Elf: computer automation and error correction for a microwave network analyzer

Abstract

A6straet-A microwave measurement system has been developed which combines a personal computer (PC) and a conventional vector network analyzer to yield a full complex-error-corrected automatic network analyzer. The system consists of a Hewlett-Packard HP 8410C network analyzer, an HP 8350B sweep oscillator, and an IBM PC. A 3000-line computer program, called Elf, runs on the PC performing calibration and measurement algorithms and providing a flexible, menu-oriented user interface. The system, when calibrated, achieves a worst-case measurement error vector of magnitude 5 0.02 for transmission and reflection coefficient measurements over the 2-to 12.4-GHz frequency range and has a measurement speed of three frequency points/s. Elf provides an inexpensive method for upgrading the HP 8410 to achieve the high accuracy of an automatic network analyzer.