Agilent 8712C Data Sheet

Agilent 8711C/8712C/8713C/8714C

RF Economy Network Analyzers

Data Sheet

REFLECTION

TRANSMISSION

8711C and 8712C, 300 kHz to 1.3 GHz
8713C and 8714C, 300 kHz to 3.0 GHz

This document describes the system performance
of the Agilent Technologies 8711C, 8712C, 8713C,
and 8714C network analyzers, and provides two
kinds of information:

Specifications describe the instruments’ 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.”

2

Specifications

Measurement Ports

8711C and 8712C 8713C and 8714C

Impedance 50 and 75 ohm

Directivity 40 dB 40 dB

Source match (reflection) 30 dB 30 dB

Source match 14 dB typical 23 dB typical at <1.3 GHz,
(response calibration) 20 dB typical at >1.3 GHz

Source match 30 dB 30 dB
(enhanced calibration)

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

18 dB typical at >1.3 GHz

Reflection tracking ±0.02 dB typical ±0.04 dB typical

Source

Frequency

Range 300 kHz to 1.3 GHz (8711C and 8712C)

300 kHz to 3.0 GHz (8713C and 8714C)
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, <1 MHz for 8711C and 8712C

<–30 dBc, >1 MHz for 8711C and 8712C

<–30 dBc for 8713C and 8714C

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 1EC1and 1E1

Maximum and Minimum Power (dBm)

8711C and 8712C 8713C and 8714C

≤1.0 GHz >1.0 GHz

Options minimum maximum minimum maximum maximum maximum

power power power power power power

No options 0 16 0 13 –5 10
1E1 –60 15 –60 12 –60 9
1EC

1

–3 13 –3 10 –8 7
1DA –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.

This table shows the residual Agilent 8711C, 8712C,
8713C, and 8714C 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
after calibration.

3

Receiver

8711C and 8712C 8713C and 8714C

Frequency range

Narrowband 300 kHz to 1.3 GHz 300 kHz to 3.0 GHz
Broadband 0.01 to 1.3 GHz 0.01 to 3.0 GHz

Dynamic range

2

Narrowband

50 ohm >100 dB, ≥5 MHz >100 dB

(+10 to –90 dBm) (+10 to –90 dBm)

>60 dB, <5 MHz

(+10 to –50 dBm)

75 ohm >97 dB, >5 MHz >97 dB

(+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)

Maximum input

Narrowband +10 dBm +10 dBm

(0.5 dB compression)

Broadband +16 dBm +16 dBm

(0.55 dB compression)

Damage level +23 dBm, +23 dBm,

±25 VDC ±25 VDC

Trace noise

3

Medium BW ±0.2 dB ±0.2 dB
Narrow BW ±0.1 dB ±0.05 dB

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.

3. Measured at 0 dBm, excluding frequency response, transmission measurement.

10 5 0

—5 —10

—15

—20

—25

—35 —45 —55

—40

—50

—30

—60 —70 —80 —90 —100—95—85—75—65

3

2.5

2

1.5

1

0.5

0

Reference Power Level: —20 dBm

Input Power Level: (dBm)

Legend

8714C

8712C

Error (dBm)

8712C

8714C

10

0 –10

+16

–20 –40 –50–30

2

1.5

1

0.5

0

Input Power (dBm)

Legend

50 ohm

75 ohm

Error (dBm)

(Option 1EC)

–45

.55

–47

50 ohm

75 ohm

Narrowband

Broadband

Receiver Dynamic Accuracy

4

Source Signal Purity

8711C and 8712C 8713C and 8714C

Nonharmonic spurious

≥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
Reference level range: ±500 dB

resolution: 0.01 dB

8712C and 8714C

Phase

Range ±180°
Display resolution 0.1°/division
Marker resolution 0.01°
Reference level range ±360°

resolution 0.01°

Polar scale range 10µ to 1M/division

Supplemental Data

These graphs show the measurement uncertainty for the
Agilent 8714C. The assumptions made to generate these
curves were: For transmission uncertainty, S11 = S22 = 0.0;
and for the reflection uncertainty, S21=S12= 0.0. Reflection

tracking = 0.01 dB, transmission tracking = 0.03 dB (com­puted from match terms), and trace noise = 0.25 dB. Power
= 0 dBm for reflection measurements, and –20 dBm for
transmission measurements, fine system bandwidth.

Typical Measurement Uncertainty
for Agilent 8714C at 1.3 GHz

Transmission
magnitude uncertainty

Transmission
phase uncertainty

Reflection
magnitude uncertainty

Reflection
phase uncertainty

Transmission Gain/Loss

Transmission Gain/Loss

Reflection Coefficient Reflection Coefficient

Uncertainty (deg)

Uncertainty (dB)

Uncertainty (deg)

Uncertainty (lin)

5

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 (Agilent 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

4

±4 ns

Delay range 30 µsec (9000 m)
Amplitude range –10 to +13 dBm (typical)

AM Delay Dynamic Accuracy (typical)

5

Power Delay

0 to 10 dB ±10 ns
10 to 20 dB ±20 ns

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.

Group Delay

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

5. Normalized at +10 dBm.

.01

.1

1

10 100

.01

.01

.1

1

10

100

Aperture - MHz

Uncertainty - nsec

Frequency = 1.3 GHz Electrical Length = 10 meters

Group delay
accuracy

6

Measurement

Number of display measurements

Two simultaneous measurements 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, SWR

• Phase, group delay, real and imaginary, Smith

chart, and polar (8712C and 8714C only)

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 → target,

mkr bandwidth, mkr delta frequency, mkr delta
amplitude, and notch. Also with user-defined tar-

get values, mkr → center, mkr → reference, mkr →

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

380 Kbytes of nonvolatile storage is available to
store up to 20 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. Data can be
stored to disk in MS-DOS (R) format. Data can be
stored in binary, PCX, HP-GL, or ASCII formats.

Data Hardcopy

Data plotting and printing

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

Data listings

Printouts of instrument data are directly produced
with a printer such as any HP DeskJet or LaserJet.

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 Via GPIB

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.

Characteristics

7

Data transfer formats

• ASCII

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

• Mass memory transfer commands allow file

transfer between external controller and analyzer.

Remote Programming Via LAN

SCPI Interface

Analyzer can be controlled by sending SCPI com­mands via TCP/IP to port 5025.

FTP Interface

Instrument state and data files can be transferred
via FTP. Dynamic data disk provides direct access
to instrument states, screen dumps, trace data,
and operating parameters.

Determining Optimal 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 8714C 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) (typical)

8711C and 8712C 8713C and 8714C
IF BW Span fwd cycle fwd cycle

Medium Full 132 159 182 223
Wide Full 64 72 118 159
Wide 200 MHz 51 59 68 87

Determining Automated Test Configuration

These charts show that IBASIC CSUBs can access
the trace data faster than an external computer.
Also, if only a few trace points need to be queried,
using markers can be faster.

Trace Transfer Time via GPIB (in milliseconds)

Entering trace data into the S700 workstation:

Number of points

Data Format 11 51 201 401 1601

Formatted ASCII 14 43 160 305 1200
Formatted Real, 64 <10 <12 20 34 105
Formatted Real, 32 <10 11 20 24 62
Corrected ASCII 20 79 294 574 2239
Corrected Real, 64 <10 16 31 50 172
Corrected Real, 64 <10 12 23 34 110
Corrected Int, 16 <10 11 20 26 69

Entering trace data into IBASIC using CSUBs:

Number of points

Data Format 11 51 201 401 1601

Corrected Real, 64 7 7 10 15 39
Formatted Real, 64 7 7 9 13 32

Entering a single marker via GPIB:

CALC1: MARK1: Y? <10 ms

REAR PANEL

FRONT PANEL

CRT

Reflected

Input A

Input R*

Input R

Input B*

Input B

Reference

Incident

Transmitted

To Processor and Display

AUX Input

External Detectors

X

Y

RF

Source

RF Out

RF In

Device

Under Test

= Narrowband Detector
= Broadband Detector

Y

X

Agilent 8711C/8712C/8713C/8714C block diagram

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. For transmis­sion measurements, the analyzers offer a response
calibration to remove transmission tracking errors,
a response and isolation calibration to remove
transmission tracking and crosstalk errors, and
enhanced response calibration to remove transmis­sion tracking and source match errors.

The interpolated mode recalculates the error coef­ficients when the test frequencies or the number of
points are changed. The resulting frequency range
must be within or equal to 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.

• Enhanced response

Compensates for frequency response and source
match errors. Requires open, short, load, and
through connections.

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

• type-F 75 ohm

• type-N 50 ohm

• type-N 75 ohm

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

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 5965-1461.

Agilent 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.

Agilent 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.

Agilent 85039A type-F calibration kit

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

Agilent 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.

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.

IBASIC (Option 1C2)

This option adds a resident IBASIC 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.

AM delay (Option 1DA [50 ohm], 1DB [75 ohm])

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 (Agilent 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.

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.

LAN (Option 1F7)

This option adds a LAN interface and firmware
to support data and control via direct connection
to a 10 Base-T (Ethertwist) network. Both TCP/IP
and FTP protocols are supported.

Special Options

Switching test sets

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 contact your Agilent
sales representative for more information.

Options

10

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

This normally high open-collector TTL line will
under normal circumstances, output a negative
pulse for each data point measured.

Limit test output

This normally high open-collector line is pulled
low whenever a limit test fails.

User TTL input/output

This open-collector line may be used to output
a “high sweep” signal, as an input to trigger the
“Fast Save/Recall” function, or it may be pro­grammed as an input/output signal using IBASIC.

VGA video output

Provides VGA compatible video signal.

GPIB

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

X and Y external detector inputs

Provides for two external detector inputs.
See the 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.

LAN

This RJ-45 connector allows direct connection to
a 10 Base-T (Ethertwist) network. TCP/IP protocol
is supported.

RS-232C

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

Mini-DIN keyboard

This 6-pin-connector is used for adding an IBM
PC-AT compatible keyboard for titles, remote front­panel operation, and for IBASIC programming
(Option 1C2).

Line power

47 to 60 Hz
115V nominal (90V to 132V) or 230V nominal (198V to
264V) 230 VA max.

A third-wire ground is required.

General Characteristics

11

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 an Agilent 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

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Copyright © 1996, 2000 Agilent Technologies
Printed in U.S.A. 5/00
5965-1464E