The ShockLine MS46131A USB vector network analyzer (VNA) from Anritsu is touted as the industry’s first modular 1-port VNA supporting measurement frequencies up to 43.5 GHz. With 8- and 20-GHz models also available in the series, the MS46131A brings cost and efficiency advantages to measuring antennas and other 1-port 5G devices at sub-6-GHz, as well as in the 28- and 39-GHz millimeter-wave (mmWave) bands.
Very lightweight and compact, the MS46131A can be directly connected to the device under test (DUT), eliminating the need for interconnect cables. The result is reduced test costs and improved measurement stability.
The MS46131A is a modular VNA that can be configured for each user session on a port-by-port basis. A single PC is able to control up to two 1-port instruments for convenient dual-site testing. Units can be easily moved between test setups, depending on the required port count. Production uptime is also enhanced—1-port VNAs are easily replaceable, if needed, to keep test stations operational.
Beyond the USB connection to the external control PC running ShockLine software, the MS46131A also requires a 12-V power supply. An advantage of the external PC is that it makes test data more secure, as all measurement results are stored on the PC rather than on the VNA. The MS46131A is well-suited for confidential testing environments due to this level of security. Analysis and documentation are simplified, too, because there’s no need to transfer data off the onboard instrument memory.
Anritsu, https://www.anritsu.com/en-us/test-measurement/products/ms46131a