Your Test Bench Needs a VNA

摘要

Among the factors driving higher data rates, increased channel capacity, and superior noise immunity are limits in available RF spectrum, service in densely populated urban regions, and the need to provide efficient, long-range coverage for sparsely populated regions and developing countries. Creating components and systems capable of higher wireless data rates without compromise to power consumption or occupied bandwidth requires that special attention be paid to RF component and system design, characterization, and end-of-line testing.Evolving high-order digital modulation schemes rely heavily on the successful detection of extremely subtle variations of the magnitude and phase, which creates very stringent requirements on each component in the signal chain from baseband to RF. The vector network analyzer (VNA) has always been used on the design bench due to its accuracy and flexibility, but to meet these requirements now is included in most validation and production-line testers.