New vector signal measuring system, featuring wide bandwidth, large dynamic range and high accuracy

A new measurement system, with two receiver channels per measurement port, has been developed that provides absolute magnitude and absolute phase relationship measurements over wide bandwidths. Gain ranging is used at radio frequency to provide optimum noise performance and a swept yttrium iron garnet (YIG) preselector filter is used to avoid spurious signals. A new absolute vector error correction method is used to calibrate the measurement system in order to allow for absolute vector measurements, and it also removes the time-varying responses caused by the swept YIG preselector filters. A quasi-reciprocal mixer with a characterised non-reciprocal ratio is used to provide the absolute calibration standard. The two receiver channels can be adapted to a wide variety of applications, including wide bandwidth vector signal analyser measurements, mixer measurements and harmonic measurements. The two channels can also be used as an absolute calibrated transmitter/reflectometer.