N7875A Required Test Equipment

This section lists the test equipment needed to run performance tests, adjustments, and utilities. Models for each test equipment category are given in order of preference. Alternate models are also listed but should be considered a lower priority. All equipment is Keysight, Agilent, or Hewlett Packard unless otherwise specified. Refer to each individual test for specific setup configurations with required cables and adapters.

Test Equipment

Recommended Model

Alternate Model

Signal Sources

Microwave
Signal Generator #11

E8257D Options 567, 1EA/1EU, 1E1, 007

  • Option 007 (Analog Ramp Sweep) required for Frequency Response adjustments.

PSG2

Microwave
Signal Generator #2

E8257D Options 1EA/1EU

PSG

Ultra Low Noise Reference Frequency Source

Wenzel Associates Inc.3
Model 500-13438 Rev D

Wenzel Associates Inc.3
Model 500-13438 Rev C

Function generator

33622A

33611A
33612A
33621A
33250A

Signal Analyzers

Signal analyzer

  • Only required for testing Options T03/T07/T13/T26.

N9030A

E4440A
E4445A (for Options T03/T07 only)
E4446A
E4448A

Counters

Frequency counter

53230A

53132A
53131A

Power Meters and Sensors (See below for calibration service ordering guidelines.)

Power meter

N1914A4

N1912A

E4419A
E4419B

RF power sensor, Type-N

N8482A CFT

N8482A
8482A Option H84
8482A5

(Non-H84 sensors will increase measurement uncertainty.)

RF power sensor

  • 2 required

E9304A Option H20

E9304A Option H18

Microwave power sensor, 3.5 mm

  • For Options F13 and F26
  • 2 required

N8485A CFT

N8485A
8485A

Low power microwave power sensor, 3.5 mm

  • For Options P13 and P26
  • 2 required

8485D


Power splitter, 3.5 mm

11667B

11667A

  • Can be used as an alternate when the E9304A-H18 is used in the Freq Resp Low Freq or Freq Resp Very Low Freq performance tests, or Freq Resp Low Freq adjustment.

Standards

Frequency standard

Microsemi 5071A

5061B Option 004
Microsemi 5071A Option 001
10 MHz External Reference6

Attenuators

10 dB step7, 8

8496G Options 001, H50

8496H Options 001, H50

1 dB step7, 8

8494G Options 001, H50

8494H Options 001, H50

10 dB fixed

8491A Options 010, H339

8491B Options 010, H33

6 dB fixed

8491A Options 006, H339

8491B Options 006, H33

3 dB fixed

8491A Option 003

8491B Option 003

10 dB fixed

8493C Option 010

 

20 dB fixed

8493C Option 020

8491A/B Option 020

30 dB fixed

  • For use with low-power power sensors

11708A

  

Interconnect Kit

  • Type-N connector kit to connect the 8496G to the 8494G attenuator

11716A

 

Attenuator driver

11713B

11713A

Terminations

50 Ω, 3.5 mm (m)

909D

 

Filters

Low pass filter, 50 MHz, BNC (m) to BNC (f)

Telonic Berkeley TLA 50-5AB2

0955-0306

Low pass filter, 300 MHz, BNC (m) to BNC (f)

  • 2 required

Telonic Berkeley TLP 300-4AB4

0955-0455

Low pass filter, 1.8 GHz, SMA (f) to SMA (f)

  • 2 required

RLC L-1636

0955-0491

Low pass filter, 5.0 GHz, SMA (f) to SMA (f)

RLC F-30-5000-RF

 

Low pass filter, 8.0 GHz, SMA (f) to SMA (f)

RLC F-30-8000-RF

 

Low pass filter, 12.4 GHz, SMA (f) to SMA (f)

RLC F-30-12.4-RF

 

Miscellaneous Devices

Directional bridge, Type-N (f)

86205A

 

Directional coupler, 3.5 mm (f)

87300C

87300B

  • Can be used as an alternate for DUT with Option F03, F07, or F13.

Cables

Type-N (m) to Type-N (m)

  • 2 required

11500C

  

Viking

  • For attenuator control

8120-2703

  

BNC (m) to SMB (f)

8121-2063

  

Coaxial, 3.5 mm (m) to 3.5 mm (m)

  • 3 required

11500E

8120-4921

BNC (m) to BNC (m)

8120-2582

10503A

Power sensor cable

  • 2 required

11730A

 

Adapters

3.5 mm (f) to Type-N (f)

  • For 3.5 mm source

1250-1745

  

3.5 mm (m) to 3.5 mm (m)

  • 3 required

83059A

1250-1748

3.5 mm (f) to 3.5 mm (f)

  • For 3.5 mm source
  • 2 required

83059B

1250-1749

2.4 mm (f) to Type-N (f)

  • For 2.4 mm source

11903B

  

2.4 mm (f) to 3.5 mm (f)

  • For 2.4 mm source
  • 2 required

11901B

  

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

1250-1750

  

Type-N (f) to Type-N (f)

1250-1472

  

Type-N (m) to BNC (f)

1250-1476

  

BNC (f) to 3.5 mm (m)

1250-1200

 

BNC (m) to SMA (f)

1250-1700

 

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

  • 2 required

1250-1744

 

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

1250-1743

 

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

  • For 8485A/D power sensor

08485-60005

 

Optional Equipment

10 MHz distribution amplifier

Microsemi 5087B

Microsemi 5087A

Table Footnotes

  1. Microwave Signal Generator #1 should have one each of the following options:

    • Frequency option:

      • 513 (13 GHz) minimum for DUTs with Options F03 or F07
      • 520 (20 GHz) minimum for DUTs with Option F13
      • 532 (32 GHz) minimum for DUTs with Option F26
      • 567 (50 GHz) is recommended
      • PSG with frequency Option 521 cannot be used due to low frequency levels
    • Enhanced Phase Noise option: UNR (discontinued), UNX, or UNY
    • Analog Ramp Sweep option: 007
    • Step Attenuator option (E8257D only): 1E1

    • High Power option: 1EA (discontinued) or 1EU

  2. Supported PSG models are E8257D and E8267D.

  3. Two Phase Noise test solutions are available. The Wenzel 500-13438D is an ultra low noise 1 GHz Oscillator. Although the CXA-m does not require the performance of the Wenzel 500-13438D, other TME applications use the Wenzel solution, so the 500-13438D is an allowed instrument mapping. An alternate (and less expensive) solution is a PSG with Option UNR (or UNX).

    Wenzel Associates Inc
    2215 Kramer Ln
    Austin, Texas 78758
    (512) 835-2038
    FAX (512) 719-4086

  4. N1914A power meters with serial number prior to MY53040007 require Service Note N1914A-07 which fixes a power supply ground loop. The ground loop injects noise into the measurement circuits which can cause unstable measurements at low (-30 dBm) power levels.

  5. The 8482A power sensor uses cal factors to compensate the power sensor for frequency response errors. Cal factors are stated in percentages. The 8482A factory cal factor uncertainty ranges from 2.2% to 3.1%. The cal factor uncertainty can be reduced to < 1.0% by using metrology grade calibration techniques. The power sensor cal factor uncertainty becomes one component of the verification test uncertainty analysis. Lower cal factor uncertainties will translate to wider test margins.

  6. When using the 10 MHz External Reference, be sure to update the Additional Properties in TME to the correct Frequency Accuracy in parts per million (ppm). For example, if overall accuracy is 9e-12, the equivalent is 9e-6 ppm. Refer to the Additional Properties section in the N7800A TME Help for instructions.

  7. The step attenuators should be permanently joined via the 11716A Interconnect Kit as shown in the diagram.

  8. Step Attenuator Loss Characterization

    The step attenuator combination should have each attenuator setting characterized by a metrology lab at 50 MHz. This characterization can be ordered through Keysight Technologies as an Option H50 Calibration.

    The following tables show which sections of the 10 dB and 1 dB step attenuators are utilized for each attenuator setting. The tables also list the Recommended Uncertainty for each attenuator setting. A larger number will result in larger overall test uncertainties which could affect the test pass/fail rate.

    The interconnect cable should NEVER be disconnected once the loss characterization is performed.

    1 dB Step Attenuator

    Nominal Attenuation
    (dB)

    Attenuator Section

    Recommended Uncertainty
    (dB)

    #1

    (1 dB)

    #2

    (2 dB)

    #3

    (4 dB)

    #4

    (4 dB)

    0

    Off

    Off

    Off

    Off

    0 (Reference)

    1

    On

    Off

    Off

    Off

    < 0.005

    2

    Off

    On

    Off

    Off

    < 0.005

    3

    On

    On

    Off

    Off

    < 0.005

    4

    Off

    Off

    Ona

    Off

    < 0.005

    5

    On

    Off

    On

    Off

    < 0.005

    6

    Off

    On

    On

    Off

    < 0.005

    7

    On

    On

    On

    Off

    < 0.005

    8

    Off

    Off

    On

    On

    < 0.005

    9

    On

    Off

    On

    On

    < 0.005

    aTME requires that Section 3 be characterized.

     

    10 dB Step Attenuator

    Nominal Attenuation
    (dB)

    Attenuator Section

    Recommended Uncertainty
    (dB)

    #1

    (10 dB)

    #2

    (20 dB)

    #3

    (40 dB)

    #4

    (40 dB)

    0

    Off

    Off

    Off

    Off

    0 (Reference)

    10

    On

    Off

    Off

    Off

    < 0.010

    20

    Off

    On

    Off

    Off

    < 0.015

    30

    On

    On

    Off

    Off

    < 0.020

    40

    Off

    Off

    Ona

    Off

    < 0.025

    50

    On

    Off

    On

    Off

    < 0.030

    60

    Off

    On

    On

    Off

    < 0.035

    70

    On

    On

    On

    Off

    < 0.040

    aTME requires that Section 3 be characterized.

     

  9. The 8491A Option H33 is a fixed attenuator which has been characterized to have a VSWR ≤ 1.05:1 at 50 MHz. A VSWR of 1.05:1 is recommended to test Input Attenuator Switching Uncertainty, Display Scale Fidelity, and Absolute Amplitude Accuracy performance tests. Any 8491A/B attenuator can be mapped into this device if the VSWR at 50 MHz has been characterized to be ≤ 1.05:1. When mapping the attenuator to indicate that is meets the required specification, the Option H33 checkbox will need to be checked in the configure test station Administration screen of TME.

Guidelines for Ordering Power-Sensor Calibration Service

Use the following guidelines to ensure power sensors used by the N7800A application receive the correct calibration service:

  1. Order Option 1A7 when ordering new power sensors that will be used as working standards in N7800A TME calibrations.

  2. In the Americas region, order the Keysight Technologies Cal + Measurement Uncertainty for power sensor recalibration.

  3. Outside the Americas region, order ISO 17025/ILAC-G8 calibration service for power sensor recalibration.

  4. When ordering periodic calibration for instruments used as lab standards in the N7800A software, we recommend using “Keysight Technologies calibration + uncertainties” for power sensors, and “Keysight Technologies calibration + uncertainties + guardbanding” for all other items (please visit Selecting the Right Calibration Services). The N7800A software incorporates the ISO GUM Uncertainty in point-to-point uncertainty calculations. The special “H-series” calibration options in this table provide lower measurement uncertainties through use of direct comparison to devices directly characterized by NPL or NIST (or another NMI). Please order Option H99 to get data on a CD for easy import into the N7800A (avoids manual entry). The overall resulting N7800A measurement uncertainties then reflects these lower device uncertainties. The equipment requirements of each N7800A calibration application are summarized in the specials calibration matrix which can be found at the Recommended Lab Standards and Special Cal Options website.

  5. The Keysight Technologies Option H99 is a special option for the Roseville Service Center [only] which provides a CD with calibration data included as a .csv file in TME N7800A format for all power sensors used with the N7800A TME application. N7800A TME is SSU calibration software used across Keysight Technologies SSU and by many self-maintainers. H99 must be requested from the Roseville SSU upon re-calibration only of any previously purchased power sensor and not for new purchases of BID Power Sensors. This option provides for adding the calibration data to a CD and may be ordered in addition to any other required or requested Std Lab Calibration option (must also be ordered in addition to H99).

    The following models are not supported by Option H99 (calibration data on a CD in .csv format):

    • E9304A-H18
    • E9304A-H19
    • E9304A-H84

Calibration Data Validation

Standard Checks

To ensure data integrity for measurements carried out with TME (Test Management Environment), the following verification checks are carried out at the beginning of each test run. The checks are only performed on devices that require calibration data which directly affect the test results.

The following table lists the standard checks performed by default:

Failure to comply with the CalFactor(%) or Atten(dB) will result in test data being labeled Invalid in both the TME interface and in any report format produced from the data.
Device Parameter Name and Description Limits A Failure
Affects:

Noise Source

NoiseRatio(dB)
The extended noise ratio, in dB

Must be > 0 and ≤ 30 at all points

All test runs

Power Sensor

CalFactor(%)
The calibration factor, as a percentage

Must be ≥ 10% and ≤ 150% at all points.

Must not be 100% (the default) at all points.

All test runs

Uncertainty(%)
The uncertainty of the calibration factor, as a percentage

Must be > 0 and ≤ 10% at all points

Test runs guard banded by measurement uncertainty only

ReflectCoeff(Mag)
The magnitude of the reflection coefficient

Must be > 0 and < 0.5 at all points

Test runs guard banded by measurement uncertainty only

Power Sensor
(Wide Band)

LowBandCalFactor(%)
The calibration factor, as a percentage, for the low band

Same tests as for CalFactor(%) on a one-range power sensor

All test runs

HighBandCalFactor(%)
The calibration factor, as a percentage, for the high band

Same tests as for LowBandCalFactor(%)

All test runs

LowBandUncertainty(%)
The uncertainty of the calibration factor, as a percentage, for the low band

Same tests as for Uncertainty(%) on a one-range power sensor

Test runs guard banded by measurement uncertainty only

HighBandUncertainty(%)
The uncertainty of the calibration factor, as a percentage, for the high band

Same tests as for LowBandUncertainty(%)

Test runs guard banded by measurement uncertainty only

ReflectCoeff(Mag)
The magnitude of the reflection coefficient

Same tests as for ReflectCoeff(Mag) on a one-range power sensor

Test runs guard banded by measurement uncertainty only

Step Attenuator

Atten(dB)
The attenuation, in dB

Must be within 1 dB of the nominal attenuation.

Must not all be exactly equal to the nominal attenuation (the default) at all points except zero. Zero step is the reference and must be zero.

All test runs

Uncert(dB)
The uncertainty of the attenuation, in dB

Must be > 0 and ≤ 0.1 dB at all points except zero. Zero step is the reference and must be zero.

Test runs guard banded by measurement uncertainty only

ReflSize
The reflection coefficient magnitude

Must be > 0 and < 0.5 at all points

Test runs guard banded by measurement uncertainty only