NanoVNA RF Calibration Considerations and

Procedure-v1.1

Prefac
e

This document is an expansion of Message# 233 from the “NanoVNA-users” group at

the groups.io website. It is a continued discussion of the Calibration Procedures for
the NanoVNA Vector Network Analyzer. This document is mostly the work of Alan
Victor, W4AMV and his colleague Gary O’Neil, N3GO. This re-write and the additional
material is the work of Larry Goga, AE5CZ.

It is not within the scope of this document to be a basic tutorial on the Calibration and
Operation of the Vector Network Analyzer or VNA. An excellent discussion of these
topics can be found on the Internet at the Wikipedia website using the search key
“Network analyzer (electrical)” [1]. The use of the qualifier “electrical” separates this topic
from computer LAN and WAN network analyzers. They are two completely different
types of hardware. Various manufacturers of high- performance professional VNA’s
offer well written and illustrated manuals designed to inform and educate the newcomer
to the field of VNA’s. Such manuals are available from Anritsu [2], Rhode & Schwartz [3],
Agilent/Keysight [4] and National Instruments [5]. Links to these files can be found in the
References section (page 10) at the end of this document. The purpose of this
document is to acquaint the new user with a few of the basic concepts behind the VNA
and how to properly calibrate the NanoVNA device. The new owner of a NanoVNA is
also directed to the YouTube website which contains some excellent videos on the
subject.

This document is in three parts. It is meant to be a preliminary discussion of the various

types of Calibration Procedures for a general Vector Network Analyzer, then a
sequential series of steps to perform these Calibrations procedures on a NanoVNA unit
and finally, a collection of notes that explain and define why these steps and their order
are especially important in the case of the NanoVNA. Since the very low cost of the
NanoVNA brings the capabilities of a Vector Network Analyzer into the hands of a
whole new range of end users, including those who may have never had an opportunity
to use such a device, it is important that we start with some definitions and explanations
as to why proper calibration is so very important when using a VNA and interpreting the
results.

Scattering Parameters and the

“DUT”
Any operational knowledge of how to use a VNA must begin with at least a
rudimentary understanding of S-parameters, otherwise known as Scattering
Parameters. The study of S- parameters comes out of the study of Optics. It is in the
study of Optics that we can observe first-hand the relationship between light and the
medium through which it travels. When light rays from an image encounter a
photographic lens, most of the light rays – BUT NOT ALL – pass through the lens.
Some of the light rays are ‘scattered” back toward the source. In Optics this is
referred to as the S11 scattering parameter. The light that does pass through the lens
can be examined on the output side of the lens and studied as the S21 scattering
parameter [6].

This same study of “incidence”, “reflection” and “transmission” can be applied to the RF
energy that exits an oscillator or transmitter circuit, travels through a piece of coaxial
cable as its transmission medium and terminates at an antenna or some other type of
load. Similarly, RF amplifiers and filters can be examined in this same way. By
measuring the transmitted and received signals accurately it is possible to calculate
and graphically display a whole host of
1

electrical parameters including gain (or loss), return loss, voltage standing wave ratio
(VSWR), reflection coefficient, amplifier stability, frequency response and many
others.

What makes the Vector Network Analyzer a unique instrument is that not only can it
measure and compare the amplitude of any of these signals, it can also compare the
Phase Relationship of these signals to each other and to a precisely generated
Reference Signal. This is what separates the VNA from the Scalar Network Analyzer
(SNA, no Phase measurements available) and the Spectrum Analyzer [7].

It is the function of the VNA to accurately generate these RF signals, apply them to the
“Device Under Test” (DUT) and then capture, measure and display the incident,
reflected and transmitted signals in both amplitude and phase. Although a VNA will
most like come fully calibrated from the factory, the connection of the VNA to the DUT
can cause its own set of problems that must be dealt with by the end user. Hence the
need for secondary calibration tools and a known and repeatable calibration procedure.
That procedure is what this document hopes to provide.

Types of Secondary
Calibrations

There are several types of secondary calibrations, defined by what ports are involved
and what level of correction is accomplished. These calibration types include [8]:
• Full 2-Port - This is the most commonly used and most complete calibration
involving two ports. All four S-parameters (S11, S12, S21, and S22) are fully
corrected.
• Full 1-Port - In this case, a single reflection parameter is fully corrected (either
S11 or S22). Both ports can be covered but only reflection measurements will be
corrected. This calibration type is useful for reflection-only measurements, including
the possibility of doing two reflection-only measurements at the same time.
• 1-Path 2-Port (forward or reverse) - In this case, reflection measurements on
one port are corrected and one transmission path is partially corrected, but load
match is not. Here forward means that S11 and S21 are covered, while reverse
means that S12 and S22 are covered.
• Frequency Response (reflection response and transmission-frequency
response)
• And there are others. (See Reference Item 8 at the end of this document
for more information.)
• For purposes of reference to the NanoVNA, port 1 is associated with CH0
and port 2 is associated with CH1.

Due to circuitry and cost restrictions, the NanoVNA is only capable of measuring the
S11 and S21 parameters and it can be reasonably calibrated for these
measurements using the supplied calibration tools for a SOLT type calibration
(Short, Open, Load and Thru). By reversing the DUT, the S22 and S12 parameters
can be measured as well and with an equivalent degree of measurement accuracy.
The act of reversing the DUT does however introduce a degree of uncertainty in the
measurement results, but it does yield a full set of S parameters that most amateurs
will find quite adequate for nearly all applications they are likely to encounter in the
HF spectrum, and for many applications well into the VHF/UHF spectrum as well.

The quality and accuracy of the calibration is only as good as the tools provided. The
quality of the NanoVNA hardware is sufficient to produce stable and repeatable
measurements with good accuracy using the included calibration kit, or a kit of similar
quality purchased separately. Even a carefully constructed set of DIY calibration
standards will satisfy the requirements of many users.
2

The accuracy of the NanoVNA is established by the process of calibration. This

process includes taking measurements of a precisely defined set of calibration
standards, characterizing the measurement environment and normalizing the
measurements to a 50 + j0 ohm Complex termination impedance. The Complex
number contains information on both the amplitude and the phase relationship of the
measured signal. An excellent discussion of the theory behind Complex Numbers can
be found on the Internet. [9]

It should be obvious that errors in the standards being used should be known and
accounted for in the calibration process. Doing so will achieve optimal accuracy and
precision in any VNA measurements. There are no known provisions for doing so in
the NanoVNA, and as such, accuracy is bounded by the absolute accuracy of the
standards being used. In spite of this limitation, the accuracy is impressive, and
generally adequate throughout its useable operating range.

Together; hardware stability, repeatability, calibration kit uncertainties and the

correction algorithms used, all contribute to the NanoVNA's measurement
uncertainty. Even so, the accuracy obtained is reasonable but it is not as precise as
a high-end laboratory grade VNA. Still, for most amateur radio applications, the
supplied level of accuracy is sufficient for most beginning test requirements and will
more than satisfy most users.

Calibration of a 4-trace
NanoVNA

This is the beginning of the procedure to calibrate a NanoVNA. As delivered, the

NanoVNA came with a set of calibration data stored in Memory Location 0 (zero) and
by default that data is used during the turn-on process. This is indicated by the display
of “C0” in the “Cal Status” area of the display. It is possible for that calibration data to
become corrupted or lost. The following procedural steps will enable the end-user to
recreate that data. Also, if the Firmware in the nanoVNA is ever updated, all initial
calibration data (in Memory0) will be lost and the unit will require re-calibration using
this method.

Note 1: Before starting this procedure it is recommended that you review the
“NanoVNA Menu Structure” document. It can be found at
https://groups.io/g/NanoVNA- users/attachment/560/0/NanoVNA%20Menu
%20Structure%20v1.1.pdf

Note 2: The following Calibration Procedure is for a NanoVNA that has Firmware that
supports 4-trace operation (yellow, blue, green and magenta). A two trace display is
recommended but not required during the calibration to minimize distractions and
confusion on the display.
Note 3: Used in this procedure are two approximately equal length coaxial cables,
SMA-Male Short, Open and 50 ohm termination connectors and a female-to-female
SMA adapter. These components should have been included with your NanoVNA. If
they are not present, then you

will need to purchase or acquire them separately. A second SMA-Male 50 ohm

termination and female-to-female adapter will further simplify the procedure. Such
components can be obtained for less than $10 USD from Amazon, eBay or other
vendors.

Note 4: Turn ON the NanoVNA and note the vertical column of characters along the left
edge of the display. These characters identify the CAL Status of the displayed data and
the first (top) characters show the memory location of the current Calibration
Parameters being used. The default calibration data is always displayed at Power-up
and is stored in location “SAVE0”. C0 indicates the default calibration data is enabled.
No vertical data column to the left of the display indicates that no calibration data is
stored in the memory location (C0 at Power-up), and the data shown on the display is
uncorrected.

If some characters are displayed, but the memory location (C0) is not, a calibration file
has been saved in “SAVE0”, but “CORRECTION” has been disabled. If you wish to
have this enabled (not required for calibration), navigate to CAL > CORRECTION, and
toggle CORRECTION until C0 appears at the top of the column on the left of the
display.

If a calibration has been performed and is available, the CAL Status will be displayed
as Cx. C* indicates a calibration has been performed and is currently active; but it has
not been saved. Measurements made in this mode will be valid and corrected, but the
calibration will be discarded when the NanoVNA is turned off or discarded and
replaced if a saved location is recalled. C0 to C4 are the 5 calibration files that can be
Saved and Recalled.

There are several ways that users may find it convenient to save frequently used
calibration data. Some users may prefer to keep the factory default calibration data in
C0 and then select locations C1 through C4 for other ranges of interest. Other users
may wish to keep the calibration data for their current experiments in C0 so that it is
immediately available at power- up. The default data set could then be stored
elsewhere (C1 through C4) or discarded and recreated if needed. The choices are as
varied as the applications for the NanoVNA.

The letters below C indicate that the following error terms have been applied. D:
Directivity, R: Reflection Tracking, S: Source Match, T: Transmission Tracking and X:
Isolation.

Note 5: Saved or unsaved calibration parameters can be enabled and disabled by

toggling the CORRECTION button under the CAL menu. The top CAL Status
character on the display will toggle to reflect the current state of the displayed data.
This serves as a useful diagnostic tool following a calibration procedure to verify the
success and quality of the calibration just completed prior to making measurements on
an unknown DUT or saving the result to a memory location for use in the future.

Note 6: Connect the two equal length Male-to-Male coaxial cables to CH0 and CH1
of the NanoVNA with the Female-Female SMA connected to the free end of the
cable connected to CH0. Dress these cables away from the NanoVNA in a parallel
line and do not let them cross.

Note 7: Each of the following numbered items represent a press of a softkey on the
screen of the Nano- VNA. Tap the touchscreen or depress the jog wheel to bring up
the Home Menu. If using a stylus, touch and hold on menu options until the selected
option turns flash green to confirm its selection.

Select and actuate menu items as

follows:

1. DISPLAY 2. TRACE 3. TRACE 0 4.

SINGLE Tap the screen again and continue
(if necessary). 5. BACK 6. FORMAT 7.
LOGMAG
Tap the screen again and continue (if
necessary). 8. BACK 9. TRACE 10. TRACE
1 Tap the screen again and continue (if
necessary). 11. FORMAT 12. LOGMAG

Note 8: At this point there should only be two traces on the screen: Trace0 in yellow
and Trace1 in blue. Trace0 should indicate “CH0 LOGMAG” and TRACE1 should
indicate “CH1 LOGMAG”. We are now displaying S11 and S21 as CH0 and CH1
respectively.

Note 9: We are now about to set the Frequency parameters for this particular
calibration. They can be set with either START and STOP commands or CENTER
and SPAN commands. It should be

noted here that the NanoVNA was designed with a fixed number of steps between the
START and the STOP frequencies. That number of steps is 101 (one hundred and
one). It must be pointed out that with an extremely wide frequency range (say, the
default 50 kHz. to 900 MHz.) and only 101 steps that the calibration data will be
extremely course and provide a very “grainy” calibration.

The default calibration C0 (50k to 900M) is meant to be that way - grainy. It is meant
to be a starting place to begin the examination of a “black box” device. Once
interesting artifacts are observed on the display, then the VNA can be recalibrated
and “zoomed in” on particular frequency ranges of interest.

Another way to use the VNA is to create and save different calibration data for different
portions of the radio spectrum. In this case C0 would be the broadband and default
calibration and C1 could be for the HF bands and C2 for the VHF band and C3 for the
UHF band and so forth. This would still leave one other calibration memory for an even
closer look at a particular band (say 6 MHz to 8 MHz for 40 meters or 144 MHz. to 148
MHz. for 2 meters). As the operator of the VNA it is your responsibility to properly set
up and calibrate the instrument to ensure that the measurements you obtain are of the
highest precision that you can accomplish with the tools at hand.

Tap the screen again and

continue. 13. STIMULUS 14.
START 50 kHz. 15. STOP 900
MHz. 16. BACK 17. CAL 18.
RESET

Note 10: Invoking the RESET command at this point is key to a proper calibration
sequence. The RESET button will highlight and stay highlighted. Invoking the RESET
function will destroy all the previously saved calibration data. It is now imperative that
this procedure run to completion to generate new data. Now continue.

19.
CALIBRATE

Note 11: At this point none of the seven softkeys on the right side of the display are
highlighted. Place an OPEN SMA-Male connector on the CH0 cable end. This will
require using the F-F SMA adapter. The OPEN connector does not have a center pin.
Leave the CH1 cable alone.

Some end users suggest that the OPEN SMA connector is not as good as simply
connecting NOTHING to the end of the CH0 cable. The choice is yours. Try
experimenting to see if you can detect any difference.

20.
OPEN

Note 12: Replace the OPEN SMA connector with a SHORTed SMA connector.
Again, leave the CH1 cable alone.

21.
SHORT

Note 13: Place 50 ohm SMA-Male terminators on the ends of BOTH CH0 and CH1
cables. This will require a second 50 ohm terminator and a second F-F adapter.
22.
LOAD

Note 14: If you have two 50 ohm SMA terminations; leave them connected as
discussed in Note 13. If only one termination is used; place it on the end of the CH1
cable using the Female-Female adapter.

23.
ISOLATION

Note 15: Remove the two 50 ohm terminators and connect the two cables together.
This will require the use of only one F-F SMA adapter.

24.
THRU
25.
DONE

Note 16: It is now time to SAVE the calibration data. You may save the data in any one
of the five available storage registers (SAVE0 through SAVE4). Since this was a
broadband (end-to-end) calibration that you may wish to return to regularly, it is
recommended that this data be saved in C0 and perhaps one of the other long term
memories (C1 – C4). The choice is yours.

26. SAVE
0

Note 17: The calibration data has now been saved. Cycle POWER on the NanoVNA
and confirm that the CAL Status display on the left side of the screen contains the full
vertical string of character. You may also wish to verify that the data was saved in the
desired long term memory.

27. RECALL/SAVE 28. RECALL 29. RECALL n

(wherever you previously saved the data)

Note 18: We will now verify calibration success by using a Smith Chart display
and feeding it with a SHORT, OPEN and 50-ohm LOAD. We will begin by
recreating the Smith Chart trace.

Tap the screen to bring up the Home

Menu 30: DISPLAY 31: TRACE 32:
TRACE2

Note 19: There should now be three traces visible on the NanoVNA screen: yellow
which is TRACE0 and labelled as CH0 LOGMAG, blue which is TRACE1 and labeled
as CH1 LOGMAG and green which is TRACE2 and labeled as CH0 SMITH. If the
displays are not presented as described then navigate to each Trace found in error
and edit them to reflect the correct CHANNEL and FORMAT indicated above.

Note 20: Connect a 50 ohm SMA terminator to the cable connected to CH0. The
Smith Chart display should show data (dots) in the center of the chart. Then replace
the 50 ohm terminator with an SMA SHORT connector. This represents 0 ohms and
the Smith Chart display should show data (dots) at the extreme left side of the screen.
Finally, remove the SHORT and leave the cable OPEN (unterminated). You should
see data (dots) on the extreme right side of the screen.

If this is not what you observe, then the Calibration Procedure has FAILED! Return to
Note 7 above and repeat the entire Calibration Procedure.

Note 21: The final test is to connect together the cables from CH0 and CH1. This will
require the use of an SMA F-F adapter. When connected observe TRACE1 (the blue
trace) showing the LOGMAG data from CH1. You should see a straight line all across
the screen. It should be one division down from the top of the screen and the digital
readout should indicate essentially 0.00 dB.
At this point the “Reference Plane” (point of calibration) is at the open end of the two
coaxial cables with the SMA Female-Female adapter installed at the end of the CH0
cable. This is the interface in which the DUT is installed and measured. If you should
remove the cables and replace them with longer (or shorter) cables, use adapters only
instead of the cables or attach the DUT at any location other than the Reference Plane
then the Calibration becomes invalid and measurement errors will result.[10] To ensure
the greatest accuracy, it is imperative that the location and connection to the DUT be
established prior to calibration and the NanoVNA subsequently calibrated with respect
to the DUT interface(s) which are thereby established as the reference plane for the
measurements of the DUT that follow. Failure to observe the Reference Plane criteria
described above may be tolerable at lower (HF and below) frequencies but it will
introduce considerable error at frequencies near the upper limit of the NanoVNA.

Note 22: A subset of this procedure can be used if only single port reflection
measurements are desired. Simply establish whether you wish to connect the DUT
directly to the NanoVNA (Only the CH0 port is used) or if you wish to connect the DUT
to CH0 through a cable. This defines the physical location of the Reference Plane
where the calibration kit standards will be connected during calibration. Proceed by
performing the calibration procedure as outlined above, ignoring the steps for isolation
and thru.

Congratulations! You have successfully completed a full bandwidth Calibration

Procedure for the NanoVNA. It is suggested that you now return to Note 9 above
and create other calibration files for different portions of the radio spectrum.

(see References on Page

10)
 9

REFERENCE
S

[1] “Network Analyzer (electrical)”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_analyzer_(electrical)
See also “External Links” at end of article for more
information.

[2] “Primer on Vector Network Analysis” an Anritsu Application Note

https://web.archive.org/web/20070710174350/http://www.us.anritsu.com/downloads/
files/11410 -00387.pdf

[3] “Rohde & Schwarz presents basics on vector network analysis in five
independent and comprehensive videos.” https://www.youtube.com/playlist?
list=PLF5DA69583F0DDAC2

[4] “Network Analyzer Basics” Agilent/Keysight

https://www.keysight.com/upload/cmc_upload/All/BTB_Network_2005-1.pdf See
also:
“Understanding the Fundamental Principles of Vector Network
Analysis” https://literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/5965-7707E.pdf

And see also: “Brushing up on Network Analyzer Fundamentals” Microwaves

and RF Magazine https://www.mwrf.com/print/18192

[5] “Introduction to Network Analyzer Measurements: Fundamentals and

Background”
http://download.ni.com/evaluation/rf/
Introduction_to_Network_Analyzer_Measurements.pdf

[6] “Scattering Parameters”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scattering_parameters

[7] “Scalar Network Analyzer vs Vector Network analyzer basics” RF Wireless

World
https://www.rfwireless-world.com/Terminology/SNA-Scalar-Network-Analyzer-vs-
VNA- Vector-Network-Analyzer.html
[8] “Understanding VNA Calibration” PDF, Page 6 of 36,
http://anlage.umd.edu/Anritsu_understanding-vna-
calibration.pdf

[9] “Complex Number”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_number

[10] “Understanding VNA Calibration”

http://anlage.umd.edu/Anritsu_understanding-vna- calibration.pdf
See also “VNA Calibration: the Basics” a Rhode and Schwartz White Paper
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/2497/8e60b68a24a4169eecbd0763d4a9287
037e4.pdf

(end of
document)

A typographic error in NOTE 6 has been corrected in version 1.1 of this document. A
reference to Channel 1 has been changed to Channel 0.

1
0