Agilent Technologies N4413A User manual

User’s Guide
Agilent Technologies
Multiport Test System
Using the Agilent Technologies
N4413A, N4414A, N4415A, N4416A, N4417A,
N4418A, N4419A, and N4421A Multiport Test Sets
with N4425A Balanced Measurement Software
Part Number: N4413-90001
Printed in USA
February 2003
Supersedes April 2002
© Copyright 2001−2003 Agilent Technologies Inc., all rights reserved.

ii
Notice
The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.
Agilent Technologies makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including
but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular
purpose. Agilent Technologies shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental
or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this
material.
LIMITED WARRANTY
The material contained in this document is provided "as is," and is subject to being changed,
without notice, in future editions. Further, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable
law, Agilent disclaims all warranties, either express or implied with regard to this manual
and any information contained herein, including but not limited to the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Agilent shall not be liable for errors or
for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, use, or
performance of this document or any information contained herein. Should Agilent and the
user have a separate written agreement with warranty terms covering the material in this
document that conflict with these terms, the warranty terms in the separate agreement will
control.
Assistance
Product maintenance agreements and other customer assistance agreements are available for
Agilent Technologies products. For any assistance, contact your nearest Agilent Technologies
sale or service office.

iii
Software Compatibility
This user’s guide is compatible with N4425A Balanced Measurement Software revisions 1.24
and above.
Document Conventions
This document uses a few conventions to make reading easier.
• Menu and dialog box items are shown in bold face type. When described in text, menus and
sub-menus are separated by right arrows, as in File > Open > Data…
• Dialog box names are shown in italic font.
• Keyboard entries are shown in mono-spaced typeface.
• Network analyzer keys are displayed in
FRQGHQVHGEROG font.

iv

Contents
v
1. About the Multiport Test System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Model Numbers at a Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Basic System Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Supported Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Available Options and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2. User Interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The Main Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
The Indicator Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Individual Measurement Screens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Scaling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Changing the Scale Parameters of Rectangular Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Changing the Scale Parameters of Smith/Polar Chart Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3. Using the Multiport Test System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
How to Set Up the Multiport Test System Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Attach the Network Analyzer to the Multiport Test Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
To Connect the RF Cables between the Multiport Test Set
and the Network Analyzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
To Set the GPIB Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
How to Install and Start the Balanced Measurement Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
How to Calibrate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Triggers to Calibrate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Starting a Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
How to Perform Electronic Calibration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
How to Characterize Adapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
How to Interpret Multiport Test System Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
How to De-Embed Measurement Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
How to Make Measurements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Attenuation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
How to Remove Fixture Delay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
How to Use Trace Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
How to Set Up User-Defined Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
How to Use Markers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Multiport Test System Markers Versus Network Analyzer Markers . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Contents
vi
Defining Multiport Test System Markers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Moving Markers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Setting Up Delta Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Setting Marker Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
How to Use Frequency Zoom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Increasing Frequency Step. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
How to Characterize Passive Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
How to Characterize Active Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Active Device Measurement Example. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
How to Interpret Mixed-Mode S-Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
How to Characterize Balanced Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Single-Ended Performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Mixed-Mode Performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Mode Conversion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
The Effect of Asymmetry on Mode Conversion Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
How to Use User-Defined Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Defining the Reference Impedance in User-Defined Equations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
How to Calculate the VSWR of a Test Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
How to Calculate Impedance Looking into a Device Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
How to Calculate the Gain of a Transimpedance Amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
How to Measure Simultaneous Conjugate Match of a Differential 2-Port Device . . . . 71
How to Measure Simultaneous Conjugate Match of a Device
with One Single-Ended and One Differential Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
How to Check Test Cable Repeatability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
How to Use the Port Exchange Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
How to Check Test Set Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
How to Add a Calibration Kit Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
4. Performing Time Domain Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
General Theory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Response Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Analyzing Time-Domain Signatures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Using the Multiport Test System for Time-Domain Measurement and Analysis . . . . 89
Enabling the Time Domain Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Scaling and Formatting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Time Domain Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Contents
vii
Gating Controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Frequency Domain Controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Practical Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
1. Masking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
2. Filtering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
3. Aliasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
4. Response Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
5. Range Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Checking the Validity of a Time-Domain Calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
5. Menu Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
File Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
File > Open > Data… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
File > Open > Cal… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
File > Save > Data…. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
File > Save > Cal… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
File > Import > Citifile… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
File > Import > Import S4P… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
File > Import > Import S3P… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
File > Import > Import S2P… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
File > Export > Citifile… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
File > Export > MMICAD > . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
File > Export > Libra… > . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
File > Export > Ansoft… > . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
File > Export > Tab-Delimited Text… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
File > Print… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
File > Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Setup Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Setup > All… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Setup > Meas Parameters…. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Setup > Cal Kit Selection… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Setup > Adapter Usage… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Setup > De-Embedding… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Setup > Modify Rotations… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Setup > Test Port Impedance… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Setup > Display Configuration… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Setup > Hardware… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Contents
viii
Setup > Preferences… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Setup > 4-Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Setup > 3-Port (Ports 1, 2, and 4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Setup > 2-Port (Ports 1 and 3) / (Ports 2 and 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Calibrate Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Calibrate > Create Cal Subset… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Calibrate > Remove Cal Subset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Calibrate > Standard Calibration… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Calibrate > Electronic Calibration… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Calibrate > Delete Current Cal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Data Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Data > Memory… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Data > User-Defined Display > Add Page… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Data > User-Defined Display > Modify Page… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Data > User-Defined Display > Delete Page… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Data > User-Defined Display > View Equations… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Data > Transforms > Disable Transforms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Data > Transforms > 2 Balanced Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Data > Transforms > 2 Single-Ended, 1Balanced Port. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Data > Transforms > 1 Single-Ended, 1 Balanced Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Data > Transforms > 1 Balanced Port. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Data > Display Visible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Data > Reset Display to Default Config . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Data > Display Acquisition Info. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Data > Clear All Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Utility Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Utility > Manual Test-Set Control… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Utility > Characterize Adapter… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Utility > Measurement Counter Visible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Utility > Reset Measurement Counter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Utility > Diagnostics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Help Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Help > Contents…. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Help > About Multiport…. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

Contents
ix
6. Maintenance and Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Electrostatic Discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Care of Test Cable Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Connector Mating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Connector Torque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Cable Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Connector Care for RF & Microwave Coaxial Connectors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Contacting Agilent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
7. Instrument Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Front and Rear Panels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
N4413A Front and Rear Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
N4414A Front and Rear Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
N4415A Front and Rear Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
N4416A Front and Rear Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
N4417A Front and Rear Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
N4418A Front and Rear Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
N4419A Front and Rear Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
N4421A Front and Rear Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Specifications and Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Power Supply Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Environmental Operating Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Physical Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
8. Safety and Regulatory Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Positioning the System for Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Shipment for Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Safety Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Instrument Markings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Safety Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Regulatory Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Compliance with Canadian EMC Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Compliance with German Noise Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Declaration of Conformity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207

Contents
x
A. Other Technical Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Waveguide Characterization Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
IF Gain Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Adjustment Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

1
1About the Multiport Test System

About the Multiport Test System
Introduction
Chapter 12
Introduction
The Agilent Multiport Test System makes quick and accurate S-parameter measurements of
both active and passive devices with up to four ports.
The multiport test system consists of an Agilent network analyzer, an Agilent multiport test
set, a system controller (PC) running the balanced measurement software, and interconnect
cabling.
Combining a unique multiport hardware architecture with a fast multiple-term calibration
algorithm, the multiport test system provides true multiport vector error-correction while
preserving the accuracy of the underlying network analyzer.

About the Multiport Test System
Model Numbers at a Glance
Chapter 1 3
Model Numbers at a Glance
The frequency range and network analyzer requirements for the various multiport test
system configurations are shown below in “Multiport Test System Configurations.”
Descriptions of analyzer options are shown in “Agilent Network Analyzer Option Reference
Table” on page 4.
Multiport Test System Configurations
Multiport
Test Set
Model
Number
System
Frequency
Range
Supported Network Analyzer
Model
Number
Optionsa
a. This table lists only the most specifically relevant options. For compatibility with options not listed
here, contact the factory.
Required Compatible Incompatible
N4413Ab
b. This test set may also be labeled with an ATN model number. N4413: previously ATN-4111A;
N4414A: previously ATN-4111B; N4415A: previously ATN-4111C; N4416A: previously ATN-4111D;
and N4418A: previously ATN-4112A
50 MHz to
6.0 GHz 8753Cc/D/E/ES
c. 8753C requires firmware revision 4.13 or above.
006d, 011
d. Option 006 required only for operation above 3 GHz.
1D5, 002, 010 075
N4414Ab300 kHz to
6.0 GHz
N4415Ab30 kHz to
6.0 GHz
8753ES 006d, 014 1D5, 002, 010 075, H16
N4416Ab300 kHz to
6.0 GHz E8356Ae/7Ae/8A
e. When the Multiport Test Set is used with this network analyzer model, the maximum system
frequency is limited by the maximum operating frequency of the analyzer: 3 GHz for
E8356A/E8801A, 6 GHz for E8357/E8802A, and 13.5 GHz for 8719D/ES.
015 010
N4417Af
f. E8356A/57A/58A requires N4417A Option 103; E8801A/02A/03A requires N4417A Option 104.
300 kHz to
9.0 GHz E8356Ae/7Ae/8A 015 010
E8801Ae/2Ae/3A 014 010, 1E1, 1E5
N4418Ab50 MHz to
20 GHz 8719D/ESe
8720D/ES
H32 or H42 010, 012, 400 007, 085, 089
8722D/ESg
g. When an 8722D/ES is used with an N4418A, the N4418A requires Option 302. The system’s maximum
operating frequency is limited to 20.0 GHz.
H32 or H44 010, 012, 400 007, 085, 089
N4419A 45 MHz to
20 GHz
E8362A/B 014 010, 022, 711,
UNL
N4421A 45 MHz to
50 GHz
E8364A/B 014 010, 022, 711,
UNL

About the Multiport Test System
Model Numbers at a Glance
Chapter 14
“Agilent Network Analyzer Option Reference Table” (located below) lists common options for
supported network analyzers. Refer to “Multiport Test System Configurations” on page 3 for
compatibility of these options with the multiport test system.
Agilent Network Analyzer Option Reference Table
Option Numbers and Descriptions
8753C/D/E/ES Options
002 Harmonic-Measurement Upgrade 004 Step Attenuator Upgrade
006 6 GHz Upgrade for Standard Units 010 Time Domain Capability
011 Receiver Configuration 014 Configurable Test Set
075 75 ohm impedance 1D5 High Stability Frequency Reference
8719D/ES, 8720D/ES, and 8722D/ES Options
007 Mechanical Transfer Switch 010 Time Domain Capability
012 Direct Sampler Access 085 High-Power Test Set
089 Frequency Offset Mode 1D5 High Stability Frequency Reference
400 Four-Sampler Test Set H32 Front panel access to A and B samplers
and Port 1 and Port 2 switch and coupler
H42 8719/8720 only: Front panel access to all
samplers and Port 1 and Port 2 switch
and coupler (installs options 400 and
012)
H44 8722 only: Front panel access to R1, R2,
A, and B samplers, and Port 1 and Port 2
switch and coupler ports (installs
options 400 and 012)
E8356A, E8357A, and E8358A Options
010 Time Domain Capability 015 Configurable Test Set
E8801A, E8802A, and E8803A Options
010 Time Domain Capability 014 Configurable Test Set
1E1 Add Source Attenuator 1E5 High Stability Time Base
E8362A/B and E8364A/B Options
010 Time Domain Capability 014 Configurable Test Set
016a
a. This option has not been tested and is not specified with the Multiport Test System.
Add Receiver Attenuators 022 Extended Memory
080aFrequency Offset 081aExternal Reference Switch
083aFrequency Converter Measurement
Application
711 Standard Power Range
UNL Extended Power Range with Bias Tees

About the Multiport Test System
Basic System Components
Chapter 1 5
Basic System Components
Each multiport test system has configuration options. Your packing list provides details of the
hardware and software provided for your system configuration.
As a minimum, the following will be provided with each standard system:
• Agilent two- or four-port multiport test set
• Balanced measurement software on CD-ROM
•User’sguide
• Interconnect cabling

About the Multiport Test System
Supported Equipment
Chapter 16
Supported Equipment
Refer to the following lists for information about equipment used with the multiport test
system.
Network Analyzer:
• Refer to “Multiport Test System Configurations” on page 3.
System Controller:
•Pentium
1PC compatible computer (or better)
• Windows 95/982, Windows NT3, or Windows 2000 (Windows 2000 recommended).
Windows should be run with the latest service pack available.
• At least 64 megabytes of RAM (>128 MB RAM recommended)
•CD-ROMDrive
• Supported GPIB card
— Agilent 82340, 82341, or 82350 - or - National Instruments (any)
• 1024 x 768 video in at least 256 colors with small fonts.
S/O/L/T Calibration Kits:
• Agilent N4430A Electronic Multiport Calibration Module (6 GHz)
• Agilent N4430B Electronic Multiport Calibration Module (9 GHz)
• Agilent 85032B/E (Type-N) (dc −6 GHz)
• Agilent 85033D (3.5 mm) (dc −6 GHz)
• Agilent 85050B/C (7 mm) (dc −18 GHz)
• Agilent 85052D (3.5 mm) (dc −26.5 GHz)
• Agilent 85056A (2.4 mm) (dc −50 GHz)
Additional calibration kits, including on-wafer standards, may be added by the user. Refer
to “How to Add a Calibration Kit Definition” on page 78.
1. Pentium® is a U.S. registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
2. Windows® and MS Windows® are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
3. Windows NT® is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

About the Multiport Test System
Available Options and Accessories
Chapter 1 7
Available Options and Accessories
The following is a list of options and accessories that are available with the multiport test
system.
Options
Option 103 Front Panel Cable Configuration for E8356A/57A/58A (N4417A Only)
Option 104 Front Panel Cable Configuration for E8801A/02A/03A (N4417A Only)
Option 302 Adds interface adapters for connectivity to the Agilent 8722D/ES with
Option H32 or Option H44; includes precision 3.5 mm to 2.4 mm adapters
and custom RF interface cables. (N4418A only)
Option 1CP Rack Mount Flange Kit
Option 1E1 Source step attenuator (N4414A only)
Option B20 Set of 4 test port cables
Option UNL (1) Integrated 70 dB (x 10 dB) step attenuator
(4) Integrated 0.5 Amp bias tees (N4413A only)
Accessories
N4430A Electronic Multiport Calibration Module (300 kHz to 6.0 GHz)
N4430B Electronic Multiport Calibration Module (300 kHz to 9.0 GHz)
NOTE The N4431A 4-port RF Electronic Calibration Module is not compatible with
the Multiport Test System.

About the Multiport Test System
Available Options and Accessories
Chapter 18

9
2User Interface

User Interface
The Main Screen
Chapter 210
The Main Screen
The opening screen of the N4425A Balanced Measurement Software is shown on page 11.
Initially, the system displays a thumbnail-sized single-ended (unbalanced) four-port
S-parameter matrix. A mixed-mode (balanced) four-port S-parameter matrix can also be
displayed (select Data > Transforms > 2 Balanced Ports or Data > Transforms > 2
Single-Ended, 1 Balanced Port).
User-defined displays, combining measured data with math functions, can be easily created.
See “How to Set Up User-Defined Displays” on page 49.
The number of thumbnail S-parameters displayed is dependent on the port selection that you
make in the Setup menu.
• For the 4-port measurement selection, 16 S-parameter thumbnails are displayed.
• For the 3-port measurement selection, 9 S-parameter thumbnails are displayed.
• For the 2-port measurement selections, 4 S-parameter thumbnails are displayed.
For each display, the plot or chart type, scaling, and other parameters can be assigned
individually. See “Individual Measurement Screens” on page 14.
Display parameters can also be easily copied from one display to another.
• To copy the display parameters, simply move the cursor over the display with the desired
formatting, and left-click the mouse while holding the Shift key.
• To paste the display parameters into a different measurement display, put the cursor in
that display and left-click the mouse while holding the Ctrl key.
Printing the main screen can easily be performed. To open the Print Annotation dialog box,
double left-click any shaded part of the measurement display area. See “File > Print…” on
page 107.