Abstract: A radio frequency network analyzer connected to a multi-port test set is calibrated. An initial calibration is performed for each test set port in the multi-port test set. The initial calibration is performed by first performing a measurement calibration using calibration standards. The calibration standards are located in a reference plane located outside the multi-port test set. The measurement calibration yields initial calibration coefficients. Also the initial calibration includes measuring electronic standards within the multi-port test set to produce initial measured electronic standards. The initial calibration coefficients and the measured electronic standards are used to generate initial corrected electronic standards.

Abstract: An error correction method improves measurement accuracy of a vector network analyzer by reducing reflection measurement errors for a broad class of devices, such as filters, switches, cables, couplers, attenuators, and other passive devices tested by vector network analyzers (VNAs) that are reciprocal, having a forward transmission coefficient S.sub.21 and a reverse transmission coefficient S.sub.12 that are equal. Errors due to impedance mismatches at the load port of a transmission/reflection (T/R) test set are corrected without impacting the measurement speed of the VNA. The source port of the T/R test set is calibrated and a reflection measurement is performed while an impedance matched thruline standard of known electrical length is coupled between the source port and load port of the T/R test set. The reflection measurement is corrected for the electrical length of the thruline standard to obtain a reflection measurement of the load port of the T/R test set.