#1 VNA Basic SOLT Calibration 

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@Enoch Marco yea, I've been using instaflixxer for years myself :D

@Enoch Marco definitely, I have been watching on InstaFlixxer for since november myself =)

Chris - Thank you for your question. In this video I am connecting the open/short/load to port 1 of the network analyzer (which is the leftmost port). This way, when that part of the calibration is complete the analyzer "knows" what each of these standards are and can calibrate based on them. In the calibration we're showing the analyzer a predictable open load, a short circuit, and a 50 ohm "good" match. Once we attach the device under test (DUT) it will be able to accurately measure how well (or how badly) the DUT reacts to the input stimulus across the frequency band we're calibrating with. Let's say that the device is well matched from 50 Mhz - 1.5 GHz, and is not well matched in other frequencies. We will then see a "good" match in that band (example: < -15 dB S11) and a "bad" match (example: > 4 dB S11) in those areas. I defined "good" and "bad" in quotes because those good and bad values all depend on what you are measuring. I hope this answers your question - I welcome any additional requests to explain/clarify in the comments if others have similar questions. Thanks again.

Please post any questions you have in the comments. It may help others that have similar questions.

thank, sir. so what is the difference between the calibration from end user (e.g SOLT) and that from manufacturer's service

A very brief explanation: When a piece of equipment is calibrated by the manufacturer (or a cal company after initial calibration has expired), the equipment's stand-alone performance is verified, i.e. they make sure that the equipment is correctly performing and reporting accurate measurements. Typically, the reference points for these measurements during calibration are the connection ports of the equipment. The purpose of a user calibration is to remove any of the losses or measurement differences from other components connected to the device under test. For example, if you are measuring a filter, it's impossible to connect it directly VNA ports without using test cables, RF connector adapters, and other components in between the filter and measurement ports of the VNA. If you measured the filter without re-calibrating the test setup (with any cables and adapters used during testing), you would not be measuring the filter 's VSWR and insertion loss. You would be measuring the VSWR and insertion loss of the filter, the test cables, and any adapters you are using . That would not be an accurate measurement of the filter. The purpose of the user calibration is to compensate for the insertion loss and VSWR effects of all components you've set up between the device under test and the VNA, in order to get an accurate measurement of only the device being tested.

thank you, i would like to talk about the manufacturer's calibration. i know that there are many tests in each calibration, for each equipment (e.g VNA). so how do we establish these tests ?

Slava - much appreciate the feedback - this weekend I will post a follow on to this going over a simple passive device measurement (RF filter) and will work to put new content up every 1-2 weeks thereafter. Thanks again.