M9485A is a single source multi-port VNA supporting up to 24 ports. The hardware can output source power from all measurement ports at once, and all receiver can capture signals simultaneously. It is capable of measuring 24 identical individual 1-port devices at once, 12 2-port devices at once, 8 3-port device at once etc.
Note: Multi DUT parallel measurement is available only for M9376A. When your configuration includes any of M9377A, the Multi DUT parallel measurement is NOT available.
M9485A uses one source frequency module at a time.
As for the receiver module, one receiver has one measurement port and consumes one PXI slot. One firmware instance supports up to 36 modules at a time. Each receiver module has two dedicated ADCs for T and R channels. Multiple R data can be captured at a time. Each receiver module has own source control switch. Source output can be enabled on multiple measurement port at a time.
M9485A source switch enables multiple output at a time. Each port switch can be controlled independently.
Unlike ENA, M9485Ais capable of measuring DUTs in parallel. Calibration types are identical on both instrument, however correction data is independent. Topologies are also identical but fixturing data are independent.
As shown in the below diagram, in M9485A, each port can be controlled independently, unlike in ENA, only one test port can output RF source signal at a time.
For example, in measuring two 3-port DUTs, by using ENA, it requires 6 sweeps to perform the measurement. M9485A can do the same by 3 sweeps only and twice faster in total.
Multi DUT measurement is achieved by SCPI program not from Soft Front Panel. See Perform Multi DUT Parallel measurements.
There are some limitations on M9485A multi DUT parallel measurement because of analog hardware configuration.
Parallel measurement is restricted to standard S-parameter channel. If there are SMC channel or other measurement classes, sequential measurement will be held. Parallel measurement does not support FOM. If FOM is enabled, sequential measurement will be held.
The actual Port Power States are depended on the multi-site DUT assignment:
Master channel directly reflects user settings.
As for slave channels, "Off" state indicates force power off and "Auto" state indicates duplicate the master channel state.
If the Port Power Coupling is disabled, the actual Port Power Values are dependent on the multi-state DUT assignment:
The actual Port Power are dependent on the multi-state DUT assignment: