VECTOR NETWORK ANALYZER SERIES S100 Ballmann Electronica GmbH, D Marloffstein

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1 VECTOR NETWORK ANALYZER SERIES S100 For more than 10 years, Ballmann stands as a synonyme for multiport network analysis. Established in 1985, the company started with the famous WBB68K scalar network analyzer system, the first network analyzer with colour display and built in floppy disk for storage of measurement setups and data. Built on a tradition of innovation, dependability and performance, Ballmann Electronica GmbH is uniquely positioned to offer the products, service and assistance your company needs to meet the challenges of the exploding worldwide telecommunication market. THE S100 NETWORK ANALYZER SYSTEM The Ballmann S100 vector network analyzer family is the ideal choice for testing today s high precision components and devices in research, development and production. As the specifications and requirements are increasing from year to year, the S100 system offers high speed, greatest flexibility and an outstanding productivity. Consisting of several models with 3 internal or up to 12 external test ports, the S100 network analyzer family offers the best solution for nearly every measurement task. Combining the components of a vector network analyzer system and a high speed PC in one single housing makes the complete system fitting on every desk. The firmware of the S100 vector analyzer system runs as a 32-Bit application under the well known operating systems Windows 95 or Windows NT and comes with the state of the art user interface common to modern Windows applications plus a transparent softkey menu system for fully mouseless control. Data can be exchanged in real time with other applications running simultaneously on the built in PC via ActiveX and DCOM. Control the analyzer from a test program, written in Visual Basic, Delphi or another programming language supporting ActiveX, retrieve the measured data from the analyzer program, perform some processing and send the results via LAN to a quality management server in real time - without the use of an external computer and time consuming GPIB data transfer. Or retrieve the measured data by an Excel Macro, fill the results into a worksheet, combine it with additional data and print the result with your company s label. Or simply hold all the analyzer setups for a great number of devices under test on the built in harddisk. The capabilities of the system are only limited by your imagination.

2 THE S104 is the most versatile member of the S100 vector network analyzer family. Equipped with the superior synthesizing system and the high dynamic range receiver section which are common to all members of the S100 family, the S104 comes with four receiving IF-channels made available through connectors at the front panel for connection of the external test heads. Each combination of test heads can be attached to the base unit, ranging from two bridges for full-two-port measurements over one bridge and two transmission heads to perform the measurement of a two-path diplexer filter to four transmission heads to connect external coupler devices or to make absolute power measurements. The heads can easily be replaced by units with different connector type or impedance. In the case of a breakdown of one test head only the faulty unit has to be replaced, an increase of availability and a reduction of costs. The analyzer software supports a number of calibration methodes like the well known LMSO (SOLT), the high accurate LRL (TRL) and the Ballmann specific TransferLMSO, which increases the system directivity to more than 55dB without using new calibration standards. Up to 100,000 measuring points per sweep and a superior dynamic range of about 130dB in combination with the external test heads makes the S104 an ideal choice for cable tests. The S104 can be expanded to 6 or 12 test ports by the optional cascadable switching matrix STM. THE S106 offers identical features like the S104 but expands the four IF-channels internally by a solid state switching matrix to six channels made available through connectors at the front and rear panel of the base unit. Up to three bridges or six transmission heads or any other combination of test heads can be connected to the S106, making the measurement of all nine S-parameters of a three port device as easy to handle as a conventional two port measurement. The analyzer software supports an unique multiport error correction algorithm, which increases the accuracy of the system drastically. This correction algorithm needs no special calibration standards, it works with all calibration methodes supported by the S104. THE S130 is the newest member of the S100 vector network analyzer family. Instead of using external test heads, the S130 integrates three double bridges into the base unit. Equipped with a nouvelle solid state switching technology, the S130 offers the highest speed of all members of the S100 analyzer family. All nine S-parameters of a three port device are acquired and displayed with full error correction in 300ms (100 points, 7.2 khz IF), giving an update rate of more than three frames per second. THE SOFTWARE of the S100 vector network analyzer family runs as 32-bit application under the well known operating systems Windows 95 or Windows NT. Launched on a PC without the network analyzer hardware connected, the software remains fully operable. It can be used to simulate and test user written control programs or to evaluate measured data stored onto disk by a member of the S100 family or a program or device supporting one of the various data formats offered by the S100 software. If the computer is equipped with a GPIB interface card, the software controls external network analyzers like the HP8753, the Anritsu VNA360 or the Rohde&Schwarz ZVRx, making them software compatible to the network analyzers of the S100 family. VECTOR NETWORK ANALYZER SERIES S100 2

3 ADVANTAGES AND BENEFITS Small external test heads including the complete RF receiving section of the network analyzer increase the accuracy of the measurements drastically by eliminating errors generated by test cables. High dynamic range of > 130dB (IF-Bandwidth 14Hz). The fundamental wave superheterodyne receiving system increases the dynamic range by more than 20 db compared to conventional systems working with a sampling receiver. The patented double bridge system isolates reference and measurement channel and offers excellent directivity and match with very flat response. Up to twelve test heads can be connected to the S100 network analyzer system. The genuine error correction algorithm invented by Ballmann removes the errors terms of all test ports simultaneous and makes the multiport network analysis an easy to handle task. The AutoCal assistant simplifies the calibration of multiport environments and eliminates redundant calibration steps. Compatible calibration methodes LMSO (SOLT) and MSO for comparable results. LRL (TRL) and TransferLMSO increase directivity and accuracy drastically. Built in support for controlling a wafer prober or external AutoCal box during calibration or controlling an external switch matrix to increase the number of ports. Two fully independent synthesized signal sources for stimulation and receiption gives better frequency accuracy and high stability if testing electrically long devices. The reference mixing option RFO adds a third synthesizer combined with reference mixer and allows the measurement of phase and group delay through frequency converting devices. Very short acquisition time of 125µs/point using all four channels simultaneously offers highest speed for alignment procedures (18 updates/second for full corrected S11, S21 and S31 of a diplexer filter). 100,000 points per sweep and the time domain functions make the S100 system extremely suitable for cable measurement. The true multiport capabilities with full error correction makes the S100 system an ideal choice for crosstalk measurements of multi wire cables. Up to 32 free configurable display channels per measurement window give all the information needed for a device without reducing the number of measurement points. The number of windows is virtually unlimited. Limit lines with GO/NOGO-Test, search and tracking functions, bandwidth search, average, smoothing etc. on a per channel basis. Real time data exchange to other applications via ActiveX and DCOM. User programmable through any programming language which supports ActiveX automation. Import and export of measurement data on file basis supporting file formats like Touchstone s2p or Excel csv. Real time embedding/deembedding of virtual devices described by their S-parameters. Fully programmable via GPIB. Supports standard GPIBcards like National Instruments PCII/PCIIA or Keithley KPC488 or compatible. VECTOR NETWORK ANALYZER SERIES S100 3

4 APPLICATIONS Alignment of a GSM base station diplexer filter with the S130. The diplexer filter is connected to the ports P1 to P3. The analyzer display shows S11, S22, S33, S21 and S31 with additional limit lines and some frequency markers. The refresh rate of the full multiport calibrated system is 3 frames per second. The refresh rate exceeds 18 frames per second, if only S11, S21 and S31 are measured (Ymode). Final test of the receiving section of a GSM base station. The S104 is expanded to twelve test ports by two STM switch matrix units. The test program performing the test steps is written in Visual Basic, runs on the internal PC of the network analyzer and controls the analyzer via ActiveX. The time for testing one device takes under 50 seconds compared to more than two hours when using the conventional two port approach. Measurement of return and insertion loss of a cable. The external test heads of the S104 are connected directly to both ends of the cable. The cable is measured with a sweep length of points, giving an ultimate high resolution for the return loss values. Interaction between the network analyzer and a simulation program. The analyzer measures the transmission and return loss of one path of a GSM diplexer filter. The data is exported as Touchstone s2p file and processed by the Serenade 7.0 simulator running on the network analyzer s PC. VECTOR NETWORK ANALYZER SERIES S100 4

5 Technical Data Generator Section Frequency range 10 khz MHz Span MHz Resolution 2 Hz Frequency accuracy 1 ppm typical Phase Noise < 6.9 MHz -115 dbc/hz < 200 MHz -105 dbc/hz < 1800 MHz -95 dbc/hz < 3000 MHz -85 dbc/hz Generator return loss 25 db 0 dbm (S104) 17 db 0 dbm (S130) Output level +10 dbm dbm (S104) +20 dbm dbm (OPT20) dbm (S130) Harmonics -40 dbc max. -45 dbc typ. Spurious < -60 dbc (mixer related) Impedance 50Ω N-type female Measurement time/point 125 µs ms Number of points/sweep ,000 Sweep modes lin., log., CW, frequency list, time domain stimulus Frequency list max segments Receiver Section Input channels Dynamic range Offset receiver/stimulus IF-frequency IF-bandwidth Test Heads 4 real time (S104) 6 to 4 real time (S106) 12 real time (S112) 6 to 4 internal (S130) refer to test head data 0 to ± MHz khz 14 Hz khz in octave steps External Double Bridges DBK Ω, 13 db, +10 dbm DBK Ω, 13 db, +4 dbm DBK Ω, 13 db, +7 dbm DBK Ω, 14 db, +10 dbm DBK Ω, 14 db, +4 dbm DBK Ω sym., 19 db, +10 dbm Directivity (raw) 36 db up to 2000 MHz (conf. to IEC ) Test port return loss (raw) 22 db min. S130 internal Double Bridge DBK-PA 50 Ω, 13 db, +20 dbm Directivity (raw) 30 db bis 2000 MHz 25 db bis 3030 MHz Test port return loss (raw) 20 db All values marked as raw are evaluated without system error correction (calibration). All Heads Frequency range Dynamic range Max. level without compr. Max. damage level Insertion loss Feeding connector Test port connector MHz MHz DBK50100 > Hz IF dbm +23 dbm (CW), +30 dbm (1s) db N 50 Ω female DBK5X50NS N 50 Ω male DBK5X50NB N 50 Ω female DBK5X50A APC 7 DBK5075 N 75 Ω male DBK-PA N 50 Ω female Selective Test Heads SMK5010 SMK5017 SMK7510 SMK Ω, +3 dbm 50 Ω, +10 dbm 75 Ω, +3 dbm 75 Ω, +10 dbm Dynamic range > Hz ZF (>142 db/hz) Max. level without compr dbm Max. damage level +23 dbm (CW), +30 dbm (1s) Return loss (raw) 34 db (50 Ω) 34 db (75 Ω) [ < 2000 MHz ] Test port connector DBK501XNS N 50 Ω male DBK501XNB N 50 Ω female DBK501XA APC7 DBK751X N 75 Ω male Display Section Screen internal Screen external Number of measurement windows Number of channels Display parameters Diagram types Scaling Generator Markers Marker resolution Automatic search functions Trace mathematics Trace storage format 26 cm colour TFT LCD 640 x 480 Pixel (VGA) up to 1280 x 1024 Pixel 75 Hz frame rate unlimited 32 per measurement window S-parameter S11... Sxx and the resulting values like VWSR, impedance, group delay etc. Carthesian lin. and log., polar lin. and log., Smith, inv. Smith. Variable position and size of diagram. One diagram per channel Unrestricted. Each format stores its own scaling parameters. Resolution selectable from 0 to 8 trailing digits 4 virtual generators with independent parameters per setup. Each generator is configurable as time domain stimulus. 10 frequency markers per generator. Each marker can be used as delta marker. 10 value markers per channel and format type. 0 to 8 trailing digits selectable for frequency markers. Resolution of value markers depending on the channel resolution Marker tracking, marker search, offset search, min./max.hold, bandwidth, maximum, minimum, mean value Add., sub., div., mul. up to 100 operands per channel S100 binary format (trc), Touchstone (s2p), MatLab (mat), Excel (csv). A trace contains the frequency vector and the magnitude and phase vectors of all four S- parameters of a two port measurement. Decimation of data selectable during sto- VECTOR NETWORK ANALYZER SERIES S100 5

6 Automation Calibration Methodes rage. Real time import and export of data during measurement. Real time embedding/deembedding of virtual devices described by their S- parameters Each parameter and the measurement data is mapped onto an automation object and can be accessed by any external program supporting ActiveX (OLE) automation. The transfer of a 1000 point trace takes appr. 1 ms. All members of the S100 series perform the calibration over a free definable frequency band with a high number of data points. The actual error terms used for correction are interpolated from this data on changes of the operating frequency range or number of sweeped points without the need of recalibration. Absolute Power Reflection Only One Path Two Port Full Two Port Multiport Computer Section MSO (Match-Short-Open) MSO Trans. normalization LMSO/2 TransferLMSO /2 MSO Trans. normalization LMSO UMSO LRL TransferLSMO LMSO LRL TransferLMSO Processor Pentium or Pentium II Main memory MByte Hard disk 1.2 GByte GByte Floppy disk 1.44 MByte 3.5 Internal keyboard PC compatible (MF2) External keyboard PC compatible (MF2) LAN adaptor NE2000 or compatible GPIB interface (OPT) National Instruments PCII/PCIIA or Keithley KPC488 or compatible SCSI interface (OPT) NCR810 or compatible or Adaptec 2940 or compatible Expansion slots Operating system Connectors I/O-Port STM Ext.trigger Mouse Printer Serial port System interface External screen External keyboard Options ISA or PCI Windows 95 or Windows NT. 16 bidirect. I/O open collector, SUB-D 25 female SUB-D 25 female (S104) BNC SUB-D 15 male (com1:) SUB-D 25 female (lpt1:) SUB-D 25 male (com2:) SUB-D 37 female Standard VGA connector 5 pin DIN connector male RFO Additional Synthesizer MHz, internal reference mixer on LO-port 4 for measurement of phase and group delay through frequency converting devices (S104 only) STM 6 port switch matrix without test heads (S104 and S106) OPT20DBM Increases the output power to +20 dbm and the dynamic range to 136 db (S104 only) GPIB Adds a GPIB interface card (National Instruments PCII/PCIIA or Keithley KPC488) SCSI Adds a SCSI controller (NCR810 or Adaptec 2940 or compatible) S44TOS104 Updates the S44 to a S104 S104TOS106 Updates the S104 to a S106 CALN50LMSO Cal. kit N 50 Ω LMSO CALA50LMSO Cal. kit APC7 LMSO CALS50LMSO Cal. kit SMA LMSO CALN75LMSO Cal. kit N 75 Ω LMSO CALNLRL Cal. kit N 50/75 Ω LRL WIN95 Windows 95 WINNT Windows NT4.0 Workstation Dimensions Size (W x L x H) Weight Power consumption Line voltage 460mm x 560mm x 240mm 27 kg max.480 W (fully equipped) 200 V V AC, 50 Hz Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Windows, Visual Basic and Excel are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Pentium and Pentium II are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. Delphi is a registered trademark of Borland Corporation. TransferLMSO and MultiportLMSO are registered trademarks of Ballmann Electronica GmbH S100DATAENG :19 by Ballmann / Fabry 6