Using Triggers for Synchronization to Measure S-parameters on a Synthetic VNA

Synthetic vector network analyzers (SVNA) are composed of different instruments assembled together to emulate the function of a vector network analyzer (VNA). A hardware requirement to implement a two-port synthetic VNA is three synchronized receivers that can measure the incident, reflected, and transmitted waves simultaneously. The synchronization of the three receivers is a crucial factor to determine the S-parameters of a two-port device under test (DUT). This is evident in the implementation of an SVNA in past works where the measured waves must be completely isolated from each other. An instrument that satisfies this condition is the oscilloscope and a method which uses the oscilloscope's trigger function to increase the capability of oscilloscope-based SVNAs has been presented. While the feasibility of the method has been experimentally proven, its accuracy, precision, and the extent of its capability has not yet been characterized.