Scalar Network Analyzer vs Vector Network analyzer basics

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Scalar Network Analyzer vs Vector Network analyzer basics

This page compares Scalar Network Analyzer vs Vector Network analyzer basics and derives tabular difference between scalar and vector network analyzers.

We know that microwave measurement using slotted line has disadvantage that
it can do measurement of both amplitude and phase but limited to single frequency.
With this if one has to do broadband frequency measurement involving wide
frequency range, it takes more time. To avoid this problem, network analyzer has been designed
which measures both the amplitude and phase over the wide frequency range and within reasonable acceptable time.
This page describes difference between SNA and VNA.

In the basic measurement setup accurate reference signal need to be generated, with this as
standard reference signal, amplitude and phase of the signal emitted from DUT is measured.

What is Network Analyzer ?

Network Analyzer basics and types-SNA,VNA

The figure depicts components inside a Network Analyzer.
As shown in the figure on left, typical network analyzer will have four parts which includes signal source, signal separation device, receiver or detector and signal
processor/display section.
• Signal source provides incident signal.
• Signal separation device separates incident, reflected and transmitted signals.
• Receiver converts microwave frequency to lower IF frequency to make it easy for further processing.
• display or signal processor section which processes the IF signal and display
the information on CRT screen. Let us understand network analyzer basics.

Signal source: It produces the incident signal which stimulates the DUT. DUT or test device responds
by reflecting part of the incident signal and transmitting the remaining part.
By sweeping the frequency of the source frequency response of the DUT can be determined.
There are two main type of sources viz. sweep oscillator and synthesized signal generator.

The second module is to separate incident ,reflected and transmitted signals.
Once these signals are separated their amplitude and phase measurement can be carried out
and their differences can be known.
This task is accomplished with the use of directional couplers,power splitters,bridges or
high impedance probes.

The third part is the receiver or detector, which basically converts RF voltage to lower IF or DC signal
to allow more accurate measurement. There are three main receiver techniques to accomplish this viz. diode,fundamental mixing and harmonic mixing.
• Diode is broadband detector which converts RF signal to the proportional DC voltage. For amplitude modulated signal, it strips
the modulation. This technique is most commonly employed in scalar network analyzer.
• Other two are broadband tuned receiver techniques which converts RF signal to the low frequency IF signal.
Both will have BPF at IF frequencies to reject the spurious ferquencies and extend the noise floor.

The display is the last part which produces the results as desired by the user.
cartesian format indicate magnitude,phase or group delay as a function of frequency.
Tha same can be displayed in polar format as well or in a impedance format in the form of
smith chart. Modern network analyzer can also display in table format.

Network Analyzer types | Scalar and Vector network analyzers

There are two main types of network analyzers viz. SNA and VNA.
Scalar Network Analyzer (SNA) helps measure magnitude related measurements.
Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) helps measure both phase and magnitude related measurements.
Following table summarizes difference between scalar and vector network analyzers.

SNA (Scalar Network Analyzer)
VNA (Vector Network Analyzer)

Perform sweeps faster than VNA.
Perform frequency sweep more slowly compare to
SNA.

Measures only magnitude part.
Measures amplitude and phase of incident and reflected waves at ports of DUT.

Hardware required for downconversion and RF power detection is relatively simple and
inexpensive.
VNAs are more complex compare to SNAs as they need full heterodyne architecture in receiver to measure both amplitude and
phase. Hence they are expensive compare to SNA counterpart.

Network analyzer measurements

Transmission measurements: It includes transmission coefficient, insertion loss and gain measurements.
Reflection measurements: It includes reflection coefficient, VSWR, return loss and impedance measurements.
Scattering parameter measurements: S11,S12,S21,S222 can be measured.
Refer VNA tutorial➤ for more information.

Manufacturers of Scalar and Vector network analyzers

Scalar Network Analyzer 8757D from Agilent Technologies.
E5072A vector network analyzer from Agilent Technologies.
ANRITSU 37369C is the Vector Network Analyser, supports frequency range 40MHz to 40GHZ .
ANRITSU MS2026A is the handheld Vector Network Analyser supports upto 6GHz.

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