Comparison of NSI PNA System Configurations

NSI PNA Systems
PNA20
PNA20-001
PNA20-002
 PNA26 PNA26-003
PNA26-003-40
PNA40
PNA40-004
System Frequency 0.010 to 20 GHz 1 to 20 GHz 1 to 20 GHz 1 to 26.5 GHz 1 to 26.5 GHz 1 to 40 GHz 0.010 to 40 GHz 1 to 40 GHz
Agilent PNA Model (1)
E8362B
E8362B
E8362B
 N5242A N5242A
N5242A
E8363B
E8363B
RF/LO Source
PNA
PSG/PNA
PSG/PSG
 PNA PNA/PNA
PNA/PNA
PNA/PNA
PNA/PNA
DFC (remote mixers)
No
NSI-RF-5940
NSI-RF-5940
 No NSI-RF-5940
NSI-RF-5943
No
No
PNA Options 014 014, 080 014
200, 080, 020
 200, 080, 020 014 014, 080
RF source freq. switching (ms) (4)
0.5
6-10
6-10
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
RF output power at highest system frequency (dBm)
+2
+13
+13
+11
+11
+17
-6
+17
RF boxes needed
1
3
4
1
2
2
1
1
IF Test Frequency (MHz)
N/A
20
20
N/A
7.61
7.61
N/A
N/A
0.1 dB Compression level
-10
-29
-29
-2
-25
-25
-13
-13
Sensitivity at 20 GHz, 1 kHz IFBW (dBm) (2)
-113
-115
-115
-109
-120
-120
-113
-113
PNA Dynamic range (dB)
103
86
86
107
95
95
100
100
System Dynamic range (dB)(3)
75
86
86
82
93
95
75
90
Advantages
Simple, Fast RF switching
Remote RF source
Remote RF & LO sources
Simple, Fast RF switching
Simple 2 box solution, Fast RF switching
Simple 2 box solution, Fast RF switching
Simple Fast RF switching
Simple Fast RF switching
Best System Applications
Smaller systems
Medium to large systems
Medium to large systems
Smaller systems
Medium to large systems
Medium to large high frequency systems
Smaller high frequency systems
Medium to large high frequency systems
Relative cost
Low
Medium
High
Low
Medium
Medium
High
High

Notes:

1.  PNA specs from Agilent data sheet are typical at 1 kHz IFBW.

2.  (PNA20-003) Combined PNA/DFC IF noise using using PNA option H11 is -130 dBm, or -123 dBm with -7 dB DFC conversion gain (13 dB - 20 dB pad = -7 dB).  A 20 dB pad is required to prevent damage to the PNA inputs using option H11.

3. Typical system dynamic range at 20 GHz with 40 dB transmission loss from source or amplifier to receiver or mixer input. Actual value is dependent on customer range and/or AUT parameters.

4. PNA frequency switching speed varies with frequency and PNA model. Click here for the internal frequency band crossings for the Agilent PNA.

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