Agilent E8358A Data Sheet

Data Sheet

Agilent PNA Series
RF Network Analyzers

This document describes the performance and features of
Agilent Technologies PNA Series RF network analyzers.

E8356/7/8A 300 kHz – 3/6/9 GHz

2-port, 4 receiver
S-parameter vector network analyzer

E8801/2/3A 300 kHz – 3/6/9 GHz

2-port, 3 receiver
S-parameter vector network analyzer

N3381/2/3A 300 kHz – 3/6/9 GHz

3-port, 4 receiver
S-parameter vector network analyzer

2

Definitions

All specifications and characteristics apply over
a 25°C ±5°C range (unless otherwise stated) and
90 minutes after the instrument has been turned on.

Specification (spec.): Warranted performance.
Specifications include guardbands to account for
the expected statistical performance distribution,
measurement uncertainties, and changes in
performance due to environmental conditions.

Characteristic (char.): A performance parameter
that the product is expected to meet before it leaves
the factory, but that is not verified in the field
and is not covered by the product warranty. A
characteristic includes the same guardbands as
a specification.

Typical (typ.): Expected performance of an average
unit which does not include guardbands. It is not
covered by the product warranty.

Nominal (nom.): A general, descriptive term
that does not imply a level of performance. It is not
covered by the product warranty.

Calibration: The process of measuring known
standards to characterize a network analyzer's
systematic (repeatable) errors.

Corrected (residual): Indicates performance after
error correction (calibration). It is determined by
the quality of calibration standards and how well
“known” they are, plus system repeatability, stability,
and noise.

Uncorrected (raw): Indicates instrument perfor­mance without error correction. The uncorrected
performance affects the stability of a calibration.

Standard: When referring to the analyzer, this
includes all options unless noted otherwise.

3

Table of contents

Corrected system performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

System dynamic range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Corrected system performance

with type-N connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Corrected system performance

with 3.5-mm connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Corrected system performance

with 7-16 connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Uncorrected system performance . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Test port output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Test port input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

General information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Measurement throughput summary . . . . . . . . . . .21

Cycle time vs. IF bandwidth . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Cycle time vs. number of points . . . . . . . . . .21

Cycle time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Data transfer time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

PNA Series simplified test set block diagram . . .23

E835xA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

E880xA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

N338xA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Measurement capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Source control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Trace functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Data accuracy enhancement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

System capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Automation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Key literature and web references . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Corrected system performance

The specifications in this section apply for
measurements made with the PNA Series analyzer
with the following conditions:

• 10 Hz IF bandwidth

• No averaging applied to data

• Environmental temperature of 25°C ±5°C,

with less than 1°C deviation from the calibration
temperature

• Isolation calibration not omitted

Note: A sample of uncertainty curves are
included in this Data Sheet. Please download our
free uncertainty calculator (www.agilent.com
/find/na_calculator) to generate the curves for
your setup.

System dynamic range

1. The test port dynamic range is calculated as the
difference between the test port rms noise floor and
the source maximum output power. The effective
dynamic range must take measurement uncertainties
and interfering signals into account.

2. May be limited to 100 dB at particular frequencies
below 750 MHz due to spurious receiver residuals.

3. Values based on power sourced from port 1. If power is
sourced from either port 2 or port 3, dynamic range
decreases by 3 dB.

4. The receiver input dynamic range is calculated as
the difference between the receiver rms noise
floor and the source maximum output power. The
effective dynamic range must take measurement
uncertainties and interfering signals into account.
This set-up should only be used when the receiver
input will never exceed its damage level. When the
analyzer is in segment sweep mode, frequency
segments can be defined with a higher power level
when the extended dynamic range is required (i.e.
the portion of the device’s response with high
insertion loss), and reduced power when receiver
damage may occur (i.e. the portion of the device’s
response with low insertion loss).

5. May be limited to 115 dB at particular frequencies
below 750 MHz due to spurious receiver residuals.

Description Specification (dB) Characteristic (dB)

Dynamic range1(at test port)

E835xA

300 kHz to 25 MHz

2

125

25 MHz to 3 GHz

2

128

3 GHz to 6 GHz 118

6 GHz to 9 GHz 113

E880xA and N338xA

3

300 kHz to 25 MHz

2

125

25 MHz to 3 GHz

2

128

3 GHz to 6 GHz 118

6 GHz to 9 GHz 115

Dynamic range4(at receiver input)

E835xA

300 kHz to 25 MHz

5

140

25 MHz to 3 GHz

5

143

3 GHz to 6 GHz 133

6 GHz to 9 GHz 128

E880xA and N338xA

3

300 kHz to 25 MHz

5

140

25 MHz to 3 GHz

5

143

3 GHz to 6 GHz 133

6 GHz to 9 GHz 130

4

Magnitude

0.01

0.1

1

10

-90-80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10010

Transmission coefficient (dB)

Uncertainty (dB)

E8803A full two port cal using 85032F

S11 = S22 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

Phase

0.1

1

10

100

-90-80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10010

Transmission coefficient (dB)

Uncertainty (degrees)

E8803A full two port cal using 85032F

S11 = S22 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

5

Corrected system performance
with type-N connectors

E880xA

Applies to PNA Series E880xA analyzer, 85032F

(type-N, 50 Ω) calibration kit, and N6314A test port

cable using full two-port error correction.

Description Specification (dB)

300 kHz to 1.3 GHz 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz 3 to 6 GHz 6 to 9 GHz

Directivity 49 46 40 38
Source match 41 40 36 35
Load match 49 45 39 37
Reflection tracking ±0.011 ±0.021 ±0.032 ±0.054
Transmission tracking ±0.012 ±0.020 ±0.055 ±0.083

Transmission uncertainty

Reflection uncertainty

Magnitude

0.05

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

0.04

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

0.03

S21 = S12 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

0.02

Uncertainty (linear)

0.01

0

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Reflection coefficient (linear)

E8803A with 85032F

Phase

10

8

6

4

Uncertainty (deg)

2

0

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

E8803A with 85032F

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

S21 = S12 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

Reflection coefficient (linear)

Corrected system performance
with type-N connectors

E880xA

Applies to PNA Series E880xA analyzer, 85092C (type-N,

50 Ω) Electronic Calibration (ECal) module, and N6314A

test port cable using full two-port error correction.

Description Specification (dB)

300 kHz to 1.3 GHz 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz 3 to 6 GHz 6 to 9 GHz

Directivity 52 54 52 47
Source match 45 44 41 36
Load match 47 47 44 39
Reflection tracking ±0.040 ±0.040 ±0.060 ±0.070
Transmission tracking ±0.039 ±0.039 ±0.068 ±0.136

Transmission uncertainty

Reflection uncertainty

6

Magnitude

0.01

0.1

1

10

-90-80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10010

Transmission coefficient (dB)

Uncertainty (dB)

E8803A full two port cal using 85092C

S11 = S22 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

Phase

0.1

1

10

100

-90-80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10010

Transmission coefficient (dB)

Uncertainty (degrees)

E8803A full two port cal using 85092C

S11 = S22 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

Magnitude

0.05

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

0.04

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

0.03

S21 = S12 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

0.02

Uncertainty (linear)

0.01

0

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Reflection coefficient (linear)

E8803A with 85092C

Phase

10

8

6

4

Uncertainty (deg)

2

0

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

E8803A with 85092C

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

S21 = S12 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

Reflection coefficient (linear)

Corrected system performance
with type-N connectors

E835xA

Applies to PNA Series E835xA analyzer, 85092C (type-N,

50 Ω) Electronic Calibration (ECal) module, and N6314A

test port cable using full two-port error correction.

Description Specification (dB)

300 kHz to 1.3 GHz 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz 3 to 6 GHz 6 to 9 GHz

Directivity 52 54 52 47
Source match 45 44 41 36
Load match 47 47 44 39
Reflection tracking ±0.040 ±0.040 ±0.060 ±0.070
Transmission tracking ±0.039 ±0.039 ±0.068 ±0.135

Transmission uncertainty

Reflection uncertainty

7

Magnitude

0.01

0.1

1

10

-90-80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10010

Transmission coefficient (dB)

Uncertainty (dB)

E8358A full two port cal using 85092C

S11 = S22 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

Phase

0.1

1

10

100

-90-80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10010

Transmission coefficient (dB)

Uncertainty (degrees)

E8358A full two port cal using 85092C

S11 = S22 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

Magnitude

0.05

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

0.04

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

0.03

S21 = S12 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

0.02

Uncertainty (linear)

0.01

0

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Reflection coefficient (linear)

E8358A with 85092C

Phase

10

8

6

4

Uncertainty (deg)

2

0

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

E8358A with 85092C

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

S21 = S12 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

Reflection coefficient (linear)

Corrected system performance
with 3.5-mm connectors

E835xA

Applies to PNA Series E835xA analyzer with 85033E

(3.5 mm, 50 Ω) calibration kit, and N6314A test port

cable using full two-port error correction.

Description Specification (dB)

300 kHz to 1.3 GHz 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz 3 to 6 GHz 6 to 9 GHz

Directivity 46 44 38 38
Source match 43 40 37 36
Load match 46 44 38 38
Reflection tracking ±0.006 ±0.007 ±0.009 ±0.010
Transmission tracking ±0.011 ±0.020 ±0.041 ±0.047

Transmission uncertainty

Reflection uncertainty

8

Magnitude

0.01

0.1

1

10

-90-80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10010

Transmission coefficient (dB)

Uncertainty (dB)

E8358A full two port cal using 85033E

S11 = S22 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

Phase

0.1

1

10

100

-90-80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10010

Transmission coefficient (dB)

Uncertainty (degrees)

E8358A Full two port cal using 85033E

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

S11 = S22 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

Magnitude

0.05

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

0.04

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

0.03

S21 = S12 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

0.02

Uncertainty (linear)

0.01

0

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Reflection coefficient (linear)

E8358A with 85033E

Phase

10

8

6

4

Uncertainty (deg)

2

0

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

E8358A with 85033E

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

S21 = S12 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

Reflection coefficient (linear)

9

Corrected system performance
with 3.5-mm connectors

E880xA

Applies to PNA Series E880xA analyzer, 85093C (3.5 mm,

50 Ω) Electronic Calibration (ECal) module, and N6314A

test port cable using full two-port error correction.

Description Specification (dB)

300 kHz to 1.3 GHz 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz 3 to 6 GHz 6 to 9 GHz

Directivity 52 52 51 47
Source match 44 44 39 34
Load match 47 47 44 40
Reflection tracking ±0.030 ±0.040 ±0.050 ±0.070
Transmission tracking ±0.039 ±0.049 ±0.068 ±0.117

Transmission uncertainty

Reflection uncertainty

Magnitude

0.01

0.1

1

10

-90-80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10010

Transmission coefficient (dB)

Uncertainty (dB)

E8803A full two port cal using 85093C

S11 = S22 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

Phase

0.1

1

10

100

-90-80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10010

Transmission coefficient (dB)

Uncertainty (degrees)

E8803A full two port cal using 85093C

S11 = S22 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

Magnitude

0.05

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

0.04

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

0.03

S21 = S12 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

0.02

Uncertainty (linear)

0.01

0

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Reflection coefficient (linear)

E8803A with 85093C

Phase

10

8

6

4

Uncertainty (deg)

2

0

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

E8803A with 85093C

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

S21 = S12 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

Reflection coefficient (linear)

10

Corrected system performance
with 7-16 connectors

N338xA

Applies to PNA Series N338xA analyzer, 85038A

(7-16, 50 Ω) calibration module, and N6314A test

port cable using full two-port error correction.

Description Specification (dB)

300 kHz to 1.3 GHz 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz 3 to 6 GHz 6 to 9 GHz

Directivity 40 40 36 36
Source match 37 37 34 34
Load match 39 39 35 35
Reflection tracking ±0.089 ±0.089 ±0.115 ±0.115
Transmission tracking ±0.024 ±0.033 ±0.082 ±0.103

Transmission uncertainty

Reflection uncertainty

Magnitude

0.01

0.1

1

10

-90-80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10010

Transmission coefficient (dB)

Uncertainty (dB)

N3383A full two port cal using 85038A

S11 = S22 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

Phase

0.1

1

10

100

-90-80-70-60-50-40-30-20-10010

Transmission coefficient (dB)

Uncertainty (degrees)

N3383A full two port cal using 85038A

S11 = S22 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

Magnitude

0.05

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

0.04

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

0.03

0.02

Uncertainty (linear)

0.01

0

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Reflection coefficient (linear)

N3383A with 85038A

S21 = S12 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

Phase

10

8

6

4

Uncertainty (deg)

2

0

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

N3383A with 85038A

■

300 KHz to 1.3 GHz

◆ 1.3 GHz to 3 GHz

▲ 3 GHz to 6 GHz

● 6 GHz to 9 GHz

S21 = S12 = 0
Source power = -10 dBm

Reflection coefficient (linear)