Multiport Network Analyzer Self-Calibration: a New Approach and Some Interesting Results

A new approach to multiport network analyzer calibration is here presented. This solution exploits the redundancy of multiple standards connections in order to perform a multiport self-calibration. The method allows to use also partially or even fully unknown devices as standards. The algorithm is independent from a particular standard sequence. By this new approach, the user can tailor the known or unknown standard sequence to best fit the measurement needs and test set constrains. As an example we proved that the calibration of a three-port NWA can be carried out by the insertion of three known reflections at one port of the test-set, plus three connections of the same fully unknown two-port device.