Performance Tests Overview

This section lists the available performance tests for the PNA-L/X series network analyzers. Perform the tests in the order shown to minimize connection changes and to avoid recalibration of the power sensor. The tests to be performed and the test order depends on the model number.

Test Plan Variants

There are now two test plan variants offered in the N7840A PNA Calibration Application: Factory Recommended Variant and Normal Variant. As of the E.20.00 release, all PNA models (except N5244/45AS with option H29) can use the Factory Recommended Variant test plan variant. The Factory Recommended Variant is the preferred variant as it optimizes connections for several tests and therefore reduces the overall test times.

PNA models with Low Frequency Extension (LFE) options and mm-Wave systems must use the Factory Recommended Variant.

The Factory Recommended Variant includes all tests from the Normal Variant test plan plus two new tests for LFE options:

• Dynamic Accuracy at Low Frequency

• Receiver Compression at Low Frequency

For more information about test plan variants, refer to the Test Plan Variants topic page.

Test Lists for N7840A PNA Calibration Application

Click on the links below for the test list for your model.

• mm-Wave Network Analyzer Systems Models:

  N5290A, N5291A

  For test order, click here:

   

  These models can only run the Factory Recommended Variant test plan.

  1. Operator's Check

  2. Trace Noise

  3. Power Level Linearity

  4. Calibration Coefficients

  5. Input VSWR (Option 090) a

  6. SA Detector Accuracy (Option 090) a

  7. Displayed Average Noise Level (Option 090) a

  8. Frequency Accuracy

  9. Initial Frequency Accuracy

  10. Maximum Output Power

  11. Noise Floor

  12. System Dynamic Range

  13. Dynamic Accuracy

  14. LO Cal Verification

  Footnotes for mm-wave models

  1. Also requires Option <RSA> Option <RSA> is assigned by TME to facilitate testing and does not reflect product options. For this reason, it will not appear on reports or other places on the TME User Interface.. Refer to the test topic page for more information.

  2. Only for models with option <SYN>.

• PNA-X Models:

  N5241A/AS/B/BC, N5242A/AS/B, N5242AH85, N5244A/AS/B, N5245A/AS/B/BC, N5247A/AS/B/BC, N5249A/AS/B

  The following models are only supported in the Normal Variant — they cannot use the Factory Recommended Variant: N5244AS with Option H29 N5245AS with Option H29 N5247AS with Option H29

  For test order, click here:

   

  1. Operator's Check

  2. Maximum Leveled Power a

  3. Power Level Accuracy a

  4. Receiver Compression a

  5. Receiver Compression at Low Frequency (LFE LFE = Low Frequency Extension options)

  6. Noise Floor a

  7. System Dynamic Range b

  8. Dynamic Accuracy c

  9. Dynamic Accuracy at Low Frequency (LFE LFE = Low Frequency Extension options)

  10. Noise Receiver Linearity c, d

  11. Noise Receiver Compression d

  12. Frequency Accuracy

  13. Initial Frequency Accuracy

  14. Trace Noise

  15. Power Level Linearity

  16. Noise Jitter d

  17. Receiver Noise Figure (N5244A/AS/B, N5245A/AS/B/BC, N5247A/AS/B/BC Opt. 029/E29)

      Receiver Noise Figure (26.5 GHz and below) (N5241A/AS/B/BC, N5242A/AS/B Opt. 029; and N5244AS, N5245AS Opt. H29)

  18. Calibration Coefficients

  19. System Default Cal Verification (Functional) Test (B/BC-models only)

  20. Input VSWR (Option 090 only) e, f

  21. SA Detector Accuracy (Requires Options 090 and <RSA> Option <RSA> is assigned by TME to facilitate testing and does not reflect product options. For this reason, it will not appear on reports or other places on the TME User Interface.)

  22. Displayed Average Noise Level (Requires Options 090 and <RSA> Option <RSA> is assigned by TME to facilitate testing and does not reflect product options. For this reason, it will not appear on reports or other places on the TME User Interface.)

  23. Noise State Calibration Coefficients d

  24. Noise Receiver Match d

  25. R-Channel Linearity (Option 561)

  26. R-Channel Linearity Calibration (Option 560)

  Footnotes for PNA-X models

  1. Since three power sensors are required for frequency range above 50 GHz, the following tests are divided in TME to avoid unnecessary recalibration of the power sensors:
     • Power Level Accuracy (Normal Variant only)
     • Maximum Leveled Power (Normal Variant only)
     • Receiver Compression

     • Noise Floor (Normal Variant only)

  2. The System Dynamic Range test will immediately follow the last noise floor test. For most instruments this will be the Noise Floor test, but for the N5247B in the Normal Variant, this will be the Noise Floor Above 50GHz Test.

  3. If a Z5623A H01 Dynamic Accuracy Test Set is used, an additional 30-minute wait can be avoided at the start of the test by connecting the power sensor to the test set at the completion of the Noise Floor test.

  4. For the following models only:

     • N524xA/AS/B/BC with Option 029/E29

     • N5244AS, N5245AS with Option H29

  5. N524xB/BC models also require Option <RSA> Option <RSA> is assigned by TME to facilitate testing and does not reflect product options. For this reason, it will not appear on reports or other places on the TME User Interface.. Refer to the test topic page for more information.

  6. This test is called VSWR in the Normal Variant test plan.

  7. Only for models with option <SYN>.

• PNA Models:

  N5221A/AS/B, N5222A/AS/B, N5224A/AS/B, N5225A/AS/B, N5227A/AS/B

  For test order, click here:

   

  1. Operator's Check

  2. Metrology Stability (Options 210, 410 only)

  3. Maximum Leveled Power a

  4. Power Level Accuracy a

  5. Receiver Compression a

  6. Receiver Compression at Low Frequency (LFE LFE = Low Frequency Extension options)

  7. Noise Floor a

  8. System Dynamic Range b

  9. Dynamic Accuracy

  10. Dynamic Accuracy at Low Frequency (LFE LFE = Low Frequency Extension options)

  11. Frequency Accuracy

  12. Initial Frequency Accuracy

  13. Trace Noise

  14. Power Level Linearity

  15. Calibration Coefficients

  16. System Default Cal Verification (Functional) Test (B-models only)

  17. Input VSWR (Option 090 only) c, d

  18. SA Detector Accuracy (Option 090 only) c

  19. Displayed Average Noise Level (Option 090 only) c

  Footnotes for PNA models

  1. Since three power sensors are required for frequency range above 50 GHz, the following tests are divided in TME to avoid unnecessary recalibration of the power sensors:

     • Power Level Accuracy (Normal Variant only)
     • Maximum Leveled Power (Normal Variant only)
     • Receiver Compression

     • Noise Floor (Normal Variant only)

  2. The System Dynamic Range test will immediately follow the last noise floor test. For most instruments this will be the Noise Floor test, but for the N5227B in the Normal Variant, this will be the Noise Floor Above 50GHz Test.

  3. N522xB models also require Option <RSA> Option <RSA> is assigned by TME to facilitate testing and does not reflect product options. For this reason, it will not appear on reports or other places on the TME User Interface.. Refer to the test topic page for more information.

  4. This test is called VSWR in the Normal Variant test plan.

  5. Only for models with option <SYN>.

• PNA-L Models:

  N5231A/AS/B, N5232A/AS/B, N5234A/AS/B, N5235A/AS/B, N5239A/AS/B

  For test order, click here:

   

  1. Operator's Check

  2. Maximum Leveled Power

  3. Power Level Accuracy

  4. Receiver Compression

  5. Receiver Compression at Low Frequency (N5231A/AS/B, N5232A/AS/B, N5239A/AS/B only)

  6. Noise Floor

  7. Dynamic Accuracy

  8. Frequency Accuracy

  9. Trace Noise

  10. Power Level Linearity

  11. Calibration Coefficients

  12. System Default Cal Verification (Functional) Test (B-models only)

  13. Input VSWR (Option 090 only) a, b

  14. SA Detector Accuracy (Option 090 only) a

  15. Displayed Average Noise Level (Option 090 only) a

  Footnotes for new PNA-L models

  1. N523xB models also require Option <RSA> Option <RSA> is assigned by TME to facilitate testing and does not reflect product options. For this reason, it will not appear on reports or other places on the TME User Interface.. Refer to the test topic page for more information.

  2. This test is called VSWR in the Normal Variant test plan.

• N5230A, N5230C PNA-L Models

  N5230A/C models with firmware version below A.07.00 cannot use the Factory Recommended Variant.

  For test order, click here:

   

  1. Operator's Check

  2. Power Level Accuracy

  3. Maximum Leveled Power

  4. Power Level Linearity

  5. Frequency Accuracy

  6. Trace Noise

  7. Receiver Compression

  8. Noise Floor

  9. Calibration Coefficients

  10. Dynamic Accuracy a

  Footnotes for PNA-L models

  1. If a Z5623A H01 Dynamic Accuracy Test Set is used, an additional 30-minute wait can be avoided at the start of the test by connecting the power sensor to the test set at the completion of the Noise Floor test.