following:

    • N5230A/C Options 02x, 12x, 24x models due to higher uncertainty at very low frequencies.

    • All models running the Factory Recommended Variant due to performance issues with the 5315xA counters.

  3. The frequency reference is optional. See the Frequency Reference Explanation below.
  4. PNA models assigned option <SYN> require the frequency accuracy of a house standard to be 1.e-7 or less. See Option <SYN> for more information.
  5. The BNC cable is only required if a 10 MHz external reference is used.

 

Test Equipment — Table B

PNA Microwave Analyzers:
 

N5230A/C Opt. 42x, 52x
N5244A/AS/B, N5245A/AS/B/BC, N5247A/AS/B/BC
N5224A/AS/B, N5225A/AS/B, N5227A/AS/B
N5234A/AS/B, N5235A/AS/B

Test Equipment

Recommended Model

Alternate Model

Frequency counter1

53230A Opt. 010 and 115

53132A Opt. [010 or 012] and 124

53131A Opt. 010 and 124

53181A Opt. 010 and 124

53150A/51A/52A2 Opt. 001

Frequency Reference 3
(optional)

internal

house standard4

Adapter Type-N (m) to 2.4 mm (m)

11903A

equivalent

Adapter Type-N (f) to BNC (m)

1250-1477

equivalent

Adapter 3.5 mm (m) to 2.4 mm (m)
(only required for 5315x counters)

11901A

equvalent

Adapter SMA (f) to BNC (m)

1250-2015

equivalent

Cable RF 2.4 mm (f) to 2.4 mm (f)

or

Cable RF 1.85 mm (f) to 1.85 mm (f)

85133-60016

or

N4697-60010

85133-60002
(less flexible)

 

BNC cable 5

any

any

  1. PNA models assigned option <SYN> can only use these frequency counter models:

    • 53230A with Options 010 and 115
    • 53132A with Options 012 and 124

    See Option <SYN> for more information.

  2. 5315xA frequency counters are not allowed in the Factory Recommended Variant. Their performance is insufficient.
  3. The frequency reference is optional. See Frequency Reference Explanation below.
  4. PNA models assigned option <SYN> require the frequency accuracy of a house standard to be 1.e-7 or less. See Option <SYN> for more information.
  5. The BNC cable is only required if a 10 MHz external reference is used.

 

Test Equipment — Table C

PNA mm-Wave systems:
 

N5290A, N5291A

Test Equipment

Recommended Model

Alternate Model

Frequency counter1

53230A Opt. 010 and 115

53132A Opt. [010 or 012] and 124

53131A Opt. 010 and 124

53181A Opt 010 and 124

Frequency Reference 2
(optional)

internal

house standard3

BNC cable 4

any

any

  1. PNA models assigned option <SYN> can only use these frequency counter models:

    • 53230A with Options 010 and 115
    • 53132A with Options 012 and 124

    See Option <SYN> below for more information.

  2. The frequency reference is optional. See Frequency Reference Explanation below.
  3. PNA models assigned option <SYN> require the frequency accuracy of a house standard to be 1.e-7 or less. See Option <SYN> for more information.
  4. The BNC cable is only required if a 10 MHz external reference is used.

Connection Setups

Due to the complexity of the PNA family of analyzers, the following notes apply to illustrations in the PNA Help:

  • Only a single representative PNA model will be shown. Therefore, port locations may differ in older PNA models than what is shown in the illustration. Refer to the port labels on the UUT.
  • Some illustrations may differ than those in TME.
  • If the test procedure applies to multiple ports, illustrations may show the setup on only one test port.
  • Setups for some option configurations may not appear in the Help.
For PNA mm-Wave systems N5290A and N5291A, .

 

For default front and rear cabling between the PNA and the test set, refer to Step 2: Prepare the PNA for Testing of the Getting Started Guide.

High Frequency Measurements

Low Frequency Measurements

 

For all other PNA models, .

 

High Frequency Measurements

Low Frequency Measurements

Frequency Reference Explanation

The equipment list for this test includes a FreqReference1. It is indicated as optional because it may or may not require a separate piece of test equipment. The model for this equipment type may be FreqCounter1 Internal Ref or 10 MHz External Reference. When FreqCounter1 Internal Ref is specified, the frequency counter uses its internal frequency reference for its time base; a separate piece of equipment is not required. When 10 MHz External Reference is specified, an external 10 MHz reference is required to be connected to the counter (this will often be a house standard).

The calibration date, etc, for FreqCounter1 Internal Ref should match the frequency counter. The calibration information for 10 MHz External Reference will depend on the source used for the 10 MHz.

When 10 MHz External Reference is specified, the user must provide a value for frequency accuracy. Frequency Accuracy represents the worst case accuracy of the reference (maximum deviation from exactly 10 MHz) any time during the calibration period of the reference. The value is expressed in ppm and is entered via the Additional Properties key.

As an example, if the accuracy of an external frequency reference is +/- 1.0 Hz, then the accuracy is 1.0e-7. The value in ppm would be entered as 0.10.

For PNA models assigned option <SYN>, the frequency accuracy of an external house standard must be 1.e-7 or less. See Option <SYN> above for more information.

Frequency Accuracy Values

If a separate counter is used as the 10 MHz External Reference instead of a house standard, here are some example frequency accuracy values:

Frequency Accuracy Value Examples

Model

Option

Value

53131A/32A

no options

8.6 ppm

001

2.6 ppm

010

0.1825 ppm

53132A

012

0.0385 ppm

53181A

no options

8.6 ppm

001

2.6 ppm

010

0.1825 ppm

53151A

no options

2.2 ppm

001

0.183 ppm

53230A

no option

1.7 ppm

010

0.0155 ppm

 

Note that values above 0.2 ppm will often give unsatisfactorily large measurement uncertainties.

Formula used to calculate the above values:

Frequency Accuracy = Time Base Error = (monthly aging rate * 12) + Temperature Stability