R&S® ZVA-Z90E / -Z110E
Frequency Converters –
Basic Operation
Application Sheet
1ZKD-15, M. Jetter,
08/2009 ─ 02
Application Sheet
Test & Measurement
© 2009 Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
81671 Munich, Germany
Printed in Germany – Subject to change – Data without tolerance limits is not binding.
R&S® is a registered trademark of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG.
Trade names are trademarks of the owners.
The following abbreviations are used throughout this document: R&S® ZVA-ZxxxE is abbreviated as R&S ZVA-ZxxxE. The vector
network analyzer R&S® ZVA is abbreviated as R&S ZVA.
R&S® ZVA-Z90E / -Z110E
1 Basic Operation
This application sheet describes the use of an R&S ZVA vector analyzer and two
R&S ZVA-Z110E frequency converters for 2-port transmission measurements.
Measurements using other converter types are performed in an analogous way.
Basic Operation
Required Equipment
1.1 Required Equipment
Measurements with frequency converters can be carried out with the following equipment:
● Network analyzer (NWA) R&S ZVA with an upper frequency limit of 20 GHz or higher
(R&S ZVA 24, R&S ZVA40 ...).
The required firmware version depends on the frequency converter model:
- R&S ZVA-Z110E: at least version V2.61
- R&S ZVA-Z90E: at least version V2.70
● Two NWA ports per frequency converter port.
Alternatively: One NWA port per frequency converter plus a common external generator for the LO signals. The R&S SMF100A signal generator with suitable options
is recommended.
● N frequency converters for an N-port measurement
● Option R&S ZVA<n>-B16, "Direct Generator/Receiver Access" at each port
● Option R&S ZVA-K8, "Converter Control"
● Option R&S ZVA-B8 to establish the control connection between the NWA and the
frequency converters
● a suitable set of calibration standards
1.2 Measurement Principle
The frequency converters use frequency multipliers to transform the RF source signal
from one of the network analyzer ports into a high-frequency stimulus signal. A second
signal (Local Oscillator, LO) is used for down-conversion of the reference and measurement channels. The LO signal can be provided either by a second analyzer port or by an
external generator.
The measurement involves the following steps:
1. Selection of the converter and test setup, activation of the converter mode
2. Entry of power coefficients (when a converter is used for the first time or assigned to
a new analyzer port).
3. Connection of the frequency converters
4. Power and frequency settings
3Application Sheet 1ZKD-15, M. Jetter, 08/2009 ─ 02
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