Agilent Technologies Inc. introduced a metrology option for its PNA family of network analyzers that offers national metrology institutes and calibration laboratories around the world the ultimate in S-parameter measurement accuracy.
Agilent’s new metrology option employs a unique technique for accurately characterizing the thermal stability of its network analyzers, independent of the effects from cables and adapters. The technique provides 48 hours of stabilization data that accurately characterizes instrument drift stored on the analyzer’s hard drive. This data can be used to calculate measurement uncertainty.
In addition, the new metrology option has optimized the raw performance of the PNA family to address the specific measurement needs of metrology laboratories. For example, all front-panel loops were removed to improve stability. The PNA’s raw source match and load match were also optimized. Breakthrough receiver linearity was realized by specialized hardware techniques based on Agilent’s in-house semiconductor processes.
Agilent’s PNA family of network analyzers includes the PNA-L, PNA and PNA-X Series, covering frequencies from 300 kHz to 1.05 THz. The PNA-L is designed for general-purpose network analysis; the PNA is the world’s highest-performing vector network analyzer; and the PNA-X provides complete linear and nonlinear component characterization in a single instrument with a single connection. The PNA family offers advanced connectivity via LAN, USB and GPIB; an easy-to-use open architecture based on the Microsoft Windows operating system; and an extensive embedded help system. The PNA family’s CPU and operating system can be upgraded as technologies evolve.
Agilent’s new metrology option is now available on both two-port and four-port versions of all PNA frequency models up to 67 GHz. It does not support the configurable test set, attenuator or bias tee hardware options.
More information on the PNA metrology option is available at www.agilent.com/find/pna.
