Agilent Technologies Option H48 Multiport Test Set Z5623A Manual

Agilent Technologies
Z5623A Option H48
Multiport Test Set
User’s and Service Guide
Manufacturing Part Number: Z5623-90016
Printed in USA
June 2005
© Copyright 2000-2002, 2005 Agilent Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.

ii
Warranty Statement
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.
DFARS/Restricted Rights Notice
If software is for use in the performance of a U.S. Government prime contract or
subcontract, Software is delivered and licensed as “Commercial computer software” as
defined in DFAR 252.227-7014 (June 1995), or as a “commercial item” as defined in
FAR 2.101(a) or as “Restricted computer software” as defined in FAR 52.227-19 (June
1987) or any equivalent agency regulation or contract clause. Use, duplication or
disclosure of Software is subject to Agilent Technologies’ standard commercial license
terms, and non-DOD Departments and Agencies of the U.S. Government will receive no
greater than Restricted Rights as defined in FAR 52.227-19(c)(1-2) (June 1987). U.S.
Government users will receive no greater than Limited Rights as defined in FAR
52.227-14 (June 1987) or DFAR 252.227-7015 (b)(2) (November 1995), as applicable in
any technical data.

iii
Safety Notes
The following safety notes are used throughout this document. Familiarize yourself
with each of these notes and its meaning before performing any of the procedures in
this document.
WARNING Warning denotes a hazard. It calls attention to a procedure
which, if not correctly performed or adhered to, could result in
injury or loss of life. Do not proceed beyond a warning note
until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.
CAUTION Caution denotes a hazard. It calls attention to a procedure that, if not
correctly performed or adhered to, could result in damage to or
destruction of the instrument. Do not proceed beyond a caution sign
until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.
Statement of Compliance
This instrument has been designed and tested in accordance with IEC Publication 1010, Safety
Requirements for Electronic Measuring Apparatus, and has been supplied in a safe condition. The
instruction documentation contains information and warnings which must be followed by the user to
ensure safe operation and to maintain the instrument in a safe condition.
Definitions
• Specifications describe the performance of parameters covered by the product warranty
(temperature –0 to 55 °C, unless otherwise noted.)
•Typical describes additional product performance information that is not covered by the
product warranty. It is performance beyond specification that 80% of the units exhibit
with a 95% confidence level over the temperature range 20 to 30 °C. Typical
performance does not include measurement uncertainty.
•Nominal values indicate expected performance or describe product performance that is
useful in the application of the product, but is not covered by the product warranty.

iv

Contents
Contents-1
1. Instrument Description
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Guaranteed Performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Typical Performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Electrical Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Environmental Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Operating Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Non-Operating Storage Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
General Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Weight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Cabinet Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Miscellaneous Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Available Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
UK6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Rack Ear Mounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Cleaning and Shipping Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
2. Installation
Checking the Shipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Recommended Additional Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Familiarization with Safety Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Electrical Preparations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Environmental Preparations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Test Set Familiarization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Rear Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Setting the GPIB Address of the Test Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Connecting and Turning on the Test Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
3. Using the Network Analyzer to Control the Test Set
Preparing the Analyzer to Control the Test Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
How to Send a Manual Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Common Errors in Manual Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
A List of GPIB Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Restoring the Analyzer to its Normal Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Disaster Recovery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13

Contents-2
Malfunctioning Command Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Malfunctioning Network Analyzer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
4. Calibrating the Network Analyzer
Performing the Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Renaming the Calibration File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Recalling and Examining Calibrations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
How to Recall a Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Method 1. Calibration File Is Not On “Quick Recall” List. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Method 2. Calibration File Is On “Quick Recall” List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16
How to Turn a Calibration On and Off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16
How to Examine the Properties of a Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18
5. Performance Verification
Setting Test Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Test Strategy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Insertion Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Return Loss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Crosstalk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Setting Up Limit Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Limit Testing for Insertion Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Recalling the Calibration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Specifying Measurement Type, Title, and Scaling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Setting Up the Limit Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Turning On Limit Lines and Limit Testing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Saving the Limit Test File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Checking the Limit Test File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Limit Testing for Return Loss (Port Active) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Recalling the Calibration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Specifying Measurement Type, Title, and Scaling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Setting Up the Limit Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Turning On Limit Lines and Limit Testing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Saving the Limit Test File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Checking the Limit Test File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Limit Testing for Return Loss (Port Off) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Recalling the “Port Active” Limit Test File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Specifying the Title. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Setting Up the Limit Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Saving the Limit Test File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Recalling the Limit Test File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25

Contents
Contents-3
Limit Testing for Crosstalk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Specifying Output Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Specifying IF Bandwidth and Averaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Specifying Measurement Type, Title, and Scaling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-32
Setting Up the Limit Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Turning On Limit Lines and Limit Testing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Saving the Limit Test File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Recalling the Limit Test File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Verifying Return Loss and Insertion Loss Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-36
Measurements Using The Reflection Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-36
Measurements Using The Transmission Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Verifying Crosstalk Specs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
6. Measuring Multiport Devices
Calibrating the Test System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
7. Advanced Topics
Using an External Computer to Control the Test Set. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
GPIB Queries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
Box Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Switch Count . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Using Rocky Mountain Basic (RMB). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Using Quick Basic or Visual Basic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Using HPVEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Using National Instruments VISA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Using the Control Lines Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Control Line Commands for 9-Pin Connector:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Suggested External Circuitry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
8. Service
Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Theory of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
System Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
A1 Power Supply Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
A2 Controller and A3 Switch Driver Board Theory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
A4 Front Panel Display Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4

Contents-4
Connector Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
General Troubleshooting Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Troubleshooting Power Supply Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Troubleshooting the Front Panel Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Troubleshooting the Controller and Switch Driver Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
List of Replaceable Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7
9. Safety and Regulatory Information
Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Warnings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Instrument Markings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Regulatory Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Statement of Compliance with IEC 1010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Declaration of Compliance with German Noise Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
10. Contacting Agilent
Contacting Agilent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2

Agilent Technologies Z5623A Option H48 1-1
1 Instrument Description
This chapter contains the following sections:
•Overview
•Specifications
•Electrical Requirements
•Environmental Requirements
•General Characteristics
•Available Options
•Cleaning and Shipping Instructions

1-2 Agilent Technologies Z5623A Option H48
Instrument Description
Overview
Overview
The Agilent Z5623A Option H48 Multiport Test Set is designed for use
with 50 ΩNetwork Analyzers such as the Agilent PNA Series (Models
E8356A, E8357A, and E8358A). Figure 1-1 shows a typical equipment
setup.
The test set reduces the time required to test multiport devices having
up to eight ports (distribution amplifiers, taps, switches, couplers, etc.).
It does this by reducing the number of device reconnects the operator
must perform. The test set can connect each of its test ports to any of
the following:
• Reflection Port
• Transmission Port
• 50 Ωtermination internal to the test set.
Switching is performed with mechanical switches.
The test set is controlled by means of its GPIB interface. The control
can be performed either by a PNA Series network analyzer or by an
external computer.
NOTE This User's and Service Guide documents the use of the test set with an
Agilent E8358A network analyzer.
Figure 1-1 Typical Equipment Setup
Network Analyzer
Port 1 Port 2
Reflection
Port
Transmission
Port
Z5623A Option H48
12345678
Test Ports
RF Cables