PicoVNA 106

A 6 GHz Vector Network Analyzer

Vector network analysis for the many

Once the domain of an elite few, microwave measurement has encroached into the lives of scientists, educators, surveyors, inspectors, engineers and technicians alike. Today’s microwave measurements need to be straightforward, portable, accurate, cost-effective and easy to learn.

PicoVNAs are all-new, UK-designed, professional USB-controlled, laboratory grade vector network instruments of unprecedented performance, portability and value for money. Despite their simple outline, small footprint and low cost, the instruments boast a four-receiver architecture to minimize the uncorrectable errors, delays and unreliability of internal transfer switches.

The PicoVNA 108 delivers an exceptional dynamic range of 124 dB at 10 Hz (118 dB for the PicoVNA 106) and less than 0.006 dB RMS trace noise at its maximum operating bandwidth of 140 kHz. The instruments can also gather all four S-parameters at each frequency point in just 182 μs (PicoVNA 106) or 189 μs (PicoVNA 108) or or S₁₁ + S₂₁ in less than 100 μs. In other words, a 201 point 2-port .s2p Touchstone file in less than 38 ms or up to two .s1p files in less than 20 ms. Their low price makes them cost-effective as deep dynamic range scalar network analyzers or single-port vector reflectometers as well as full-function dual-port, dual-path vector network analyzers. They are affordable in the classroom, in small businesses and even in amateur workshops, yet capable of meeting the needs of all users up to the laboratory or production test technician or the metrology expert.

Vector network analysis everywhere

The PicoVNAs' small size, light weight and low cost suit them to field service, installation test, OEM embedded and classroom applications. With their remote automation capability, they are also attractive in applications such as:

Test automation, including multiple VNA control and measurement
Manufacturers needing to integrate a reflectometry or transmission measurement core
Inspection, test, characterization and calibration in the manufacture, distribution and service center industries:
- Electronics component, assembly and systems, and interface/interconnect ATE (cable, PCB and wireless)
- Material, geological, life-science and food sciences; tissue imaging; penetrating scan and radar
Broadband cable and harness test and matching at manufacture and installation, and fault-over-life monitoring
Antenna matching and tuning

Software development kits, including code examples in MATLAB and MATLAB RF toolbox, LabVIEW, C, C# and Python, are all available for download from Pico Technology’s GitHub pages. Examples include multiple instrument addressing and control.

6 GHz Network Metrology Training and Metrology Kits

In the classroom, Pico supports Network Metrology education through a low-cost, potentially one-per-student classroom kit. The Network Metrology Training Kit comprises PCB based passive and active circuit and transmission line examples, calibration standards and test leads, and for Microwave Office users, the project files used in its design. Just add the PicoVNA to start making and learning about network measurements and their critical role within the Design-Simulate-Implement-Measure design cycle.

More Information

Specifications

Receiver characteristics

Parameter

Value (PicoVNA 106)

Value (PicoVNA 108)

Conditions

Measurement bandwidtd

140 kHz, 70 kHz, 35 kHz, 15 kHz, 10 kHz, 5 kHz, 1 kHz, 500 Hz, 100 Hz, 50 Hz, 10 Hz

Average displayed noise floor

Band (MHz)
0.3–10
10–4000
> 4000

Typical (dB)
–110
–118
–110

Max. (dB)
–100
–108
–100

Band (MHz)
0.3–1
1–6G
> 6G

Typical (dB)
–100
–124
–120

Max. (dB)
–90
–110
–100

Relative to the test signal level set to maximum power after an S₂₁ calibration.
Ports terminated as during the isolation calibration step.

Dynamic range

See dynamic range in the product features. Excludes crosstalk.

10 Hz bandwidth
Maximum test power:
PicoVNA 106: +6 dBm
PicoVNA 108: 0 dBm
No averaging

Temperature stability, typical

0.02 dB/ °C for F < 4 GHz
0.04 dB/ °C for F ≥ 4 GHz

Measured after an S₂₁ calibration

Trace noise, dB RMS

Bandwidth
10 kHz
70 kHz
140 kHz

Typical
0.0008 dB
0.003 dB
0.005 dB [106]
0.006 dB [108]

Max.
0.002 dB
0.005 dB
0.01 dB

201-point sweep covering 1 MHz to 6 GHz or 8.5 GHz.
Test power set to 0 dBm.

Measurement uncertainty

See table below

Test level of –3 dBm
No averaging
Bandwidth 10 Hz
Ambient temperature equal to the calibration temperature.
A 12 error term calibration is assumed carried out with a good quality 3.5 mm calibration kit capable of achieving the performance specified.

Spurious responses

–76 dBc typical, –70 dBc max.

The main spurious response occurs at close to (2 x RF + 1.3) MHz, where RF is the test frequency in MHz. For example, when testing a bandpass filter with a centre frequency of, say 1900 MHz, an unwanted response will occur around 949.35 MHz. There may also be spurious responses close to (3 x RF + 2.6) MHz. In all known cases the levels will be as stated.

Measurement uncertainty - value
PC3.5 test port interfaces
Reflection measurements			Transmission measurements
Freq. range	Magnitude	Phase	Freq. range	Magnitude	Phase
–15 dB to 0 dB			0 dBm to +6 dBm
< 2 MHz	0.7 dB	8°	< 2 MHz	0.4 dB	6°
> 2 MHz	0.5 dB	4°	> 2 MHz	0.2 dB	2°
–25 dB to –15 dB			–40 dB to 0 dB
< 2 MHz	0.8 dB	6°	< 2 MHz	0.2 dB	2°
> 2 MHz	1.0 dB	6°	> 2 MHz	0.1 dB	1°
–30 dB to –25 dB			–60 dB to –40 dB
< 2 MHz	3.0 dB	20°	< 2 MHz	0.5 dB [106] 0.3 dB [108]	8°
> 2 MHz	2.5 dB [106] 3.0 dB [108]	15° 20°	> 2 MHz	0.3 dB	4°
–80 dB to –60 dB
< 2 MHz	2.0 dB	15°
> 2 MHz	1.5 dB	12°
SMA test port interfaces
–15 dB to 0 dB			+0 dBm to +6 dBm
< 2 MHz	0.99 dB	11.3°	< 2 MHz	0.57 dB	8.5°
> 2 MHz	0.71 dB	5.7°	> 2 MHz	0.28 dB	2.8°
–25 dB to –15 dB			–40 dB to 0 dB
< 2 MHz	1.13 dB	14.1°	< 2 MHz	0.42 dB	2.8°
> 2 MHz	1.41 dB	8.5°	> 2 MHz	0.14 dB	1.4°
–30 dB to –25 dB			–60 dB to –40 dB
< 2 MHz	4.24 dB	28.3°	< 2 MHz	0.71 dB	11.3°
> 2 MHz	3.54 dB	21.2°	> 2 MHz	0.42 dB	5.7°
–80 dB to –60 dB
< 2 MHz	2.83 dB	21.2°
> 2 MHz	2.12 dB	17.0°

Test port characteristics

Parameter

PicoVNA 106

PicoVNA 108

Conditions

Load match

Uncorrected:
Corrected:

16 dB, typical [106]
15 dB, typical [108]
46 dB, typical
40 dB, min

Source match

Uncorrected:
Corrected:

16 dB, typical [106]
15 db, typical [108]
46 dB, typical
40 dB, min

Directivity

Corrected:

47 dB, typical
40 dB, min

Crosstalk

Band
< 2 MHz
2 M–4 GHz
4–6 GHz

Typical
–100
–110
–100

Max
–90
–90
–90

Band
< 1 MHz
2 M–6 GHz
6–8.5 GHz

Typical
–100
–110
–100

Max
–90
–90
–90

Corrected.
Both calibrated ports terminated in short circuits.
After isolation calibration.

Maximum input level

+10 dBm, typ

0.1 dB compression

Maximum input level

+20 dBm

+23 dBm

No damage

Impedance

50 Ω

Connectors

Type N(f)

Bias-T input characteristics
Parameter	PicoVNA 106	PicoVNA 108	Conditions
Maximum current	250 mA
Maximum DC voltage	±15 V
Current protection	Built-in resettable fuse
DC port connectors	SMB(m)

Sweep I/O characteristics
Sweep trigger output voltage	Low: 0 V to 0.8 V High: 2.2 V to 3.6 V
Sweep trigger input voltage	Low: –0.1 V to 1 V High: 2.0 V to 4 V
Sweep trigger input voltage	±6 V	No damage
Sweep trigger in/out connectors	BNC(f) on back panel

Measuring functions
Measuring parameters	S₁₁, S₂₁, S₂₂, S₁₂ P1dB (1 dB gain compression) AM-PM conversion factor (PM due to AM) Mixer conversion loss, return loss, isolation and compression (PicoVNA 108 only)
Error correction	12 error term full S-parameter correction (insertable DUT) 12 error term full S-parameter correction (non-insertable DUT) 8 error term full S-parameter unknown thru correction (non-insertable DUT) S₁₁ (1-port correction) De-embed (2 embedding networks may be specified), impedance conversion S₂₁ (normalize, normalize + isolation) S₂₁ (source match correction + normalize + isolation) Averaging, smoothing Hanning and Kaiser–Bessel filtering on time-domain measurements Electrical length compensation (manual) Electrical length compensation (auto) Effective dielectric constant correction
Display channels	4 channels
Traces	2 traces per display channel
Display formats	Amplitude (logarithmic and linear) Phase, Group Delay, VSWR, Real, Imaginary, Smith Chart, Polar, Time Domain
Memory trace	One per display channel
Limit lines	6 segments per channel (overlap allowed)
Markers	8 markers
Marker functions	Normal, Δ marker, fixed marker, peak / min. hold, 3 dB and 6 dB bandwidth

Sweep functions

Parameter

PicoVNA 106

PicoVNA 108

Conditions

Sweep type

Linear sweep
CW sweep (timed sweep)
Power sweep (P1dB utility)

Sweep times

Bandwidth	S₁₁, S₂₁, S₁₁+S₂₁ calibration	Full 12 or 8-term calibration
140 kHz	19 ms [106] 20 ms [108]	37 ms [106] 38 ms [108]
10 kHz	37 ms	72 ms
1 kHz	0.21 s	0.42 s
100 Hz	1.94 s	3.87 s
10 Hz	19.2 s	38.4 s
LF Adder (For each low frequency point <2.5 MHz)	1.25 ms/pt	2.5 ms/pt

10 MHz to 6 GHz or 8.5 GHz, 201-point trace length. For other lengths and bandwidths, sweep time is approximately:
T_SWP (s)= N x (T_MIN + F_BW/ R_BW) + T_ARM
where N = number of frequency points,
T_MIN (s)= minimum time per point (s2p: 167 μs; s1p: 85 μs),
F_BW = bandwidth settle factor (s2p: 1.91; s1p: 0.956),
R_BW = resolution bandwidth (Hz).
For sweep repetition period add software rearm time:
T_ARM = average 6.5 ms or worst case 50 ms. For markers on, increase T_ARM by 39 ms.

Number of sweep points, VNA mode

51, 101, 201, 401, 801, 1001, 2001, 4001, 5001, 6001, 7001, 8001, 9001,10001

Number of sweep points, TDR mode

512, 1024, 2048, 4096

Signal source characteristics

Parameter

PicoVNA 106

PicoVNA 108

Conditions

Frequency range

300 kHz to 6.0 GHz

300 kHz to 8.5 GHz

Frequency setting resolution

10 Hz

Frequency accuracy

10 ppm max

With ambient of 23 ±3 °C

Frequency temperature stability

±0.5 ppm/ºC max

Over the range +15 °C to +35 °C

Harmonics

–20 dBc max

With test power set to < –3 dBm

Non-harmonic spurious

–40 dBc typical

Phase noise (10 kHz offset)

0.3 MHz to 1 GHz: –90 dBc/Hz
1 GHz to 4 GHz: –80 dBc/Hz
> 4 GHz: –76 dBc/Hz

Test signal power

F < 10 MHz:	–3 to –20 dBm
10 MHz < F < 4 GHz:	+6 to –20 dBm
F > 4 GHz:	+3 to –20 dBm

≤ 6 GHz:	+10 dBm to –20 dBm
> 6 GHz:	+ 6 dBm to –20 dBm

Power setting resolution

0.1 dB

Power setting accuracy

±1.5 dB

Reference input frequency

10 MHz ±6 ppm

Reference input level

0 ±3 dBm

Reference output level

0 ±3 dBm

Miscellaneous
Controlling PC data interface	USB 2.0
Support for third party test software	Dynamic Link Library (DLL) as part of user interface software
External dimensions (mm)	286 x 174 x 61 (L x W x H) Excluding connectors
Weight	1.9 kg
Temperature range (operating)	+5 °C to +40 °C
Temperature range (storage)	–20 °C to +50 °C
Humidity	80% max, non-condensing
Vibration (storage)	0.5 g, 5 Hz to 300 Hz
Power source and current	+12 to +15 V DC, 22 W (PicoVNA 106) / 25 W (PicoVNA 108)
Power source connector	5.5 mm diameter hole, 2.1 mm diameter centre contact pin. Centre pin is positive.
Host PC requirements	Microsoft Windows 7, 8 or 10 2 GB RAM or more
Safety	Conforms to EN61010-1:2010 and EN61010-2-030:2010
Warranty	3 years

Reviews

PicoVNA 106

PicoVNA 106

A 6 GHz Vector Network Analyzer

High performance, portability and low cost

PicoVNA 106

A 6 GHz Vector Network Analyzer

Vector network analysis for the many

Vector network analysis everywhere

6 GHz Network Metrology Training and Metrology Kits