Technical Note: Distortion Inherent To VNA Test Port Cable Assemblies

By Paul Pino, W.L. Gore & Associates

Today's modern vector network analyzers (VNAs) are the product of evolutionary advances in technology that literally span decades - a marrying of the latest developments in microwave, integrated circuit, and software technologies. To a great extent, the precise nature of vector network analysis results from its highly developed calibration algorithms and methodologies. The intent of this article is to explain the basic principles of VNA error correction and how VNA measurement system effects can be confused with device under test performance. This topic is deliberately approached in a qualitative manner so as not to burden the reader with the complexity of error correction algorithms.