Atec Gigatronics-8650A Series - Manual (Page 5)

Unrivaled Accuracy and Built-In Calibration
Giga-tronics uses diode sen-
sors exclusively to provide
speed, range, capability and
accuracy unavailable from
any other power meter.
ACCURACY OVER
A 90 dB RANGE
Giga-tronics has solved the
problem that limited the use
of diode sensors to below
–20 dBm — the ‘square law’
region — by utilizing a
patented built-in power
sweep calibration system.
The power sweep calibra-
tor uses a 50 MHz amplitude
controlled oscillator to step
from –30 to +20 dBm in
1 dB increments. Each step is
set using an internal thermis-
tor — the standard for accu-
racy and traceability.
Giga-tronics gives you
thermistor accuracy
plus diode speed for
measuring signals over a
full 90 dB power range.
BUILT-IN
FREQUENCY
RESPONSE
CALIBRATION
Configuring the meter
for measurements is
easy with calibration
factors programmed
into the sensor.
When the measure-
ment frequency is
entered, the meter
automatically applies the
correct calibration fac-
tor from the sensor
EEPROM. And the
meter automatically
reads a new set of cal factors
when a sensor is changed.
This avoids the chance of
measurement error from
using invalid calibration fac-
tors when you change sen-
sors, or from forgetting to
An EEPROM in all Giga-tronics sensors
automatically applies the correct cal factor, so
you save time and avoid measurement errors.
enter new calibration fac-
tors. You not only avoid
measurement errors; you
also save yourself test time.
The Accuracy Audit table lists the significant uncertainties
of an absolute power measurement. The accuracy of the
8650A combined with the 80301A sensor is compared to a
typical thermocouple sensor/meter combination at +20 dBm,
0 dBm, and –30 dBm (the dynamic limit of the thermocouple
sensor). The uncertainty comparison at –30 dBm illustrates
the accuracy advantage of a wide dynamic sensor, even
when the full 90 dB dynamic range is not utilized.
+20 dBm 8650A Typical
Frequency = 1 GHz; Source with Thermocouple
Match = 1.5:1 80301A Meter/Sensor
Instrumentation Uncertainty ±5.2% + 2.5% –4.5%
Sensor Power Linearity (>8 GHz) ± 0% ± 0%
Calibrator Uncertainty ± 1.2% ± 1.2%
Calibrator/Sensor Mismatch ± 0.28% ± 0.23%
Calibration Factor Uncertainty ± 1.04% ± 1.6%
Zero Set ± 0.00000005% ± 0.00005%
Noise ± 0.00000005% ± 0.0001%
Mismatch (Sensor/Source) ± 2.25% ± 2.0%
% Total Uncertainty ±9.97% + 7.53 –9.53%
dB Total Uncertainty ± 0.41 dB + 0.316 – 0.4 dB
0 dBm 8650A Typical
Frequency = 1 GHz; Source with Thermocouple
Match = 1.5:1 80301A Meter/Sensor
Instrumentation Uncertainty ± 0.5% ± 0.5%
Sensor Power Linearity (>8 GHz) ± 0% ± 0%
Calibrator Uncertainty ± 1.2% ± 1.2%
Calibrator/Sensor Mismatch ± 0.28% ± 0.23%
Calibration Factor Uncertainty ± 1.04% ± 1.6%
Zero Set ± 0.000005% ± 0.005%
Noise ± 0.000005% ± 0.01%
Mismatch (Sensor/Source) ± 2.25% ± 2.0%
% Total Uncertainty ± 5.27% ± 5.54%
dB Total Uncertainty ± 0.22 dB ± 0.23 dB
–30 dBm 8650A Typical
Frequency = 1 GHz; Source with Thermocouple
Match = 1.5:1 80301A Meter/Sensor
Instrumentation Uncertainty ± 0.925% ± 0.5%
Sensor Power Linearity (>8 GHz) ± 0% ± 0%
Calibrator Uncertainty ± 1.2% ± 1.2%
Calibrator/Sensor Mismatch ± 0.28% ± 0.23%
Calibration Factor Uncertainty ± 1.04% ± 1.6%
Zero Set ± 0.005% ± 5%
Noise ± 0.005% ± 10%
Mismatch (Sensor/Source) ± 2.25% ± 2.0%
% Total Uncertainty ± 5.71% ± 20.53%
dB Total Uncertainty ± 0.24 dB ± 0.8 dB
Accuracy Audit