PicoVNA E-Cal 8.5GHz Automated Calibration Kit, SMA(f)

Many owners and users of a vector network analyzer insist upon an automated calibration solution. Some of the benefits are obvious: automation can provide extra speed, efficiency and a simplified process. But did you know that automated VNA calibration can also improve overall calibration quality and even reduce uncertainties or errors?

The PicoVNA 108 achieves calibration automation using either male SMA or female SMA E-Cal modules. These are USB-powered and controlled to electronically select the various Short, Open, Load and Through reference standards, as they are needed, within the calibration process. You simply power the module, make a single connection of the E-Cal standard between the PicoVNA test ports, and then initiate the automated procedure from within the PicoVNA 108 user interface. Within the supplied carry and storage case, we include a fully characterized, polarized port adapter with each of our E-Cal modules; this allows both the male and female SMA devices to also calibrate insertable male-female and female-male test ports.

Minimized as far as possible, the manual calibration process involves several torqued connect/disconnect operations and a manual loading of unique data files for each standard. The E-Cal SOLT calibration process reduces this to just one connection by internally switching its calibration standards. The process becomes automatic and highly repeatable, with power, control and data read all managed by the PicoVNA software over a USB interface.

Fast, convenient and less error-prone, an E-Cal standard is to an extent compromised by switch errors, resulting in non-ideal short, open, load and through. Mitigating this, the PicoVNA E-Cal standards include fast-rise oven control of device temperatures, and full-span multipath S-parameters traceably characterize these now stable and minor imperfections. It is also true that the convenience, deskilling and speed of automated calibration tend to promote more regular calibration, and thus more accurate, repeatable and reliable measurement – so much so that some process managers insist upon an automated E-Cal.

All PicoVNA calibration and check standards (below) are calibrated against fully traceable PC3.5 standards and are supplied in a protective carry case.

 

 

Order Code	Name	Type	Ports	Standards	Impedance	Connector	Characterization
TA518	SOLT-AUTO-M	Ovened USB-controlled automated E-Cal SOLT	2	Short, open, load, through and separate characterized/ polarized port adaptor	50 Ohm	SMA(f)	Full S-parameter 300kHz to 8.5GHz. Embedded and read from USB device.