What if engineers could test antennas and cables wherever they are installed? A rugged 6 GHz platform brings vector measurements closer to the device.
Pico Technology has launched a portable vector network analyser and reflectometer designed to bring RF testing closer to antennas, cables, and passive components in field environments. The PicoVNA-R covers 300 kHz to 6 GHz and combines magnitude and phase measurements with time-domain analysis.
A key challenge with field measurements is maintaining calibration as temperature and operating conditions change. The instrument addresses this through an onboard electronic calibrator that stores calibration data internally and can restore it after power-up, allowing the system to be recharacterised within seconds. Temperature stability is specified at 0.03 dB/°C below 4 GHz and 0.05 dB/°C between 4 GHz and 6 GHz.
This can help engineers working across different environments maintain more consistent measurements without repeatedly setting up external calibration equipment. The system also targets faster troubleshooting, with S11 measurements taking under 100 µs per frequency point and a 201-point sweep completing in 20.2 ms.
The analyser integrates time-domain reflectometry and transmission, enabling users to locate and characterise discontinuities along transmission paths. This can help identify problems in cables and RF connections without requiring a separate hardware module.
Its physical design is aimed at field use. The 0.47-kg unit measures 187 × 81 × 41 mm, has an IP66-rated enclosure, and uses a single USB-C connection for power and data. PicoVNA 5 software supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and Raspberry Pi OS, while API and SCPI interfaces support automated testing.
“A vector network analyzer has always been an instrument you bring the work to. The PicoVNA-R turns this around. It is small enough and rugged enough to take to the antenna or the cable run, and the onboard calibrator means that your measurements stay reliable even as the temperature changes around you,” says James Mackey, Senior Product Marketing Executive at Pico Technology.
Click here for the official announcement.
