Select a Calibration Type


The following calibration types are available in the VNA.

Cal Type

Interface

Accuracy

Thru Methods allowed

TRL Family

Basic Cal

Cal All

SmartCal

ECal

Very High

All except Unknown Thru

SOLT

Basic Cal

Cal All

SmartCal

ECal

High

All

SOLR

Basic Cal

Cal All

SmartCal

ECal

High

Unknown Thru

Enhanced Response

Basic Cal

SmartCal

High

Defined Thru or Flush Thru

QSOLT (Quick SOLT)

Basic Cal

SmartCal

Medium

Defined Thru or Flush Thru

1-Port Reflection

Basic Cal

Cal All

SmartCal

ECal

High

Not Applicable

Open/Short Response

Basic Cal

Response Cal

Low

Not Applicable

Thru Response

Basic Cal

Response Cal

Low

Known Thru or Flush Thru

Learn how to select a default Cal Type.

Other Cal Types (Separate Topic)

See other Calibration Topics

TRL Family

Application: Used to accurately calibrate any pair of ports when calibration standards are not readily available.

Note: A Delta Match Cal may be required.

 Learn more about TRL family cal

 For more information on modifying standards, see Calibration Standards.

Calibration Method: Basic Cal, SmartCal, Cal All

General Accuracy: Very High

Standards Required: THRU, REFLECT, LINE or similar combination

Systematic Errors Corrected:

 Directivity

 Source match

 Isolation (see exceptions)

 Load match

 Frequency response transmission tracking

 Frequency response reflection tracking

 

SOLT

Application: Used to accurately calibrate any number of ports.

General Accuracy: High

Calibration Method: Basic Cal, SmartCal, Cal All, ECal

Standards Required: (SHORT, OPEN, LOAD, THRU) or ECal module

Systematic Errors Corrected (on all ports):

 Directivity

 Source match

 Isolation (see exceptions)

 Load match

 Frequency response transmission tracking

 Frequency response reflection tracking

 

SOLR

Application: Used to accurately calibrate any two ports.

General Accuracy: High

Calibration Method: Basic Cal, SmartCal, Cal All, ECal

Standards Required: (SHORT, OPEN, LOAD, Reciprocal THRU) or ECal module

Systematic Errors Corrected (on all ports):

 Directivity

 Source match

 Isolation (see exceptions)

 Load match

 Frequency response transmission tracking

 Frequency response reflection tracking

 

Enhanced Response

Application: Used to calibrate two ports when only measurements in one direction (forward OR reverse) are required. Measurements are faster because a second sweep is NOT required.

 Reflection Standards (OPEN, SHORT, LOAD) are connected to the source port to be calibrated.

 Defined THRU or Flush THRU standard is connected between port pairs.

 Much quicker than SOLT when using a mechanical cal kit. ECal can also be used.

To select Enhanced Response:

For a standard S-parameter Cal, select Cal > Main > Basic Cal....

Then, In the Basic Cal dialog box:

  1. Under 'Cal Type', select Enh Response 1-> 2 Enh or Response 2-> 1.

General Accuracy: High

Calibration Method: Basic Cal, SmartCal, ECal

Standards Required: (SHORT, OPEN, LOAD, Defined THRU or Flush THRU)

Systematic Errors Corrected:

 Directivity (source port)

 Source match (source port)

 Isolation (see exceptions)

 Load match (receiver port) - used only to produce transmission tracking term.

 Frequency response transmission tracking (receiver port).

 Frequency response reflection tracking (source port).

 

QSOLT (Quick SOLT)

Application: Used to quickly calibrate any number of ports. Developed specifically for use with external multiport test sets.

Note: A Delta Match Cal is required to cal test ports that do not have a dedicated reference receiver.

 Reflection Standards (OPEN, SHORT, LOAD) are connected to only ONE of the ports to be calibrated. The lower port number of the ports to be calibrated is selected by default. This can be changed through the Modify Cal / Cal Type setting.

 Defined THRU or Flush THRU standards are connected from the reflection standard port to the remaining ports to be calibrated.

 Much quicker than SOLT when using a mechanical cal kit.

 Based on TRL math.

General Accuracy: Not as high as SOLT

Calibration Method: Basic Cal, SmartCal, ECal

Standards Required: (SHORT, OPEN, LOAD, Defined THRU or Flush THRU)

Systematic Errors Corrected:

 Directivity

 Source match

 Isolation (see exceptions)

 Load match

 Frequency response transmission tracking

 Frequency response reflection tracking

 

1-Port (Reflection)

Application: Used to accurately calibrate any single test port for reflection measurements only.

Calibration Method: Basic Cal, SmartCal, Cal All, ECal

General Accuracy: High

Standards Required: (SHORT, OPEN, LOAD) or ECal module

Systematic Errors Corrected:

 Directivity

 Source match

 Frequency response reflection tracking

 

Open / Short Response

Application: Used to quickly calibrate any single test port for reflection measurements only.

Calibration Method: Basic Cal, Response Cal

General Accuracy: Low

Standards Required: OPEN or SHORT

Systematic Errors Corrected:

Frequency response reflection tracking

 

Thru / Transmission Response (Isolation Optional)

Application: Used to quickly calibrate any pair of test ports for transmission measurements only.

Isolation is not usually recommended. Learn more about Isolation

Calibration Method: Basic Cal, Response Cal, and Guided Cal from the 'Select DUT Connectors page', check Modify Cal, then click Next.

General Accuracy: Low

Standards Required: THRU

Isolation: One LOAD for each VNA test port.

Systematic Errors Corrected:

 Frequency response transmission tracking

 Isolation