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ME7868A-020-2

Anritsu ShockLine ME7868A distributed modular 2-port vector network analyzer

Anritsu / ME786xA

ME7868A-020-2

ShockLine ME7868A-020-2 Modular 2-Port PhaseLync Vector Network Analyzer, 1 MHz to 20 GHz, 2 Meter System

Distributed modular 2-port ShockLine VNA system, 1 MHz to 20 GHz, built from two PhaseLync-synchronized MS46131A VNAs with 2 m cabling.

Operating frequency range: 1 MHz to 20 GHz
Frequency resolution: 1 Hz
Frequency accuracy: ± 1.0 ppm
Frequency stability: ± 1.0 ppm from -10 °C to +55 °C

Datasheet

Overview

The ME7868A-020-2 is the 20 GHz, 2 meter configuration of the Anritsu ShockLine ME7868A modular 2-port vector network analyzer. The system is made of two ShockLine MS46131A 1-port VNAs synchronized with PhaseLync technology. It covers 1 MHz to 20 GHz and performs S-parameter and time domain measurements on passive RF and microwave devices.

The two MS46131A VNAs act as the test ports and supply both the source and the measurement capability of the 2-port system, so their performance sets the performance of the ME7868A. The MS46131A uses ShockLine VNA on-chip technology, which simplifies the internal VNA architecture at high frequencies, reduces instrument size and cost, and improves accuracy and measurement repeatability.

PhaseLync synchronization

With the MS46131A-012 PhaseLync option installed on both VNAs, the two units stay phase synchronized and the ME7868A can measure complex 2-port S-parameters. Because the VNA ports sit directly at the device under test, long cable runs from a benchtop VNA are not needed. This removes the cable insertion loss and improves measurement stability. The -2 configuration ships with a 2 meter PhaseLync optical cable and a 2 meter PhaseLync electrical cable.

Software and control

Both MS46131A VNAs are controlled over USB from an external Windows PC running ShockLine software. The software provides the graphical user interface used across the ShockLine family, plus a common command syntax for remote programming. The VNA ports can be set up as a single 2-port, dual 1-ports or a single 1-port, and the setup can change from one session to the next. The units have no onboard data storage, which makes them easier to use in secure areas.

Key Features

2-port VNA covering 1 MHz to 20 GHz
Two MS46131A 1-port VNAs synchronized with PhaseLync technology
2 meter PhaseLync optical and electrical cable set
Small, lightweight ports connect directly to the DUT, eliminating long cable runs
PC control uses the processing power and functionality of an external computer
No on-board data storage for use in secure applications
Common ShockLine control software with debug and test capabilities
Configurable port count: single 1-port, dual 1-ports, or single 2-port
Optional low-pass time domain with time gating (MS46131A-002)

Specifications

Frequency

Operating frequency range	1 MHz to 20 GHz Applies to all PhaseLync cable lengths
Frequency resolution	1 Hz
Frequency accuracy	± 1.0 ppm At time of calibration
Frequency stability	± 1.0 ppm from -10 °C to +55 °C Typical
Aging	± 1.0 ppm/year Typical

System Configuration

System length	2 meter
VNA modules	Two MS46131A Modular 1-Port VNAs, each with frequency option 020 and Option 012 PhaseLync
PhaseLync cables	One 2000-2011-R (2 meter) PhaseLync Optical Cable (PLO); One 2000-2013-R (2 meter) PhaseLync Electrical Cable (PLE)
Control PC	Windows PC is user supplied

System Dynamic Range

1 MHz to 5 GHz	97 dB (110 typical) High source power minus RMS noise floor at 10 Hz IF bandwidth, High isolation mode
> 5 GHz to 8.5 GHz	97 dB (105 typical) Satellite unit SDR degrades > 5 GHz to 7 GHz: 89 (105 typical); may be degraded in a narrow range near 8 GHz in -020 models due to receiver residuals
> 8.5 GHz to 20 GHz	98 dB (110 typical)

High Level Noise — 1-Port (MS46131A-020)

1 MHz to 6 GHz	0.009 dB (0.003 typical) magnitude; 0.12 deg (0.03 typical) phase 100 Hz IF bandwidth, High power level, RMS
> 6 GHz to 8 GHz	0.022 dB (0.01 typical) magnitude; 0.15 deg (0.08 typical) phase 100 Hz IF bandwidth, High power level, RMS
> 8 GHz to 20 GHz	0.006 dB (0.001 typical) magnitude; 0.1 deg (0.02 typical) phase Datasheet band is > 8 GHz to 40 GHz

High Level Noise — 2-Port

1 MHz to 4 GHz	0.007 dB (0.0015 typical) magnitude; 0.21 deg (0.02 typical) phase 100 Hz IF bandwidth, High power level, RMS exclusive of drift, High Isolation Mode off
> 4 GHz to 8 GHz	0.011 dB (0.003 typical) magnitude; 0.41 deg (0.08 typical) phase
> 8 GHz to 20 GHz	0.006 dB (0.0015 typical) magnitude; 0.41 deg (0.08 typical) phase

Power

Receiver compression level	+ 5 dBm 1 MHz to 43.5 GHz, compression > 0.1 dB beyond this level, typical
Output power, High (default)	0 dBm ±2dB Typical
Output power, Low	– 20 dBm ±2dB Typical
Output power, Off	-50 dBm Typical

Measurement Stability

1-Port, 1 MHz to 43.5 GHz	0.02 dB/ºC magnitude; 0.3 deg/ºC phase Typical
2-Port, 1 MHz to 8 GHz	0.015 dB/ºC magnitude; 0.3 deg/ºC phase Typical; ratioed transmission, short thru, 15 m PhaseLync interconnect (values scale approximately with length)
2-Port, > 8 GHz to 20 GHz	0.015 dB/ºC magnitude; 0.5 deg/ºC phase Typical

Uncorrected (Raw) Port Characteristics

1 MHz to 6 GHz	Directivity > 6 dB; Port match > 6 dB Typical, user and system correction off
> 6 GHz to 8 GHz	Directivity > 5 dB; Port match > 6 dB Typical
> 8 GHz to 20 GHz	Directivity > 10 dB; Port match > 10 dB Typical; datasheet band is > 8 GHz to 43.5 GHz

Error-Corrected Performance, TOSLK50A-20 / TOSLKF50A-20 Manual Cal Kit

1 MHz to 10 GHz	Directivity ≥ 42 dB; Source match ≥ 33 dB; Load match ≥ 41 dB; Reflection tracking ± 0.15 dB; Transmission tracking ±0.06 dB Load match and tracking are characteristic performance
> 10 GHz to 20 GHz	Directivity ≥ 36 dB; Source match ≥ 26 dB; Load match ≥ 35 dB; Reflection tracking ± 0.15 dB; Transmission tracking ±0.06 dB Load match and tracking are characteristic performance

Error-Corrected Performance, MN25218A 2-Port SmartCal

1 MHz to 1 GHz	Directivity ≥ 42 dB; Source match ≥ 33 dB; Load match ≥ 41 dB; Reflection tracking ± 0.15 dB; Transmission tracking ±0.1 dB Load match and tracking are characteristic performance
> 1 GHz to 10 GHz	Directivity ≥ 37 dB; Source match ≥ 33 dB; Load match ≥ 41 dB; Reflection tracking ± 0.15 dB; Transmission tracking ±0.1 dB
> 10 GHz to 18 GHz	Directivity ≥ 37 dB; Source match ≥ 33 dB; Load match ≥ 35 dB; Reflection tracking ± 0.15 dB; Transmission tracking ±0.1 dB
> 18 GHz to 20 GHz	Directivity ≥ 37 dB; Source match ≥ 33 dB; Load match ≥ 35 dB; Reflection tracking ± 0.20 dB; Transmission tracking ±0.15 dB

Measurement Throughput

Measurement speed, 1-port calibrated	180 µs/point Typical; 300 kHz IFBW, 1601 points, depends on external computer
Measurement speed, 2-port calibrated	250 µs/point Typical; phase compensation ON, IF Gain ranging OFF

Standard Capabilities

2-port measurements	S11, S21, S22, S12, and any user-defined combination of a1, a2, b1, b2, 1
Domains	Frequency Domain, Time (Distance) Domain (Option 002)
Frequency sweep types	Linear, Log, CW, or Segmented
Maximum data points	2 to 16,001 points
IF bandwidth	10, 20, 50, 70, 100, 200, 300, 500, 700 Hz; 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 20, 30, 50, 70, 100, 200, 300 kHz
Averaging	Point-by-point, maximum number of averages = 200; Sweep-by-sweep, maximum number of averages = 4096
Channels and traces	16 channels, each with up to 16 traces
Markers	12 markers + 1 reference marker
Calibration methods	SOLT, SSLT, SSST, SOLR, LRL/LRM, TRL/TRM, SmartCal, AutoCal

Interfaces

Test port connector	Ruggedized K(m)
Damage input levels	+23 dBm maximum, ±50 VDC maximum
10 MHz In connector	SMA(f) Signal presence is auto-sensing; +0 dBm, typical; 50 Ω nominal
External trigger connector	SMA(f) Input on Base MS46131A, output on Satellite MS46131A
Trigger voltage input	0 to 3.3 V input (5 V tolerant) 50 ns minimum input pulse width; 6 µs typical trigger delay
Trigger voltage output	0 to 3.3 V (HCMOS logic) 12 mA maximum drive current
PC connection	One USB 2.0 (or higher) type A port per MS46131A used

Recommended External PC Configuration

CPU	Intel® Core™ i5-6300U Processor
RAM	4 GB
Disk	120 GB
Operating system	Windows® 7,8, 8.1, or 10; 32 or 64 bit operating systems

Environmental

Environmental standard	MIL-PRF-28800F Class 2
Operating temperature range	-10 ºC to 55 ºC
Storage temperature range	–51 ºC to 71 ºC
Maximum relative humidity	95 % RH at 30 ºC, non-condensing
Altitude	4600 meters, operating and non-operating

Regulatory Compliance

European Union	EMC 2014/30/EU, EN 61326:2013, CISPR 11/EN 55011, IEC/EN 61000-4-2/3/4/5/6/11; Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU; Safety EN 61010-1:2010; RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU & Amendment 2015/863
Canada	ICES-1(A)/NMB-1(A)
Australia and New Zealand	RCM AS/NZS 4417:2012
South Korea	R-R-A2J-1011

Warranty

MS46131A and built-in options	1 year from the date of shipment (standard warranty)
PhaseLync cables	Typically 1 year from the date of shipment

Specifications are taken from the manufacturer's documentation. See the datasheet for complete and current values.

Applications

Long cable insertion loss testing
Antenna testing
Over the Air (OTA) applications
Chamber installations
Large vehicle RF shielding and propagation testing
System calibration
Path-loss characterization
General S-parameter and time domain measurements
Secure area applications

Included

Two MS46131A Modular 1-Port VNAs, each with frequency option 020 and Option 012 PhaseLync
One 2000-2011-R (2 meter) PhaseLync Optical Cable (PLO)
One 2000-2013-R (2 meter) PhaseLync Electrical Cable (PLE)

Options & Accessories

Option	Description
MS46131A-002	Time Domain with Time Gating — Required on both MS46131A VNAs for the option to be enabled in the ME7868A
MS46131A-098	Standard Calibration, ISO 17025 compliant, without data
MS46131A-099	Premium Calibration, ISO 17025 compliant, with data
MN25218A	2-port USB SmartCal Module, 300 kHz to 20 GHz — Available with connector Option -002 K(f)
MN25418A	4-port USB SmartCal Module, 300 kHz to 20 GHz — Available with connector Option -002 K(f)
36585K-2M	K Connector Precision AutoCal Module, 70 kHz to 40 GHz, K(m) to K(m)
36585K-2F	K Connector Precision AutoCal Module, 70 kHz to 40 GHz, K(f) to K(f)
36585K-2MF	K Connector Precision AutoCal Module, 70 kHz to 40 GHz, K(m) to K(f)
2000-1809-R	Serial to USB Adapter — Required for use with 36585 AutoCal module if control PC does not have a serial port
TOSLK50A-20	Precision K Male Through/Open/Short/Load Mechanical Calibration Tee, DC to 20 GHz, 50 Ω
TOSLKF50A-20	Precision K Female Through/Open/Short/Load Mechanical Calibration Tee, DC to 20 GHz, 50 Ω
3652A	K Connector Calibration Kit, Without Sliding Loads, DC to 40 GHz, 50 Ω
3668-4	K Connector Verification Kit
15KK50-1.0A	Test Port Extension Cable, Armored, Phase Stable, K(m) to K(m), 1.0 m, 50 Ω
15KKF50-1.0A	Test Port Extension Cable, Armored, Phase Stable, K(m) to K(f), 1.0 m, 50 Ω
3671KFKF50-60	Test Port Cable, Flexible, Phase Stable, DC to 40 GHz, K(f) to K(f), 50 Ω
3671KFK50-100	Test Port Cable, Flexible, Phase Stable, DC to 40 GHz, K(f) to K(m), 1 m, 50 Ω
K220B	Precision Adapter, K(m) to K(m), DC to 40 GHz, 50 Ω
K222B	Precision Adapter, K(f) to K(f), DC to 40 GHz, 50 Ω
K224B	Precision Adapter, K(m) to K(f), DC to 40 GHz, 50 Ω
71693-R	Ruggedized adapter, K(f) to N(f), DC to 18 GHz, 50 Ω
760-295-R	Transit Case (for ME7868A VNA system)
01-201	Torque End Wrench, 5/16 in, 0.9 N·m (8 lbf·in) — For tightening male devices, for SMA, 3.5 mm, 2.4 mm, K, and V connectors
01-203	Torque End Wrench, 13/16 in, 0.9 N·m (8 lbf·in) — For tightening ruggedized SMA, 2.4 mm, K and V test port connectors
01-204	End Wrench, 5/16 in, Universal, Circular, Open-ended — For SMA, 3.5 mm, 2.4 mm, K, and V connectors