VectorStar™ MS464xB Series Microwave Vector Network Analyzer Operation Manual : Initial Checkout Procedures : System Noise Floor Test
 
System Noise Floor Test
Overview
This test verifies that System Noise Floor performance will not significantly affect the accuracy of subsequent measurements. Measurement calibration of the system is not required for this test. This test requires that you press specified front panel keys, or use a mouse to make choices from the displayed menu(s). The key and menu selections used in this test are shown below. The test below is valid for all models and option combinations.
Procedure
Connect Test Ports and Preset
1. Connect Test Ports 1 and 2 together using a high quality through line.
2. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Utilities | System. The right side SYSTEM menu appears.
a. Click on Setup. The SETUP menu appears.
b. Click on Preset Setup. The PRESET SETUP menu appears.
c. Select Default.
3. Reset the VNA using the front panel Preset Key.
Check Frequency and Set Power
4. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Channel | Frequency. The right side FREQUENCY menu appears.
a. Observe that the displayed FREQUENCY menu values.
b. Note that the Start and Stop values are the low-end and high-end frequencies.
5. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Channel | Averaging. The right side AVERAGING menu appears.
a. Click on the Averaging Factor button. On the displayed field toolbar, enter 40. Click the X at the end of the toolbar to close it.
b. Click on the Averaging button and toggle to ON.
Check Frequency Sub-Bands
6. Repeat the steps below for only the frequency sub-bands that fall within the START and STOP limits of your system configuration.
Frequency Sub-Bands within Start and Stop System Limits 
Sub-Band
Model Number Applicability
Start and Stop Frequency
Band 1
All instrument models.
0.07 MHz to 0.3 MHz
Band 2
All instrument models.
0.3 MHz to 2 MHz
Band 3
All instrument models.
0.3 MHz to 2 MHz
Band 4
All instrument models.
0.01 GHz to 2.5 GHz
Band 5
Depends on instrument model.
MS4642B: 2.5 GHz to 20 GHz
MS4644B: 2.5 GHz to 40 GHz
MS4645B: 2.5 GHz to 38 GHz
MS4647B: 2.5 GHz to 38 GHz
Band 6
Applies only to MS4645B and MS4647B.
38 GHz to 50 GHz
Band 7
Applies only to MS4647B.
50 GHz to 65 GHz
Band 8
Applies only to MS4647B.
65 GHz to 67 GHz
Band 9
Applies only to MS4647B.
67 GHz to 70 GHz
Set Channel
7. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Channel | Frequency.
a. The right side FREQUENCY menu appears.
b. Set the START and STOP frequencies for the sub-band to be verified.
8. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Channel | Power.
a. The right side POWER menu appears.
b. Click Port 1 Power, and on the field toolbar that appears, enter –10 dBm.
9. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Channel | Averaging.
a. The right side AVERAGING menu appears.
b. Click and on the toolbar that appears, enter 10 Hz.
Set Traces
10. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Trace | Trace Menu. The right side TRACE menu appears.
a. Click # of Traces button, and on the field toolbar that appears, enter 2.
b. Click on Trace Layout. The right side TRACE LAYOUT menu appears.
c. Select the 2 vertically stacked horizontal rectangle display configuration (third button from top).
Select Upper Trace TR1
11. Select the upper LCD channel by clicking on Tr1 S11 Refl Smith Imped.
The trace name has additional resolution and unit information appended to the displayed label.
12. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Trace | Display. The right side DISPLAY menu appears.
a. Click Trace Format button. The TRACE FORMAT menu appears.
b. Select Log Mag.
13. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Trace | Response.
a. The right side RESPONSE menu appears.
b. Click S21.
14. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Trace | Display.
a. The right-side DISPLAY menu appears.
b. Click on the View Trace button, the right-side VIEW TRACE menu appears.
c. After at least one complete forward and reverse sweep has occurred, select the Store Data to Memory button.
d. On the VIEW TRACE menu, the Data, Memory, Data & Memory, Data, Memory Math, and Off buttons become available.
e. Select the Data, Memory Math button.
Select Lower Trace TR2
15. Select the lower LCD channel by clicking on Tr2 S12 Trans Log M+P.
The trace name has additional resolution and unit information appended to the displayed label.
16. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Trace | Display.
a. The right side DISPLAY menu appears.
b. Click Trace Format button. The TRACE FORMAT menu appears.
c. Select Log Mag.
17. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Trace | Response.
a. The right side RESPONSE menu appears.
b. Click S12.
18. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Trace | Display.
a. The right-side DISPLAY menu appears.
b. Click on the View Trace button, the right-side VIEW TRACE menu appears.
c. After at least one complete forward and reverse sweep has occurred, select the Store Data to Memory button.
d. On the VIEW TRACE menu, the Data, Memory, Data & Memory, Data, Memory Math, and Off buttons become available.
e. Select the Data, Memory Math button.
Reverse Terminations and Test Port Cable
19. Disconnect the Test Port cable from Port 1.
20. Place terminations on Port 1 and the Test Port cable connected to Port 2.
21. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Channel | Averaging.
a. The right side AVERAGING menu appears.
b. Click and on the toolbar that appears, enter 1 (one) Hz.
Select Upper Trace TR1
22. Select the upper LCD channel by clicking on Tr1 S21 Trans Log M+P.
The trace name has additional resolution and unit information appended to the displayed label.
23. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Trace | Scale.
a. The right-side SCALE menu appears.
b. Click on the Reference Value button and, on the field toolbar that appears, enter –70 dB.
c. Click on the Reference Position button and, on the field toolbar that appears, enter 8.
24. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Trace | Display.
a. The right side DISPLAY menu appears.
b. Click the Trace Limit Lines button. The LIMIT menu appears.
c. Click on Limit Line and toggle to ON.
d. Click on the Edit Limit Line button. The EDIT LIMIT LINE menu appears on the right, and the LIMIT LINE TABLEAU appears at the bottom of the screen.
e. Click the Add button and use the table below to enter limit-line data for the sub-band.
Sub-Band Limit Line Data - X Offset and Y Offset Remain Blank 
Sub-Band
X1 to X2
Standard VNAs
Y1 and Y2
VNAs with
Option 51
Y1 and Y2
VNAs with
Option 6x
Y1 and Y2
Band 1
0.07 MHz to 0.3 MHz
–65 dB
–64 dB
–63 dB
Band 2
0.3 MHz to 2 MHz
–82 dB
–81 dB
–80 dB
Band 3
2 MHz to 10 MHz
–95 dB
–94 dB
–93 dB
Band 4
0.01 GHz to 2.5 GHz
–100 dB
–98 dB
–94 dB
Band 5
Depends on the instrument model:
MS4642B: 2.5 to 20 GHz
MS4644B: 2.5 to 40 GHz
MS4645B: 2.5 to 38 GHz
MS4647B: 2.5 to 38 GHz
–100 dB
–97 dB
–93 dB
Band 6
Applies only to MS4645B and MS4647B:
38 GHz to 50 GHz
–100 dB
–96 dB
–93 dB
Band 7
Applies only to MS4647B:
50 GHz to 65 GHz
–97 dB
–93 dB
–91 dB
Band 8
Applies only to MS4647B:
65 GHz to 67 GHz
–95 dB
–90 dB
–86 dB
Band 9
Applies only to MS4647B:
67 GHz to 70 GHz
–93 dB
–87 dB
–84 dB
25. When all sub-band data is entered, at the bottom of the right side menu, click Back to return to the LIMIT menu.
26. After at least one complete forward and reverse sweep has occurred, verify that trace data is below the limit line.
Select Lower Trace (TR2)
27. Select the lower LCD channel by clicking on Tr2 S12 Trans Log M+P.
The trace name has additional resolution and unit information appended to the displayed label.
28. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Trace | Scale.
a. The right-side SCALE menu appears.
b. Click on the Reference Value button and, on the field toolbar that appears, enter –70 dB.
c. Click on the Reference Position button and, on the field toolbar that appears, enter 8.
29. At the top of the display, select MENU BAR | Trace | Display.
a. The right side DISPLAY menu appears.
b. Click the Trace Limit Lines button. The LIMIT menu appears.
c. Click on Limit Line and toggle to ON.
d. Click on the Edit Limit Line button. The EDIT LIMIT LINE menu appears on the right, and the LIMIT LINE TABLEAU appears at the bottom of the screen.
30. Click the Add button and use the table below to enter limit line data for the sub-band:
Sub-Band Limit Line Data - X Offset and Y Offset Remain Blank
Sub-Band
X1 to X2
Standard
Y1 and Y2
Option 51
Y1 and Y2
Option 6x
Y1 and Y2
Band 1
0.07 MHz to 0.3 MHz
–65 dB
–64 dB
–63 dB
Band 2
0.3 MHz to 2 MHz
–82 dB
–81 dB
–80 dB
Band 3
2 MHz to 10 MHz
–95 dB
–94 dB
–93 dB
Band 4
0.01 GHz to 2.5 GHz
–100 dB
–98 dB
–94 dB
Band 5
MS4642B: 2.5 GHz to 20 GHz
MS4644B: 2.5 GHz to 40 GHz
MS4647B: 2.5 GHz to 38 GHz
–100 dB
–97 dB
–93 dB
Band 6
Applies only to MS4645B and MS4645B:
38 GHz to 50 GHz
–100 dB
–96 dB
–93 dB
Band 7
Applies only to MS4647B:
50 GHz to 65 GHz
–97 dB
–93 dB
–91 dB
Band 8
Applies only to MS4647B:
65 GHz to 67 GHz
–95 dB
–90 dB
–86 dB
Band 9
Applies only to MS4647B:
67 GHz to 70 GHz
–93 dB
–87 dB
–84 dB
31. When all sub-band data is entered, at the bottom of the right side menu, click Back to return to the LIMIT menu.
32. After at least one complete forward and reverse sweep has occurred, verify that trace data is below the limit line.
Repeat for Each Sub-Band
33. Return to section Check Frequency Sub-Bands above and repeat Step 6 through Step 32 for the next sub-band.