The Keysight N5231A PNA-L is a 2- or 4-port microwave network analyzer engineered for rapid, accurate S-parameter characterization of passive and active components from 300 kHz to 13.5 GHz. Built around a single integrated source architecture, this instrument delivers up to 133 dB system dynamic range and trace noise as low as 0.003 dB rms, making it well-suited for production test environments where throughput and measurement fidelity are equally critical.
Technical Specifications
• Frequency Range: 300 kHz to 13.5 GHz
• Ports: 2 or 4 ports with single built-in source
• System Dynamic Range: Up to 133 dB
• Trace Noise: 0.003 dB rms
• Output Power: +13 dBm maximum
• Noise Floor: −120 dBm (10 Hz IF bandwidth)
• IF Bandwidth: 15 MHz
• Measurement Points: 100,001 points per trace
• Channels: 200 available
• Sweep Speed: Optimized for fast acquisition without performance degradation
– Key Features
• Pulsed-RF S-parameter testing down to 2 µs pulse widths with pulse profile measurement capability (300 ns sweep time, 30 data points)
• Built-in pulse modulators and pulse generators
• Electronic calibration (ECal) module support via direct USB control; full two-port calibration enabled
• USB, LAN, and GPIB connectivity
• Direct N5230C replacement with full backward compatibility
– Typical Applications
• Passive and active component S-parameter measurements
• Gain compression and conversion gain/loss characterization
• Mixer and converter evaluation
• Material property measurements
• Signal integrity analysis with PLTS software integration
• On-wafer measurements with integrated probe station systems
– Compatibility & Integration
Fully compatible with the N5230C platform—no modification to existing test codes or system configurations required. Supports ECal module automation for accelerated calibration workflows.
