4. 6-port analyzer calibration

Before being used as a measurement system, the 6-port analyzer must be calibrated to determine all its intrinsic parameters. Once properly calibrated, the 6-port analyzer can perform accurate reflection and transmission measurements based on power measurements.

The preliminary calibration step consists in determining the characteristic constants of the "perfect" 6-port networks resulting from the transformation (P-space – w-plane). The actual calibration will concern the 4-port network, where all existing calibration methods for heterodyne systems can be applied. In particular for coaxial supports: the SOLT method (short – open – load – thru) and the TRL method (thru – reflect – line) or more generally LRL (line – reflect – line). Only the TRL (or LRL) method will be considered here, as it offers considerable advantages in the field of microwave metrology, on coaxial...