85033 SMA VNA calibration and verification kit

A complete SOLT calibration kit for vector network analysers, supplied with both male and female SMA standards and a measured attenuator for checking that the calibration has been set up correctly.

Key points

Frequency-range options from DC–7 GHz to DC–18 GHz.
Male and female shorts, opens and loads, plus male–male and female–female thrus.
Selected loads with return loss better than 32 dB up to the kit's maximum specified frequency.
Measured verification attenuator and USB stick containing calibration data, Touchstone files, coefficients and documentation.
Optional adapters, phase-matched thrus and 0.45 N·m torque wrench.

Request a quotation View specifications Technical support

Kirkby Microwave 85033 SMA calibration kit with several optional accessories — SMA kit with several optional accessories. Many of the smaller options are stored in blue-capped vials.

Standard Kirkby Microwave 85033 SMA calibration kit without optional accessories — The standard kit includes male and female SOLT standards, two thrus, a verification attenuator and a USB stick containing measured data and VNA coefficients.

Overview

The Kirkby Microwave 85033 is both a calibration kit and a verification kit. It provides the standards required for one-port and two-port SOLT calibration, while the supplied attenuator allows the completed calibration to be checked against independently measured S-parameters.

The kit can be used when measuring devices fitted with SMA, 3.5 mm or 2.92 mm connectors, irrespective of whether the VNA itself has N, 3.5 mm, APC-7, 2.4 mm or other test-port connectors. Appropriate adapters and the correct calibration procedure must be used.

Versions are available with maximum frequencies of 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 18 GHz. The 18 GHz kit uses components designed for operation to 27 GHz.

Both connector genders

The standard kit contains male and female opens, shorts and loads. It is therefore not limited to calibrating only male-ended or only female-ended devices.

Measured performance

Calibration coefficients and measured data are supplied. The selected loads have return loss better than 32 dB at the kit's highest specified frequency.

Calibration check

The included attenuator has measured S-parameters, allowing the user to compare a measurement made after calibration with the supplied reference data.

Protective case

The kit is housed in a black Peli/Pelican 1060 Micro Case with a custom-cut foam insert and an IP67 rating when correctly closed.

VNA compatibility

The 85033 kit is suitable for VNAs from the manufacturers listed below. It should also be possible to use it with many other VNAs; please contact Kirkby Microwave before ordering if your instrument is not listed or if you are uncertain which coefficient format is required.

Advantest
Agilent
Anritsu
Ceyear
Copper Mountain
Deepace
HP
L A Techniques
LibreVNA
Keysight
NanoRFE
National Instruments
MegiQ
Minicircuits
mRS Instruments
Pico Technology
Rohde & Schwarz
Rigol
SDR-kits
Siglent
Tektronix
Zeenko

Optional floppy disks are available for several older HP and Agilent instruments. Modern instruments normally use the data and coefficients supplied on the USB stick.

What the standard kit includes

SMA female short
SMA female open
SMA female load
SMA male short
SMA male open
SMA male load
SMA male–male thru
SMA female–female thru
SMA male–female attenuator for verification
USB stick containing calibration-standard data, attenuator data, PDF documentation, Touchstone .s1p and .s2p files, coefficients for several VNAs, application notes and manuals
Custom-cut foam insert in a black Peli/Pelican 1060 Micro Case

Verification after calibration

The S-parameters of the supplied attenuator were measured on an HP 8720D 20 GHz VNA using an Agilent 85052B 26.5 GHz 3.5 mm calibration kit. After configuring the VNA for the 85033 and completing the calibration, measure the attenuator and compare the result with the supplied data on the USB stick.

This check can reveal mistakes such as selecting the wrong calibration-kit definition, entering coefficients incorrectly or using an unsuitable calibration procedure. Further guidance is available on the calibration-verification support page.

Optional accessories

Most options can be added after purchase because the foam insert has space for several accessories. The phase-matched adapter set is less expensive when ordered with the kit because two standard thrus are replaced rather than duplicated.

Option	Adds	Typical use
001	Male and female reverse-polarity SMA adapters with measured electrical delay	Wi-Fi equipment and other devices using RP-SMA
002	Male and female long-life, low-retention-force U.FL adapters with measured electrical delay	U.FL-equipped modules and small wireless devices
003A	Male and female MMCX adapters with measured electrical delay	MMCX devices
003B	Male and female SMB adapters with measured electrical delay	SMB devices
003C	Male and female SMC adapters with measured electrical delay	SMC devices
003D	Male and female MCX adapters with measured electrical delay	MCX devices
003E / 003F	Three phase-matched adapters: male–male, male–female and female–female	Swap-equal-adapter calibrations on older or lower-cost VNAs
004	0.45 N·m (4 lbf·in) SMA torque wrench	Repeatable tightening without connector damage
005	Carry strap	Field use
006	Floppy disk for HP 8510C	Loading coefficients into an HP 8510C
007	Floppy disk for HP/Agilent 8714	Loading coefficients into an 8714
009	Floppy disk for HP/Agilent 8719, 8720 or 8722	Loading coefficients into those VNA families
010	Floppy disk for HP/Agilent 8753	Loading coefficients into an 8753
022	Female–female verification attenuator	Verification with two male VNA test-port cables
023	Male–male verification attenuator	Verification with two female VNA test-port cables

Detailed option descriptions

Option 001 — reverse-polarity SMA adapters. Adds one male and one female RP-SMA adapter. RP-SMA is widely used on Wi-Fi routers, amplifiers and antennas. Each adapter has a measured electrical delay, which can be compensated using port extension or the equivalent reference-plane adjustment on the VNA.

Reverse-polarity SMA adapter pair.
Option 002 — long-life U.FL adapters. Adds an SMA-female-to-U.FL-female adapter and an SMA-male-to-U.FL-male adapter. Both have measured electrical delay. Standard U.FL connectors often have a limited mating life; these low-retention-force adapters are intended for repeated measurement use and carry the same warranty as the rest of the kit.

Long-life, low-retention-force U.FL adapters.
Option 003A — MMCX adapters. Adds male and female MMCX adapters, each with measured electrical delay.

MMCX adapter pair.
Option 003B — SMB adapters. Adds male and female SMB adapters, each with measured electrical delay.

SMB adapter pair.
Option 003C — SMC adapters. Adds male and female SMC adapters, each with measured electrical delay.

SMC adapter pair.
Option 003D — MCX adapters. Adds male and female MCX adapters, each with measured electrical delay.

MCX adapter pair.
Option 003E / 003F — phase-matched adapter set. Includes male–male, male–female and female–female phase-matched adapters for the swap-equal-adapter method. This is particularly useful with older VNAs such as the HP/Agilent 8510, 8753, 8719, 8720 and 8722, and with lower-cost instruments that do not support an unknown-thru calibration. Option 003E is ordered with the kit; option 003F is the later-purchase version.

Male–male, male–female and female–female phase-matched SMA adapters.
Option 004 — 0.45 N·m torque wrench. Highly recommended if a suitable wrench is not already available. SMA connectors should be tightened beyond finger-tight, but they can be damaged by excessive torque from an ordinary spanner.

0.45 N·m (4 lbf·in) SMA torque wrench.
Option 005 — carry strap. Useful for field work, but normally unnecessary in a laboratory. It is more commonly selected with the N calibration kit.
Option 006 — HP 8510C floppy disk. Allows coefficients to be loaded into an HP 8510C. The 8510A and 8510B do not have floppy drives.
Option 007 — HP/Agilent 8714 floppy disk. Allows coefficients to be loaded into an 8714.
Option 009 — HP/Agilent 8719, 8720 or 8722 floppy disk. Allows coefficients to be loaded into these VNA families.
Option 010 — HP/Agilent 8753 floppy disk. Allows coefficients to be loaded into an 8753.
Option 022 — female–female verification attenuator. Constructed from a male–female attenuator and female–female thru, permanently secured with thread-locking compound.

Female–female verification attenuator.
Option 023 — male–male verification attenuator. Constructed from a male–female attenuator and male–male thru, permanently secured with thread-locking compound.

Male–male verification attenuator.

Specifications

Frequency range	DC to 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 18 GHz, depending on the version ordered
Load return loss	Better than 32 dB from DC to the maximum specified frequency of the kit
18 GHz version	Uses components designed for operation to 27 GHz
Open-model phase error	Less than 3° between measured phase and the mathematical model
Short-model phase error	Less than 3° between measured phase and the mathematical model
Mechanical pin depth	0.000 to -0.010 inch (0 to -0.25 mm); typically 0.000 to -0.0025 inch (0.00 to -0.06 mm)
Standard-kit weight	Approximately 600 g; less than 1 kg with any available options
Case	Black Peli/Pelican 1060 Micro Case, approximately 251 × 142 × 67 mm, IP67 rated when correctly closed

Purchasing and quotations

Please request a quotation before ordering. The price depends on the maximum frequency, options, destination, currency and payment method.

To obtain a quotation, provide:

VNA manufacturer and model
Required maximum frequency
Required options
Delivery country and postcode
Preferred currency and payment method

Email a quotation request Contact page

Direct bank transfer is normally the least expensive payment method for customers paying from a UK bank account. Customers outside the UK may find that Wise provides suitable currency conversion and transfer fees.

The kit can also be sold through eBay on request, although the price may be higher because of eBay's charges.

A telephone number is required for courier bookings. Kirkby Microwave normally uses UPS or FedEx, and the courier may telephone if there is a delivery problem.

See also the returns policy and warranty.

About Kirkby Microwave

Kirkby Microwave is directed by Dr David Kirkby, who holds an MSc in microwave and electronics and a PhD in Medical Physics and Bioengineering from University College London. His doctoral thesis is available through UCL Discovery.

Kirkby Microwave Ltd is registered in England and Wales, company number 08914892. Registered office: Stokes Hall Lodge, Burnham Rd, Althorne, Essex, CM3 6DT.