Agilent 8712B Data Sheet

REFLECTION

TRANSMISSION

Agilent 8712B and 8714B

RF Economy Vector
Network Analyzers

Data Sheet

8712B, 300kHz to 1.3 GHz
8714B, 300kHz to 3.0 GHz

Specifications

Measurement ports

8712B 8714B

50 and 75 ohm

Directivity 40 dB 40 dB

Source match 20 dB 20 dB
(reflection)

Source match 14 dB typical

1

23 dB typical at < 1.3 GHz,

(transmission) 20 dB typical at >1.3 GHz

Load match 18 dB typical 20 dB typical at <1.3 GHz,

18 dB typical at >1.3 GHz

Reflection Tracking 0 +0.4 dB typical 0 +0.2 dB typical

This table shows the residual Agilent Technologies 8712B and 8714B
system specifications. These characteristics apply at an environmental
temperature of 25° ±5° C, with less than 1° C deviation from the cali­bration temperature. Directivity and source match specifications apply

Source

Frequency

Range 300 kHz to 1.3 GHz (8712B)

300 kHz to 3.0 GHz (8714B)

Resolution 1 Hz

Stability +5 ppm 0˚ C to 55˚ C (typical)

Accuracy 1) +5 ppm at 25˚ C +5˚ C

2) <1 Hz at 10% change in line voltage

Harmonics <-20 dBc, <1MHz

<-30 dBc, >1MHz for 8712B
<-30 dBc for 8714B

Output Power

Resolution 0.01 dB
Level accuracy +1.0 dB

+1.5 dB Option 1EC

1

+2.0 dB Option 1E1
+3.0 dB Option 1EC1amd 1E1

Maximum and Minimum Power

8712 B 8714B

≤1.0 GHz >1.0GHz

Options minimum maximum minimum maximum minimum maximum

power power power power power power

No options 0 dBm 16 0 13 -5 10

1E1 -60 15 -60 12 -60 9

1EC

1

-3 13 -3 10 -8 7

1DA/DB -2 14 -2 11 -9 6

1E1 and 1EC

1

-60 12 -60 9 -60 6

1E1 and 1DA -60 13 -60 10 -60 5

1EC1and 1DB -5 11 -5 8 -12 3

1EC1, 1E1 and 1DB -60 10 -60 7 -60 2

1. All power specifications with Option 1EC (75 ohms) are typical above 2.0 GHz.

2

3

Receiver

Frequency range 8712B 8714B

Narrowband 300 kHz 300 kHz

to 1.3 GHz to 3.0 GHz

Broadband 0.10 to 1.3 GHz 0.10 to 3.0 GHz

Dynamic range

2

Narrowband >100 dB, ≥5 MHz
50 ohm (+10 to -90 dBm) >100 dB

>60 dB <5 MHz (+10 to -90 dBm)
(+10 to -50 dBm)

Narrowband >97 dB, >5 MHz >97 dB
75 ohm (+10 to -87 dBm) (+10 to -87 dBm)

>57 dB, <5 MHz
(+10 to -47 dBm)

Broadband
50 ohm >66 dB <66 dB

(+16 to -50 dBm) (+16 to -50 dBm)

75 ohm >63 dB >63 dB

(+16 to -47 dBm) (+16 to -47 dBm)

Damage level +23 dBm, +23 dBm,

+25 VDC +25 VDC

Maximum input

Narrowband +10 dBm +10 dBm
(0.5 dB compression)
Broadband +16 dBm +16 dBm
(0.55 dB compression)

2. Receiver dynamic range is calculated as the difference between maximum receiver input level and receiver’s noise floor. System dynamic range applies to transmission meas­urements only, since reflection measurements are limited by directivity. Noise floor is specified as the mean trace noise at specified CW frequencies. A signal at this level
would have a signal to noise ratio of 3 dB. Noise floor is measured with test ports terminated in loads, response and isolation calibration, 15 Hz IF bandwidth, 10 dB source
power and no averaging.

4

AM Delay (Option 1DA/1DB)

This option adds amplitude modulation group
delay capability, which allows measurements of
group delay through frequency-translation devices
such as tuners or mixers. Using two external scalar
detectors (86200B or 86201B) and a power splitter
(all included) this option measures group delay in
any device that does not have limiting circuits, satu­rated amplifiers, or automatic gain control.

Aperture 55.56 kHz

Resolution 1 ns /division

Accuracy

3

±4 ns

Delay range 30 µsec, (9000 m)

Amplitude range –10 to +13 dBm (typical)

Power Delay

0 to 10 dB ±10 ns

10 to 20 dB ±20 ns

AM Delay Dynamic Accuracy (typical)

4

Group Delay

Group delay is computed by measuring the phase
change within a specified frequency step (deter­mined by the frequency span, and the number of
points). This is also known as d(phi)/d(omega).

Aperture

Maximum aperture: 20% of frequency span
Minimum aperture: (frequency span) /
(number of points –1)

Range

The maximum delay is limited to measuring no
more than 180° of phase change within the mini­mum aperture. Range = 1 / (2 x minimum aperture)

Accuracy

The following graph shows group delay accuracy at

1.3 GHz with type-N transmission calibration and
15 Hz IF bandwidth. Insertion loss is assumed to
be <2 dB and electrical length to be ten meters.

3. Specified at 0 dBm, 16 averages, well-matched device, normalized.

4. Normalized at +10 dBm.

Group Delay

Group Delay Accuracy

Frequency = 1.3 GHz Electrical Length = 10 meters

100

10

1

.1

Uncertainty - nsec

.01

.01

.01

.1

1

Aperture - MHz

10 100

5

Source Signal Purity

Nonharmonic spurious Agilent 8712B Agilent 8714B

≥50 kHz from carrier <–20 dBc, <1 MHz <–30 dBc

<–30 dBc, ≥1 MHz

<50 kHz from carrier <–25 dB <–25 dBc

Phase noise –70 dBc/Hz –67 dBc/Hz
(at 10 kHz offset)

Residual AM <–50 dBc <–50 dBc
(in 100 kHz bandwidth)

Residual FM <1.5 kHz <1.5 kHz
30 Hz to 15 kHz peak peak

Display Characteristics

Amplitude

Display resolution 0.01 dB/division

Marker reference level range: ±500 dB

resolution: 0.01 dB

Phase

Range ±180°

Display resolution 0.1°/division

Marker resolution 0.01°

Reference level range ±360°

resolution 0.01°

Polar scale range 1m to 20/division

Typical measurement uncertainty for 8714B at 1.3 GHz

Transmission magnitude uncertainty

Transmission phase uncertainty

Reflection magnitude uncertainty

Reflection phase uncertainty

These graphs show the measurement uncertainty for the 8714B. The assumptions made to generate these curves were: for transmission
uncertainty, S

1

1

= S22= 0.0; and for the reflection uncertainty, S21 =S12 = 0.0. Reflection tracking = 0.3 dB, transmission tracking =

0.2704 dB (computed from match terms), and trace noise = 0.250 dB. Power = 0 dBm for reflection measurements, and –20 dBm for

transmission measurements.

Supplemental Data

6

Measurement

Number of display channels

Two display channels are available.

Measurements

• Narrowband: reflection (A/R), transmission
(B/R), A, B, R

• Broadband: X, Y, Y/X, X/Y, Y/R*, power (B*, R*),
conversion loss (B*/R*)

Formats

• Rectilinear: log or linear magnitude, phase,
group delay, SWR, real and imaginary, and dBv,
dBmv and dBuv (75 ohm only)

• Smith chart

• Polar

Data markers

Each display channel has eight markers. Markers
are coupled between channels. Any one of eight
markers can be the reference marker for delta
marker operation. Annotation for up to four markers
can be displayed at one time.

Marker functions

Markers can be used for various functions: marker
search, mkr to max, mkr to min, mkr Æ target, mkr
bandwidth and notch. Also with user-defined target
values, mkr Æ center, mkr Æ reference, mkr Æ
electrical delay are available. The tracking function
enables continuous update of marker search values
on each sweep. For testing cable TV broadband
amplifiers, the slope and flatness functions enable
rapid tuning. Marker statistics enable measure­ment of the mean, peak-to-peak and standard devi­ation of the data between two markers.

Storage

Internal memory

400 Kbytes of nonvolatile storage is available to
store up to 100 instrument states via the
save/recall menu. Instrument states can include all
control settings, active limit lines, memory trace
data, active calibration coefficients, and custom
display titles.

Disk drives

Data, instrument states (including calibration
data), and IBASIC programs can also be stored on
disk, using the built-in disk drive or an external
disk drive with command subset CS/80. Data can
be stored to disk in MS-DOS (R) format or Agilent’s
standard LIF format. Data can be stored in binary,
PCX, HP-GL or ASCII formats.

Data Hardcopy

Data plotting

Hard copy plots are automatically produced with
HP-GL compatible digital plotters such as the
Agilent 7475A and compatible graphics printers
such as the HP DeskJet or LaserJet (in single color
or multi-color format). The analyzer provides
Centronics, RS-232C, and GPIB interfaces.

Data listings

Printouts of instrument data are directly produced
with a printer such as the HP DeskJet 540 or 560C
or PaintJet 3630A (color).

CRT formats

Single-channel, dual-channel overlay (both traces
on one graticule) or dual-channel split (each trace
on separate graticules).

Trace functions

Display current measurement data, memory data
or current measurement with memory data simul­taneously. Vector division of current linear meas­urement values and memory data.

Display annotations

Start/stop, center/span, or CW frequency,
scale/division, reference level, marker data, soft
key functions, warning and caution messages,
titles, clock and pass/fail indication.

Limit lines

Create test limit lines that appear on the display
for pass/fail testing. Limits may be any combina­tion of lines or discrete points. Limit test TTL out­put available for external control or indication.
Limit lines are only available in rectilinear formats.

Remote Programming

Interface

GPIB interface operates to IEEE 488.2 and SCPI
standard interface commands.

Pass control

Allows the analyzer to request control of the GPIB
(when an active controller is present) output to a
plotter or printer.

System controller

Lets the analyzer become the controller on the
GPIB bus to directly control a plotter or a printer.

Data transfer formats

• Binary (internal 48-bit f loating point complex
format)

• ASCII

• 32- or 64-bit IEEE 754 floating point format

• Mass memory transfer commands allow file
transfer between external controller and analyzer.

Characteristics

7

Determining Optional Sweep Speed and
Dynamic Range

Dynamic range, sweep time and IF Bandwidth are
interdependent quantities. Reducing sweep time
usually results in a decrease in dynamic range. A
compromise must be made depending upon the
application. The following charts will help in mak­ing these tradeoffs. All data determined from pre­set conditions, except as noted.

Agilent 8714B dynamic range vs IF BW (typical)

IF bandwidth Narrowband dynamic range

Wide (6500 Hz) 70 dB typical

Medium (3700 Hz) 90 dB typical

Narrow (250 Hz) 105 dB typical

Fine (15 Hz) 110 dB typical

Measurement sweep times (msec)

8712B 8714B

fwd cycle fwd cycle

Medium IF BW 132 159 182 223

Wide IF BW 64 72 118 159

CF = 177 MHz, 51 59 68 87
Span = 200 MHz

Determining Automated Test Configuration

The following charts are provided to assist in
deciding upon system configurations when
automating test systems. Typical tradeoffs are
between transferring data to an external computer
or utilizing the built-in IBASIC capabilities.

Speed of common IBASIC operations (in microseconds)

Platform

Operation 871X 80486DX

IBASIC 33 MHz

int16 ADD 182 35

int16 SUB 200 36

int16 MUL 219 39

int16 DIV 860 124

float64 ADD 366 94

float64 SUB 346 93

float64 MUL 384 92

float64 DIV 502 95

Trace transfer time (in milliseconds)

Number of points

Format 51 201 401 1601

Corrected (Int, 16) 26 31 39 85

Corrected (Real, 64) 32 65 97 330

Corrected (ASCII) 105 364 713 3000

Formatted (Real, 64) 38 59 98 335

Formatted (ASCII) 60 199 390 1510

Entering 8711 data into a BASIC workstation (735/125)

Number of points

Format 51 201 401 1601

Corrected (Real, 64) 32 65 97 330

Formatted (Real, 64) 38 59 98 335

Entering data from IBASIC

Number of points

Format 51 201 401 1601

Corrected (Int, 16) 28 30 38 102

Corrected (Real, 32) 38 100 182 675

Corrected (Real, 64) 36 90 161 593

Corrected (ASCII) 130 470 923 3600

Formatted (Real, 64) 28 60 102 354

Formatted (ASCII) 75 254 492 1900

Entering 8711 data into a PC (HP Vectra VL2 4/66)

8712B/8713B block diagram

Characteristics

Y

Input B

Input B*

X

Input R

Input R*

Input A

External Detectors

X

Reference

Reflected

RF Out

RF

Source

Y

Incident

Under Test

Trnsmitted

RF In

Device

AUX Input

REAR PANEL

To Processor and Display

CRT

FRONT PANEL

= Narrowband Detector

= Broadband Detector

8

Measurement Calibration

Calibration significantly reduces measurement
uncertainty due to errors caused by system direc­tivity, source match, reflection tracking and
crosstalk. These analyzers reduce systematic errors
with a built-in calibration so that measurements
can be made on many devices without performing
a user calibration. For greater accuracy, especially
for special test setups, the analyzers offer one-port
reflection calibration to remove reflection errors, a
response calibration to remove transmission track­ing error and a response and isolation calibration
to remove transmission tracking and crosstalk
errors.

The interpolated mode recalculates the error coef­ficients when the test frequencies or the number of
points are changed. The resulting frequency span
must be equal to or less than the user calibration
frequency span. System performance is not speci­fied for measurements with interpolated error cor­rection applied.

Calibrations Available

Transmission measurements
Normalization

Simultaneous magnitude and phase correction of
frequency response errors for transmission meas­urements. Requires a through connection. Used for
both narrowband and broadband measurements.
Does not support interpolation.

Response

Simultaneous magnitude and phase correction of
frequency response errors for transmission meas­urements. Requires a through connection.

Response and isolation

Compensates for frequency response and crosstalk
errors. Requires a load termination on reflection
and transmission ports and a through connection.

Reflection measurements
One-port calibration

Calibrates reflection port to correct directivity,
tracking and source match errors. Requires an
open, short, and load.

Calibration Kits

Data for several standard calibration kits are
stored in the instrument for use by calibration rou­tines. They include:

• 3.5 mm (choose 85033C or 85033D)

• type-F 75 ohm (choose 85039A)

• type-N 50 ohm (choose 85032B/E)

• type-N 75 ohm (choose 85036B/E)

In addition you can also describe the standards
(for example, open-circuit capacitance coefficients,
offset short length, or fixed loads) of a user­defined kit.

The following calibration kits available from
Agilent contain precision standards in many differ­ent connector types. For further information, con­sult the RF Economy Network Analyzer
Configuration Guide, literature number 5962­9928E.

85032B/E 50 ohm type-N calibration kit

Contains precision 50 ohm type-N standards used
to calibrate the analyzer to measure devices with
50 ohm type-N connectors. E versions do not con­tain adaptors or female standards.

85036B/E 75 ohm type-N calibration kit

Contains precision 75 ohm type-N standards to cal­ibrate the analyzer to measure devices with 75
ohm type-N connectors. E versions do not contain
adaptors or female standards.

85039A type-F calibration kit

Contains 75 ohm type-F standards to calibrate the
analyzer to measure devices with type-F connec­tors.

85033D Option 001 3.5 mm calibration kit

Contains precision 3.5 mm standards to calibrate
the analyzer to measure devices with 3.5 mm or
SMA connectors.

Calibration

9

Standard Options

75 ohms (Option 1EC)

Provides 75 ohm system impedance.

AM delay (Option 1DA/1DB)

This option adds amplitude modulation group
delay capability, which allows measurements of
group delay through frequency-translation devices
such as tuners or mixers. Using two external scalar
detectors (86200B or 86201B) and a power splitter
(all included) this option measures group delay in
any device that does not have limiting circuits, sat­urated amplifiers, or automatic gain control.

Option 1DA is for a 50 ohm 8712B or 8714B.
Option 1DB is for a 75 ohm 8712B or 8714B.

IBASIC (Option 1C2)

This option adds a resident BASIC system con­troller, facilitating automated measurements and
control of other devices. Using keystroke recording
for the simplest applications, or an optional key­board to write complex control and calculation
programs, IBASIC improves productivity by cus­tomizing your measurements.

Step attenuator (Option 1E1)

This option adds a built-in 60 dB step attenuator,
extending the source output power low-end range
to –60 dBm.

Fault location and structural return loss software (Option

100)

For fully characterizing cable performance, this
software package provides both fault location and
structural return loss. Structural return loss is a
special case of return loss measurements. Physical
damage of cable, by handling or manufacturing
process, causes reflections. Structural return loss
occurs when these periodic reflections sum at half­wavelength spacing and reflect the input signal.

Special Options

Switching test sets (Special Option K02)

Switching test sets enhance productivity by allow­ing multiple measurements with a single connec­tion to the device under test. They are available in
several configurations. Please call the factory for
more information.

Options

Front panel connectors

Connector type type-N female
Impedance 50 ohms (standard)

75 ohms (Option 1EC)

Probe power +15V 200 mA

-12.6V 250 mA

Rear panel connectors

External reference 10 MHz, > –5 dBm,

50 ohm BNC

Auxiliary input

The auxiliary input measures the DC level at each
sweep point. If the slew rate on this input exceeds
700 mV/msec, increased measurement errors will
result.

Calibrated range ±10V
Accuracy ±(3 % of reading +20 mV)
Damage level >15 Vdc

External trigger

Triggers on a negative TTL transition or contact
closure to ground.

Limit test output

Provides an open collector TTL high signal. The
output is pulled low when the limit test fails.

User TTL input/output

Provides a bi-directional open collector TTL signal
that can be accessed by IBASIC.

Video output

Provides an RS-343A compatible multisync video
signal. Pixel rate is 33.3 MHz, vertical rate is 60 Hz,
and horizontal rate is 24.1 kHz. Output is not com­patible with EGA or VGA monitors.

GPIB

Allows communications with compatible devices
including external controllers, printers, plotters,
disk drives, and power meters.

X and Y external detector inputs

Provides for two external detector inputs. See
Agilent 86200B and 86201B Data Sheet, literature
number 5962-9931E.

Parallel port

This 25-pin female connector is used with parallel
(or Centronics interface) peripherals such as print­ers and plotters. It can also be used as a general­purpose I/O port, with control provided by IBASIC.

RS-232C

This 9-pin male connector is used with serial
peripherals such as printers and plotters.

DIN keyboard

This connector is used for adding an IBM PC-AT
compatible keyboard for titles, remote front-panel
operation, and for IBASIC programming (Option
1C2).

Liner

47 to 60 Hz
115V nominal (90V to 132V) or 230V nominal
(198V to 264V) 230 VA max. A three-wire ground is
required.

Environmental Characteristics

General conditions

RFI and EMI susceptibility defined by CISPR
Publication 11.

ESD (electrostatic discharge) should be minimized
by the use of static-safe work procedures and an
antistatic bench mat (such as a 92175T).

The sealed flexible rubber keypad protects key con­tacts from dust, but the environment should be as
dust-free as possible for optimal reliability.

Operating environment

Temperature 0° to 55° C
Humidity 5% to 95% at 40° C

(noncondensing)

Altitude 0 to 4,500 meters (15,000 feet)

Storage conditions

Temperature –40° C to +70° C
Humidity 0 to 90% relative at +65° C

(noncondensing)

Altitude 0 to 15,240 meters (50,000 feet)

Cabinet dimensions

The following dimensions exclude front and rear
panel protrusion:
179 mm H x 425 mm W x 514 mm D
(7.0 in x 16.75 in x 20.25 in)

Weight

Net 20.5 kg
Shipping 30 kg

10

General Characteristics

11

This document describes the system performance of
the 8712B and 8714B 50 ohm and 75 ohm (Option
1EC) network analyzers, and provides two kinds of
information:

Specifications describe the instrument’s warranted
performance over the temperature range of 25° ±5°C,
unless otherwise stated.

Supplemental characteristics are typical but non­warranted performance parameters. These are
denoted as “typical,” “nominal” or “approximate.”

Test hardware includes the following:

Network analyzer: 8712B or 8714B
Calibration kit: 85032E (50 ohm)

85036E (75 ohm)

Test port cable: part number 8120-6469 (50 ohm)

part number 8120-6468 (75 ohm)

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Printed in U.S.A. 6/00
5964-0112E