The linearity correction of the MA24106A is compared to a thermal power sensor, which has very good inherent linearity over a power range of about –20 to +10 dBm. For this reason, the MA24106A will be compared to the thermal sensor in two ranges, keeping the power levels to the thermal sensor in the range of –17 dBm to +5 dBm, while the power to the MA24106A will vary from about –26 dBm to about +14 dBm.
a. Connect the reference power sensor to the reference power meter using the appropriate cables.
b. Connect the USB cable between the personal computer with the PowerXpert application installed and the MA24106A power sensor under test.
c. Launch the PowerXpert application.
d. Turn the power on to all of the instruments and allow them to warm up for the amount of time specified in the instrument’s respective manuals.
e. Reset or Preset all of the instruments.
f. Configure the reference meter and sensor to measure a CW signal.
g. Perform a sensor Zero and a 1 mW reference calibration on the reference sensor and meter per the manufacturer’s instructions.
h. Perform a low-level Zero of the MA24106A by disconnecting the sensor from the synthesizer, click the Zero button in the PowerXpert application, and wait for the Zeroing message to close.
i. Connect the power splitter to the output of the synthesizer and connect the 10 dB attenuator to one of the splitter outputs.
j. Connect an N(f) to K adapter to each power sensor.
k. Connect the reference sensor and adapter to the 10 dB attenuator.
l. Connect the MA24106A and adapter to the other splitter output.
m. Set the synthesizer to 50 MHz and +20 dBm.
n. Increase averaging by entering “16” in the PowerXpert application, and then click Apply above settings.
Linearity Test Setup 1
Index
Description
1
Reference Power Meter
2
Reference Power Sensor
3
K to N Adapter (if required)
4
Attenuator
5
Power Splitter
6
K to N Adapter (if required)
7
PC with Anritsu PowerXpert Application
8
Synthesizer
2. Apply the Cal factor to the reference sensor per the manufacturer’s procedure.
3. Apply the Cal factor to the MA24106A by entering the frequency (in GHz) in the PowerXpert application, and then click Apply above settings.
4. Turn Off the synthesizer’s RF output and perform a low-level Zero of both the Reference sensor and the MA24106A.
5. Turn On the synthesizer’s RF output.
6. Record data for the first 20 dB range as follows:
e. Repeat the measurement for synthesizer output levels of +10, +5, and 0 dBm.
Note
The MA24106A power measured at 0 dBm will be used in Step 7e, below.
7. Set up the test for the second 20 dB range as follows:
a. Remove the 10 dB attenuator from in between the reference sensor and splitter and connect the reference sensor directly to the splitter.
b. Remove the MA24106A from the splitter and connect the 10 dB attenuator between the splitter and the MA24106A power sensor (see Figure: Linearity Test Setup 2).
c. Turn Off the synthesizer’s RF output and perform a low-level Zero of both the Reference sensor and the MA24106A.
d. Turn On the synthesizer’s RF output.
Linearity Test Setup 2
Index
Description
1
Reference Power Meter
2
Reference Power Sensor
3
K to N Adapter (if required)
4
Power Splitter
5
Attenuator
6
K to N Adapter (if required)
7
PC with Anritsu PowerXpert Application
8
Synthesizer
e. Set the synthesizer output level to +10 dBm and then adjust it until the sensor/meter under test reads as close as possible to the value obtained above in Step 6e.
9. Perform the calculations and operation check as follows:
a. Subtract the Reference Power Measurement of row 5 from the Reference Power Measurement of row 6. Record this value in the Correction column of rows 1 through 5.
Note
The Correction column of rows 1 through 5 should all have the same value. The Correction column of rows 6 through 10 have values of 0.
b. Add the Reference Power Measurement and Correction values of row 1 and record the result in the Corrected Reference Power Measurement column of row 1.
d. Subtract the MA24106A Measurement of row 1 from the Corrected Reference Power Measurement of row 1 and record the result in the Difference Calculation column of row 1.
f. Find the largest (most positive) value in the Difference Calculation column and record this value next to the word Max in row 11.
g. Find the smallest (least positive or most negative) value in the Difference Calculation column and record this value next to the word Min in row 12.
h. Subtract the Min value from Step 9g from the Max value from Step 9f and record the result next to the word Delta in row 13.
i. The Delta result should be less than 0.3 dB. If it is larger, contact Anritsu customer service.
10. Repeat the entire measurement and calculations with synthesizer frequency settings of 2 GHz, 4 GHz, and 6 GHz.
Measurement Results (2 GHz)
Row #
Synthesizer Power Level Setting (dBm)
Attenuation in Reference Arm (dB)
A
Reference Power Measurement (dBm)
B = (A6–A5)
Correction (dB)
C = (A+B) Corrected Reference Power Measurement (dB)
