Guided Power Calibration

Beginning with PNA firmware release A.09.30, Source and Receiver Power Calibration can be performed during a standard S-parameter Guided Calibration. This power cal provides the following enhancements over the standard source and receiver power calibration:

A source and receiver power cal can be performed for all PNA ports with a single power sensor connection.
Multiple power sensors can be used to cover wide frequency ranges.
The receivers are corrected automatically.
Optionally compensates for an adapter that may be used to connect the power sensor.
Provides optional match-corrected power measurements.
Source and Receiver power correction is stored to the Cal Set along with S-parameter correction.

Note: A Guided Power Calibration is not accurate when Frequency Offset Mode is enabled.

Learn more about the standard Source and Receiver Power Cals.

How to perform a Guided Power Cal

In a Standard (S-parameter) channel, setup your measurements (sweep type, frequency range, IFBW, and so forth). A special version of this feature is available on mmWave SMC measurements. Learn more.
Connect the Power Meter / Sensor the same as a standard Source Power Cal. Learn more.

- See Supported Power Meters
- See Important first-time USB connection note.

Start the Cal Wizard, then select Guided (Smart) Cal. Learn how.

On the following Select Ports dialog, check Calibrate source and receiver power, then click Next.

Two Cal Wizard pages later, complete the following dialog.

Power Cal Settings dialog box help

Note: A Use Power Table checkbox (not shown) is available when a mmWave SMC measurement is active. Learn more.

Power Cal at: Select the source port for which a Power Calibration will be performed. The source and receiver correction will be transferred to all other sources and receivers involved in the S-parameter measurements.

Use Multiple Sensors NOT available with SMC measurements.

Check this box to use one or more power sensors that are configured as PMAR devices. This dialog is replaced with the Multiple Sensors dialog. See following image.

When "Use Multiple Sensors" is cleared (default setting), click Power Meter Settings to configure the power meter.

De-embed (power sensor) adapter When the power sensor connector is NOT the same type and gender as the DUT connector for the specified port, then for optimum accuracy, extra cal steps are required to measure and correct for the adapter that is used to connect the power sensor to the reference plane.

Clear this box to NOT compensate for the added adapter.

Check this box to perform extra calibration steps to measure and correct for the adapter.

Then select the Power Sensor Connector type and gender of the power sensor. "Ignored" does NOT compensate for the added adapter, just as if the checkbox were cleared.

When this connector matches the DUT connector for the same port, then the PNA assumes that there is no adapter. Extra cal steps are NOT required and the Cal Kit selection is not available.

Otherwise, select the Cal Kit to be used to calibrate at the adapter.

See Accuracy Settings below.

Power Cal Settings - Use Multiple Sensors dialog box help

Notes

"Multiple sensors" are allowed ONLY on standard channels and during a Cal All calibration.

The power sensors that are used as "multiple sensors" MUST be configured PMAR devices.

Sensor Settings Click to start the Sensor Settings dialog, used to ADD / Configure an External Device.

Sensor Grid

Sensor Select the power sensor and the associated Start and Stop frequency range.

Adapter When the power sensor connector is NOT the same type and gender as the DUT connector for the specified port, then for optimum accuracy, extra cal steps are required to measure and correct for the adapter that is used to connect the power sensor to the reference plane.

Clear this box to NOT compensate for the added adapter.

Check this box to perform extra calibration steps to measure and correct for the adapter. Then specify the Power Sensor Connector type and gender of the power sensor. When this connector matches the DUT connector for the same port, then extra cal steps are NOT required, and the Cal Kit selection is not available. Otherwise, select the Cal Kit to be used to calibrate at the adapter.

Remove Click to remove the power sensor from the list.

Add Sensor Click to add a new line, then click the down-arrow to select a sensor. If a power sensor does NOT appear in the list, click the Sensor Settings button to configure a power sensor.

Accuracy

Tolerance When consecutive power sensor readings are within this value of each other, then the reading is considered settled.

Max Number of Readings Sets the maximum number of readings the power sensor will take to achieve settling. Each power reading is "settled" when either:

Two consecutive readings are within this Tolerance value or
When the Max Number of Readings has been met.

The readings that were taken are averaged together to become the "settled" reading.

Power Sensor Connection step dialog box help

Power Level Set the power level at which the Source Power Cal is to be performed.

It is usually best to perform the Source Power Cal at 0 dBm because the power sensor is calibrated at that level. If 0 dBm is not achievable for your measurement, then set to the power level with the lowest level of measurement noise.

Turn OFF Match Correction

How to turn OFF match correction:

Click Response, then Cal, then Manage Cals, then Correction Methods.

Correction Methods dialog box help

By default, the Guided Power Cal applies match correction to the receiver measurements. However, you may want to turn OFF match correction when making non-traditional measurements, such as high-power or multiport configurations. Because of added components or reconfigurations, the mismatch measurement may not be valid.

Clear the box to NOT apply match correction on all receivers used on this channel. The receivers are still corrected using standard receiver calibration. Learn more.

Check the box to apply match correction on all receivers used on this channel.

Last Modified:

4-Apr-2013	Added Cal Set save note
1-May-2012	Edit for Cal All
5-Apr-2012	Minor edits
12-May-2011	Modified for mmWave SMC
21-Dec-2010	Added multiple power sensors
31-Aug-2010	MX New topic