Advantages of Network Analyzer | disadvantages of Network Analyzer
This page covers advantages and disadvantages of Network Analyzer types. It mentions Network Analyzer (SNA, VNA) advantages or benefits and Network Analyzer (SNA, VNA) disadvantages or drawbacks.
Introduction:
The network analyzer is a instrument used for transmission measurements and
reflection measurements. There are two types of network analyzer viz. Scalar and Vector.
Transmission measurements include transmission coefficient, insertion loss, gain etc. Reflection measurements include reflection coefficient, return loss, impedance etc.
The figure-1 depicts SNA model number 8757D and VNA model number E5072A. As the name suggests Scalar Network Analyzer (SNA) measures only magnitude part while Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) measures both magnitude and phase of input and output signals.
Benefits or advantages of Network Analyzer (SNA Type)
Following are the benefits or advantages of Network Analyzer (SNA Type):
➨Hardware required for down conversion and power detection is relatively simple.
➨Due to above SNAs are cheaper.
➨It peforms sweep faster compare to VNA type.
Drawbacks or disadvantages of Network Analyzer (SNA Type)
Following are the disadvantages of Network Analyzer (SNA Type):
➨They can not be used for phase related measurements.
Benefits or advantages of Network Analyzer (VNA Type)
Following are the benefits or advantages of Network Analyzer (VNA Type):
➨They can be used for both magnitude and phase measurements unlike SNA counterpart.
Drawbacks or disadvantages of Network Analyzer (VNA Type)
Following are the disadvantages of Network Analyzer (VNA Type):
➨It performs sweep slower compare to SNA type.
➨They are very complex compare to SNAs. This is due to use of
full heterodyne architecture used in the receiver part of it. This is
required to measure both magnitude and phase parts of the signals.
➨Due to above VNAs are costly compare to SNAs.
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