An HP/Agilent 8510A, 8510B or 8501C is easily configured to use a Kirkby Microwave VNA calibration kits - cal kits as they are often called. The method of setting up the coefficients differs between the 8510 models in the 8510 series of VNAs, as the 8510C has a floppy disk drive, but the 8510A or 8510B have only a tape drive. Configuring the 8510C is a bit easier than the 8510A or 8510B, as the 8510C has 3 ways to do this, but the 8510A and 8510B only has two. The extra method the 8510C offers (using a floppy disk), is the easiest way to configure the 8510C.
If you have an 8510A or 8510B instrument, which will not have a floppy disk, then the easiest way to install the coefficients is to have a PC with an HP/Agilent or National Instruments GPIB card, install the VNA Cal Kit Manager 2.1. The following .ckm files are example files - for best results, either create a ckm file yourself using the coefficients supplied with the kit, and the VNA Cal Kit Manager 2.1 software, or ask us to supply a file.
Kirkby Microwave can not supply tapes that are readable by an HP 8510A or 8510B.
If you have an 8510C with a floppy disk, then you can use the method above using the VNA Cal Kit Manager 2.1 software. But there is an easier way if you own an 8510C.
It is easiest to use a floppy disk. You can either order the disk with the calibration kit, or create the disk file yourself using the VNA Cal Kit Manager 2.1 software. The following files are example files - for best results, either create a file yourself using the VNA Cal Kit Manager 2.1 software, or ask us to supply a file.
and write the contents to a floppy disk. The name of the file must start with CK_, so take care if renaming the file. There are a number of USB based floppy disk drives available, so you don't need a PC with a floppy disk drive.
Once you have the CK_xxxx file on a floppy disk, just upload the coefficients to the 8510C VNA using the method described in the 8510C manual. The 8510 series support two user-defined calibration kits, whereas the 8714, 8753, 8719, 8720 and 8722 only support one.
The 8510 series of VNAs are very capable instruments, but since they are modular, they can be configured in many different ways, and how to configure them is not so trivial. Whilst Kirkby Microwave do not own an 8510 series VNA as a curtosy to our customers, or potential customers, we have collected the following application notes and manuals.
Kirkby Microwave Ltd is registered in England and Wales, company number 08914892. Registered office: Stokes Hall Lodge, Burnham Rd, Althorne, Essex, CM3 6DT.