N 5230 A Vector Network Analyzer

The Agilent N5230A is a vector network analyzer from the PNA-L series of microwave network analyzers. The N5230A is manufactured by Agilent Technologies. The N5230A is offered in two-port and four-port configurations. The two-port configuration spans frequency ranges from 10 MHz to 20, 40, or 50 GHz. The four-port configuration spans frequency ranges from 300 kHz to 13.5 or 20 GHz.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The N5230A performs error correction through calibration. Calibration is the process of measuring known standards to characterize systematic errors. The N5230A supports calibration using mechanical calibration kits such as the 85052B and 85056A and electronic calibration modules such as the N4691A, N4693A, and N4433A. The corrected system performance specifications are determined by the quality of calibration standards, system repeatability, stability, and noise. The N5230A also provides uncorrected system performance specifications for measurements without error correction.^[3][4][5][6]

The N5230A is a two-port or four-port network analyzer, so it can measure one-port and two-port devices and, in the four-port configuration, multi-port devices. The four-port configurations cover 300 kHz to 13.5 or 20 GHz. The four-port configurations with options 146 and 246 include an internal second source. Four-port measurement capability allows characterization of differential and balanced devices. The two-port configurations cover 10 MHz to 20, 40, or 50 GHz.^[4][3]

The N5230A's performance specifications are defined for measurements over a temperature range of 25 °C ±5 °C, after a warm-up time of 90 minutes. The instrument provides specified dynamic range across its frequency bands. For example, the two-port system with configurable test set and extended power range specifies a system dynamic range of 95 dB at 31.25 GHz to 40 GHz and 79 dB at 40 GHz to 50 GHz. The four-port system specifies a system dynamic range of 103 dB at 15 GHz to 20 GHz for the standard configuration. The N5230A supports measurements with a 10 Hz IF bandwidth and no averaging for the corrected system performance specifications. The instrument includes a segment sweep mode that allows predefined frequency segments at different power levels.^[3][4]