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ME1000 RF Circuit Design

Lab 4
Filter Characterization Using
Vector Network Analyzer

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Objectives
i) To characterize the RF filter with reflection and transmission measurement via a vector network
analyzer (VNA)
ii) To display results in multiple plots such as the Smith Chart, Magnitude, and Phase plot

Equipment Required
i) Agilent E5061A ENA-L RF Network Analyzer
ii) ME1000 RF Transceiver Kit (Transmitter Unit)

Accessory Required
i) 2 SMA(m)-to-SMA(m) coaxial cable

IMPORTANT:

Turn off the training kit when not in use. The kit will turn off automatically when no mouse or keyboard action
is detected for more than 10 minutes. Always ensure that the casing is grounded and the cover is latched up
before powering up the device.

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1. Introduction
a. Basic Equipment Setup

Figure 1 General Equipment Configuration for RF Filter Measurement Using a VNA

Important:
There are multiple measurement channels on the VNA, which can be thought of as having multiple VNAs in
a single equipment. You might want to use Channel 1 for transmission measurements and Channel 2 for
reflection measurements.

For this laboratory, you have to recall the calibration data from Lab 1, by pressing <Save/Recall> on the
VNA. Using the knob, select the saved calibration data in the nonvolatile memory and press RECALL
STATE.

It is best to look at just one channel at a time. That is, when you are looking at transmission measurements,
turn Ch 1 off, and when you are doing reflection measurements, turn Ch 2 off. When viewing signals, use the
<Scale>, <Format>, and <Marker> menus to help you navigate with ease. Use the AUTO SCALE option
under the <Scale> menu, to help you manipulate the display.

Note that if you press <Preset>, you will need to recall your calibration. You can verify your calibration at
anytime with a TRM short PCB board for reflection and a TRM through PCB board for transmission.
Similarly, the above calibration can be performed using appropriate cal standards. (Preset also sets the
Calibration Kit selection to the default kit that generally does not correspond to the TRM PCB board you
will use.)

Note:
Use the marker to record down your readings. Marker(s) is/are used to obtain a reading at a particular
frequency or amplitude. For simplicity, you may wish to use the Marker Function or Marker Search option to
look for maximum and minimum points.

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2. Transmission Measurements
1. Recall the calibration data (saved in the previous lab) from the nonvolatile memory.
2. Connect the filter as shown in Figure 1.
3. Use the following settings to determine the insertion loss of the filter:

Format: Log magnitude

Measure: S21
Scale: Auto scale

E5061A setting: [ ]: Hardkey; { }: Softkey

Start frequency: [Start] > [500] > [M/]
Stop frequency: [Stop] > [1.5] > [G/n]
Format: [Format] > {Log Mag}
Measure: [Meas] > {S21}
Scale: [Scale] > {Auto Scale}

Note:
Set the start stop frequency until you see the filter function (between 300 MHz and 1.5 GHz range).

Exercises
a) What is the type of this filter? (bandpass, low pass, high pass, or not sure)
b) Use the marker function to find the following parameters:

3 dB cut-off frequencies (use the minimum loss as the reference value):

Lower 3 dB frequency, fL = __________ MHz

Upper 3 dB frequency, fH = __________ MHz
3 dB bandwidth = __________ MHz
Center frequency, fc = __________ MHz

Note:
The center frequency is defined as the mean of the lower and upper 3 dB frequencies.

Insertion loss, S21 at the center frequency = __________ dB

a) What is the importance of the insertion loss?

b) What is the importance of the insertion loss flatness?

4. Use the following settings to determine the group delay of the filter:

Format: Delay
Scale: Auto scale

E5061A setting: [ ]: Hardkey; { }: Softkey

Format: [Format] > {Group Delay}
Scale: [Scale] > {Auto Scale}

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Exercises
a) Find the group delay at the center frequency.

Group delay (at fc) = __________ s

b) Is the group delay constant across the passband?

c) How would you specify this filter in terms of the group delay across the passband?

Group delay across the passband = (__________ __________) ns

d) What information is provided by the group delay?

e) What is the importance of the group delay flatness?

5. Change to the following settings to display the phase of the filter:

Format: Phase
Scale: Auto scale

E5061A setting: [ ]: Hardkey; { }: Softkey

Format: [Format] > {Phase}
Scale: [Scale] > {Auto Scale}

Exercises
a) Sketch the phase response of the filter:

b) How does the general shape of the phase response correlate with the group delay measured in the
previous step?

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6. Use the following settings to determine the out-of-band rejection:

Format: Log magnitude

Scale: Auto scale

E5061A setting: [ ]: Hardkey; { }: Softkey

Format: [Format] > {Log Mag}
Scale: [Scale] > {Auto Scale}

Exercises
a) Find the rejection at the stopband (at 300 MHz, 500 MHz, and 800 MHz offset from the center
frequency).

Upper rejection @300 MHz = __________ dB

Lower rejection @300 MHz = __________ dB

Upper rejection @500 MHz = __________ dB

Lower rejection @500 MHz = __________ dB

Upper rejection @800 MHz = __________ dB

Lower rejection @800 MHz = __________ dB

3. Reflection Measurements
1. Use the following settings to determine the return loss of the filter:

Format: Log magnitude

Measure: S11
Scale: Auto scale

E5061A setting: [ ]: Hardkey; { }: Softkey

Format: [Format] > {Log Mag}
Measure: [Meas] > {S11}
Scale: [Scale] > {Auto Scale}

Exercises
a) What is the return loss at the passband?

Return loss, S11 at passband = __________ dB

b) What is the return loss at the stopband?

Return loss, S11 at stopband = __________ dB

Note:
You can choose any frequency point within the passband or stopband.

c) What is the importance of the return loss at the passband?

d) From the return loss observed at the passband and the stopband, describe the filters matching at
both bands.

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2. Change the setting to display the Smith Chart for impedance measurement.

Format: Smith Chart

E5061A setting: [ ]: Hardkey; { }: Softkey

Format: [Format] > {Smith} > {R+jX}

Exercises
a) What is the impedance at the passband?

Impedance at passband = (__________ + j __________)

b) What is the impedance at the stopband?

Impedance at stopband = (__________+ j __________)

Note:
You can choose any frequency point within the passband or stopband.

c) What is the ideal impedance at the passband?

Ideal impedance at passband = (__________ + j __________)

d) What is the ideal impedance at the stopband?

Ideal impedance at stopband = (__________ + j __________)

References
[1] Application Note 1287-1, Understanding the Fundamental Principles of Vector Network Analysis,
Agilent Technologies
[2] Application Note 1287-2, Exploring the Architectures of Network Analyzers, Agilent Technologies
[3] Application Note 1287-3, Applying Error Correction to Network Analyzer Measurements, Agilent
Technologies
[4] Application Note 1287-4, Network Analyzer Measurements: Filter and Amplifier Examples, Agilent
Technologies
[5] Thomas H. Lee, Planar Microwave Engineering, Cambridge University Press, 2004

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