3.5mm VNA calibration kit price comparison - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: 小太
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2024, 10:49:22 am
content: While thinking about getting the SMA calibration kits (US$600~700) mentioned inthis thread, I started wondering what 3.5mm kits cost.It turns out there's way more selection in 3.5mm kits, so I made a table comparing the prices I found after a brief search on the internet. Maybe this will be useful for other people so sharing it hereNotes:- 3.5mm or 2.92mm kits only. Generally 2.92mm kits aren't included here unless they're relatively cheap- SOLT/SOLR kits only. Kits must either contain a "Thru" or have one as an option- Must contain calibration coefficients (e.g., C0/C1/C2/C3), whether on the datasheet, printed, or on a USB stick- Separate male or female kits don't contain a torque wrench, while "both" kits (containing both male and female parts) include a torque wrench, unless specified otherwise-Italic-typedbrands are generally considered "famous" or "premium" brands- Ordered roughly by price, low to highBrandFrequencyMale$USDFemale$USDBoth$USDNotesRacomtech9 GHzEUC900-3.5mmM$593EUC900-3.5mmF$593No "both" kit, but ~$100 discount if male+female are bought togetherWith AU$1=US$0.651Pico Technology8.5 GHzTA346$859TA347$859Saluki9 GHzSCKCL09-3.5(M8)$870SCKCL09-3.5(F8)$870SCKCL09-3.5$2880"Both" kit includes N-3.5mm adapters26 GHzSCK0YTL26-3.5$1020SCKCL26-3.5$345640 GHzSCK0YTL40-2.92$1068SCKCL40-2.92$3600Spanawave26.5 GHzCK520A$1730CK521A$1730CK052D$3400"Both" kit does not contain a torque wrench40 GHzCK562A$2490CK561A$2490CK056K02$4850"Both" kit does not contain a torque wrenchSiglent4.5 GHzF603ME$449F603FE$4499 GHzF604MS$1855F604FS$1855F604TS$369527 GHzF606MS?F606FS?F606TS$4770Maury Microwave26.5 GHz8050CK41$5453Rosenberger26.5 GHz03S30R-MSOTS3$170003K30R-MSOTS3$170003CK010-150$6417Copper Mountain9 GHzS911T$124526.5 GHzS2611$219540 GHzT4311$2745Fairview Microwave8.5 GHzFMCK1001$4400Unclear if calibration coefficients are included26.5 GHzFMCK1013$2420FMCK1012$4940FMCK1000$6840"Both" kit unclear if calibration coefficients are includedAnritsu20 GHzTOSLK50A-20$2395TOSLKF50A-20$251026.5 GHz3650A$7410Includes pin gauge and extra thrus/adaptersKeysight9 GHz85033E/100/200$621926.5 GHz85520A$409985521A$409985052D$9967Rohde & Schwarz24 GHzZV-Z235$1111526.5 GHzZN-Z135$3130ZN-Z135?Honourable mention goes to this Taobao达睿康 85033Efemale-only clone (though brass male versions are available) which has beenpreviously reportedto be a pretty good match to the 85033D coefficients.It doesn't include a Thru (just like the 85033E without options), but at just US$153 (¥1100) it's too good to not mentionFeel free to reply with corrections or additions, and I'll update the table when I spot them

author: switchabl
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2024, 10:03:30 pm
content: Both the Spanawave and the R&S ZN-Z135 are almost certainly made by Rosenberger. Spinner is another OEM that makes cal kits for big brands like R&S (https://products.spinner-group.com/rf/test-measurement/vna-test-measurement/compact-calibration-kits).I would definitely consider Maury Microwave an "A-brand". They used to make the HP cal kits.CM also sells what look like rebranded Rosenberger and Spinner cal kits (https://coppermountaintech.com/calibration-kits/), might be worth comparing prices.Note that the specs vary a lot for some of the options on your list, in particular the loads. An extreme example is the Picotech which is only >26 dB @ f>3GHz. They claim >43 dB "corrected", so presumably this is supposed to be used with data based calibration. If you are not using one of their VNAs, you need to make sure yours actually supports that and that you can get the calibration data in a suitable format.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2024, 12:15:15 am
content: None of the cheaper 4.5 GHz Cal kits listed ?https://siglentna.com/products/accessories/vna-calibration-kits/

author: 小太
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2024, 11:09:39 am
content: Quote from: switchabl on February 12, 2024, 10:03:30 pmSadly, I couldn't find any prices online, and I'm not about to ask them for a quote when I have no interest in buying at present.But if anyone has gotten a quote for them (with a date), reply with them here and I'll add them to the tableQuote from: switchabl on February 12, 2024, 10:03:30 pmAddedQuote from: tautech on February 13, 2024, 12:15:15 amAdded

author: Construct
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2024, 08:32:45 pm
content: This is a great table. Thanks for taking the time to put it together.

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2024, 09:14:34 pm
content: Is the list confined to just mechanical kits? If not, there are also 3.5mm Ecal kits from various manufacturers.I've got the old N4431B-60006 3.5mm cal kit here from Agilent for example.https://www.keysight.com/gb/en/product/N4431B/rf-electronic-calibration-module-ecal-9-khz-13-5-ghz-4-port.htmlThis was very expensive when new but I think that Keysight are now producing lower cost Ecal kits.

author: 小太
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2024, 09:42:04 pm
content: Aren't ECals specific to a certain brand/series, so (for example) you can't use a Keysight ECal on an Anritsu VNA? Which would make a price comparison table for them moot, since you'll be locked into the same brand anyways...

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2024, 10:08:48 pm
content: Quote from: 小太 on February 23, 2024, 09:42:04 pmYes, generally speaking I think the ecal modules are only meant to be used with the same brand of VNA.However, not in all cases though... I think some of the Siglent VNAs support Ecal modules from various manufacturers for example. I've not used a Siglent VNA so I haven't tried this myself.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2024, 10:11:36 am
content: Quote from: G0HZU on February 23, 2024, 10:08:48 pmJust checked SVA and SNA models, both support Ecal kits however neither specify which brand so maybe only the Siglent Ecal modules.A total of 36 Cal kits are supported by SNA5000A, Siglent, R&S and HPAK while there are just 3 HPAK Cal kits by SVA1000X models in addition to the Siglent Cal kits.Ecal is auto identified when connected so if from another brand would need to tested to check if they could work.SEM5000A Series Electronic Calibration(ECal) Modules:https://int.siglent.com/u_file/download/23_12_27/SEM5000A_datasheet_DS60050_E01A.pdfSiglent Cal kits:https://int.siglent.com/u_file/download/23_08_30/Mechanical%20Calibration%20Kit%20Datasheet_EN01A%20.pdf

author: charliedelta
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2024, 10:34:02 am
content: What abouthttps://www.kirkbymicrowave.co.uk/He has the most affordable verifiable VNA cal kits available.

author: switchabl
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2024, 11:31:44 am
content: AFAIK he doesn't offer a 3.5mm version.

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2024, 12:22:59 pm
content: Quotehttps://www.siglenteu.com/vector-network-analyzer/sna5000a-series/QuoteThis implies the SNA5000A series will support Ecal modules from 'several' other manufacturers. Has anyone here tried and proved this?

author: switchabl
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2024, 12:50:09 pm
content: I think Shahriar from the Signal Path used a Keysight ECal in his review of the SNA5000A.