Introduction - Agilent Technologies 8753ET 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
6- 3