Contec VNA-300M-PCI User manual

PC-HELPER
Network Analyzer Bord for PCI
VNA-300M-PCI
User’s Guide
CONTEC CO.,LTD.

VNA-300M-PCI i
Check Your Package
Thank you for purchasing the CONTEC product.
The product consists of the items listed below.
Check, with the following list, that your package is complete. If you discover damaged or missing
items, contact your retailer.
Product Configuration List
- Board [VNA-300M-PCI] …1
- First step guide …1
- CD-ROM *1 [API-PAC(W32)] …1
*1 The CD-ROM contains the driver software and User’s Guide (this guide)
Board
CD-ROM
[API-PAC(W32)]
First step guide

ii VNA-300M-PCI
Copyright
Copyright 2014 CONTEC CO., LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
No part of this document may be copied or reproduced in any form by any means without prior written
consent of CONTEC CO., LTD.
CONTEC CO., LTD. makes no commitment to update or keep current the information contained in this
document. The information in this document is subject to change without notice.
All relevant issues have been considered in the preparation of this document. Should you notice an
omission or any questionable item in this document, please feel free to notify CONTEC CO., LTD.
Regardless of the foregoing statement, CONTEC assumes no responsibility for any errors that may
appear in this document or for results obtained by the user as a result of using this product.
Trademarks
Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other brand and product names are
trademarks of their respective holder.

VNA-300M-PCI iii
Table of Contents
Check Your Package ............................................................................................................................i
Copyright ............................................................................................................................................ii
Trademarks..........................................................................................................................................ii
Table of Contents...............................................................................................................................iii
1. INTRODUCTION 1
About the Product ............................................................................................................................... 1
Features ........................................................................................................................................ 1
Support Software.......................................................................................................................... 3
Cable & Connector (Option)........................................................................................................ 3
Customer Support................................................................................................................................ 4
Web Site....................................................................................................................................... 4
Limited Three-Years Warranty........................................................................................................... 4
How to Obtain Service........................................................................................................................ 4
Liability............................................................................................................................................... 4
Safety Precautions............................................................................................................................... 5
Safety Information ....................................................................................................................... 5
Handling Precautions ................................................................................................................... 5
Environment................................................................................................................................. 7
Inspection..................................................................................................................................... 7
Storage ......................................................................................................................................... 7
Disposal........................................................................................................................................ 7
2. SETUP 9
What is Setup?..................................................................................................................................... 9
Using the Board under Windows Using the Driver Library API-PAC(W32).............................. 9
Step 1 Installing the Software ........................................................................................................... 10
Starting the Install Program........................................................................................................ 10
Step 2 Setting the Hardware.............................................................................................................. 12
Parts of the Board and Factory Defaults .................................................................................... 12
Setting the Board ID................................................................................................................... 13
Mode switch (SW2) ................................................................................................................... 13
LED indicator.................................................................................................................................... 14
Plugging the Board..................................................................................................................... 15
Step 3 Installing the Hardware.......................................................................................................... 17
Turning on the PC ...................................................................................................................... 17
When Using the API-VNA(WDM)................................................................................................ 17
Step 4 Checking and Changing the Initialization Setup.................................................................... 18
Step 5 Checking Operations with the Front Panel Software ............................................................. 20

iv VNA-300M-PCI
What is the front panel software?............................................................................................... 20
Operating the Front Panel Software ........................................................................................... 20
Setup Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................... 22
Symptoms and Actions............................................................................................................... 22
If your problem cannot be resolved............................................................................................ 22
3. EXTERNAL CONNECTION 23
How to connect the connectors .........................................................................................................23
Connector shape ......................................................................................................................... 23
Connector Pin Assignment......................................................................................................... 24
Connecting to the Device under Test ................................................................................................25
Transmission Measurement........................................................................................................ 25
Transmission Measurement (When Using a Pi-network Jig)..................................................... 26
Reflection Measurement............................................................................................................. 27
Connecting the External Trigger Input Signal................................................................................... 28
Connecting the Digital I/O Signals ................................................................................................... 29
Connecting the Reference Clock Input Signal ..................................................................................30
4. FUNCTIONS 31
Error Compensation Function ........................................................................................................... 31
Normalize................................................................................................................................... 31
Transmission Full Calibration.................................................................................................... 31
Reflection Calibration ................................................................................................................ 32
Measurement Procedure Overview ................................................................................................... 33
1．Board Initial Settings............................................................................................................ 34
2．Initialization ......................................................................................................................... 34
3．Measurement Condition Settings .........................................................................................34
4．Starting/Stopping Operation................................................................................................. 34
5．Status/Data Acquisition........................................................................................................ 34
6．End Processing ..................................................................................................................... 34
5. ABOUT SOFTWARE 35
CD-ROM Directory Structure........................................................................................................... 35
About Software for Windows............................................................................................................ 36
When using the API-VNA(WDM).................................................................................................... 37
Accessing the Help File.............................................................................................................. 37
Using Sample Programs ............................................................................................................. 38
Uninstalling the Driver Libraries ......................................................................................................39
6. ABOUT HARDWARE 43
Hardware specification......................................................................................................................43

VNA-300M-PCI v
Block Diagram .................................................................................................................................. 46
Timing for Control Signal................................................................................................................. 47
Timing for Control Signal of Measurement function........................................................................ 47

vi VNA-300M-PCI

1. Introduction
VNA-300M-PCI 1
1. Introduction
About the Product
This product is a vector network analyzer board that supports PCI and that can perform characteristic evaluations of
high-frequency devices.
This product can perform measurements in the 10kHz to 300MHz range, which makes it possible to use this product in
a wide range of electrical characteristic measurements such as those of crystal oscillators and ceramic resonators.
Compared to inspection system composed of a combination of a conventional bench-top type measuring instrument
and a computer that is used to collect and analyze data, this product can be embedded in the computer that is used to
collect, record, and analyze data, which miniaturizes and reduces the cost of the inspection system.
An application program designed as a measuring instrument that can immediately be used as a Windows API for
program development and as a network analyzer is included as standard.
This product also supports connections to pi-network jigs for measurements of crystal oscillators and can be used to
perform characteristic evaluations from low levels to high levels.
Features
Capable of performing characteristic evaluations in the 10kHz to 300MHz range
This product can perform measurements of electronic devices such as crystal oscillators and ceramic resonators in the
10kHz to 300MHz range.
Supports pi-network jigs
You can connect pi-network jigs, which are used in measurements such as those of crystal oscillators, to this product.
This product supports three-term calibration, which enables you to use pi-network jigs to perform measurements at
high frequencies and with high accuracy.
Miniaturizes and reduces the cost of inspection system
By using this product with a computer that is running Windows, you can miniaturize and reduce the cost of your
automatic inspection system.
Includes the front panel software, which
can immediately be used as a network
analyzer
The front panel software, which is designed
as a bench-top type measuring instrument, is
included with this product. This enables you
to immediately use the product without
writing any programs. The front panel
software has functions for diagnosing the
status of the board and device drivers and for
generating reports.

1. Introduction
2VNA-300M-PCI
Reference clock input can be used to synchronize the product with external device.
You can apply a reference clock (10MHz) signal to the external input. By using an external reference clock, you can
improve the accuracy of the frequency and synchronize the product with other measuring instruments.
Can perform calculation processing that does not rely on the processing speed of the computer.
Calculations of measured data are performed by the CPU on the circuit board, so measurements can be performed
without relying on the processing speed of the computer.
Uses an SMA connector for the measurement terminal.
This product uses an SMA connector for its measurement terminal, which makes it easy to connect test devices.
Equipped with a trigger input terminal
You can start measurements by applying external signals to the trigger input terminal. This terminal can also be used
as a 1-bit general I/O terminal. Use the software to switch the terminal's function.
Function for saving and loading calibration data
You can save and load calibration data, which is used to compensate for errors. When you are performing
measurements with the same measurement conditions, you can load and use calibration data that has been saved in
advance.
API-PAC (W32) driver library, which supports Windows, included
A driver library in the form of Windows API functions is included to enable program development.

1. Introduction
VNA-300M-PCI 3
Support Software
You should use CONTEC support software according to your purpose and development environment.
Windows version of digitizer driver API-VNA(WDM)
[Stored on the bundled CD-ROM driver library API-PAC(W32)]
The API-VNA(WDM) is the Windows version driver library software that provides products in the form of Win32 API
functions (DLL). Various sample programs such as Visual Basic and Visual C++, etc is provided.
Windows version of application software Front panel software
[Stored on the bundled CD-ROM driver library API-PAC(W32)]
The front panel software is an application that can be used immediately as a network analyzer. This software also has a
function for diagnosing the status of the board and drivers. Also, you can use the "Diagnosis Report" function to create
a report that includes the driver settings, the presence or absence of the board, the I/O status, and the interrupt status.
< Operating environment >
OS Windows 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, Server 2003
Adaptation language Visual Basic, Visual C++, Visual C#
For more details on the supported OS, applicable language and how to download the updated version, please visit the
CONTEC’s Web site (http://www.contec.com/apipac/).
Cable & Connector (Option)
< For analog I/O >
One Side BNC Medium Curly Clip : BNC-W60 (0.6m)
BNC Cable : BNC-B100 (1m)
: BNC-B200 (2m)
: BNC-B300 (3m)