Rohde & Schwarz has expanded the R&S ZNA line of touch-operated vector network analyzers (VNAs) with two new models that cover frequency ranges of up to 50 GHz and 67 GHz. This opens up new applications in the military and aerospace industry by enabling characterization of radar and transmitter/receiver modules as well as performing antenna measurements and supporting satellite applications such as downconverter characterization.
Offering high RF performance, including wide dynamic range and extremely low trace noise, the hardware platform offers up to four internal, phase coherent sources plus a fifth source, which can be used as a second internal local oscillator or as an additional source for measurements on mixers, said the company.
In combination with up to eight parallel measurement receivers, the R&S ZNA hardware architecture is suited for demanding measurements on components and modules. This includes tasks such as high-end research and development.
Hardware options for the ZNA testers include:
- Optional direct channel access for wide dynamic range, external test setups and system integration
- Up to four internal phase-coherent sources for short sweep times
- Up to two internal receiver Los for fast mixer measurements with low trace noise
- Up to eight independent receivers for multi-channel phase measurements
- Up to four internal pulse modulators and pulse generators
- Optional source and receiver step attenuators for expanding the usable power range
The 50 GHz and 67 GHz R&S ZNA models offer capabilities for both pulse generation and measurement, including a wide range of trigger functions. Another key feature includes direct source monitor access, which enables accurate measurements even on high gain devices such as satellite downconverters. They also provide high-end R&D signal integrity measurements on differential lines up to 67 GHz.
Software options for the ZNA instruments include:
- Time domain analysis and extended features such as eye diagram for signal integrity
- Scalar mixer measurements and frequency converting measurements
- Vector mixer measurements
- Frequency converting measurements on mixers/converters without LO access
- Spectrum analysis mode
- Real-time measurement uncertainty calculation plus verification measurement (METAS VNA Tools)
The R&S ZNA, together with integrated de-embedding solutions (ISD, SFD, DELTA-L and EZD), provides characterization of PCB conductor structures for high-speed signal transmission.
They also provide 5G and 6G (in combination with R&S mmWave converters) component and module characterization, delivering a future-proof solution for research on active and passive components such as LNAs, filters, antennas and mixers. The R&S ZCxxx mmWave converters extend the frequencies into the terahertz range and provide high dynamic range and output power for on-wafer device characterization and antenna measurements on 6G components and modules. The R&S ZNA50 and R&S ZNA67 models are available now.
The company also recently added two new testers for AESA radar systems. They are used to validate the performance of the transmit-receive-module (TRM) used in active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar systems for the aerospace and defense industry.
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