An unconventional VNA-based time-domain waveform load-pull test bench

In this paper we describe an unconventional technique that simplifies time-domain waveform measurements of non-linear devices under large signal conditions. The implemented system is based on a commercial vector network analyzer and on a sampling oscilloscope, instrumentation that can be commonly found in any industrial or research microwave laboratory. Unlike other measurement systems commercially available, or presented in technical papers and reports, this test-set does not need any comb generator, neither for calibration, nor for measurements. To the author´s knowledge, this is the first time a low-cost system with these unique characteristics is presented.