Introduction - Agilent Technologies 8719ES User Manual

Calibrating for Increased Measurement Accuracy

Introduction

Introduction
The accuracy of network analysis is greatly influenced by factors external to the network
analyzer. Components of the measurement setup, such as interconnecting cables and
adapters, introduce variations in magnitude and phase that can mask the actual response
of the device under test.
Error correction is an accuracy enhancement procedure that removes systematic errors
(repeatable measurement variations) in the test setup. The analyzer measures known
standard devices, and uses the results of these measurements to characterize the system.
Measurement accuracy and system characteristics can be affected by the following factors:
• Adapting to a different connector type or impedance.
• Connecting a cable between the test device and an analyzer test port.
• Connecting any attenuator or other such device on the input or output of the test device.
If your test setup meets any of the these conditions, the following system characteristics
may be affected:
• amplitude at device input
• frequency response accuracy
• directivity
• crosstalk (isolation)
• source match
• load match
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