2-4 Installation and Service Guide N5251-90001
System Description
Basic System Measurement Configurations
PNA Series Microwave Network Analyzer System 
N5251A
Basic System Measurement Configurations
The
 N5251A can be used in either of two basic configurations, depending on how the test ports 
are connected to the device under test (DUT): coaxial measurement configuration or wafer 
probe measurement configuration.
Input power to the test ports must not exceed +27 dBm. Input power in excess 
of this level will damage expensive components. Observe proper precautions, 
especially when measuring amplifiers with gains of 20 dB or greater.
Coaxial Measurement
This configuration is used
 when the DUT has coaxial connectors. The N5251A test ports have 1.0 
mm coaxial connectors, and are designed to cover a frequency range of  10 MHz to 110 GHz.
In this configuration, the test head modules are placed on a work bench in front of the millimeter 
head controller.
The DUT is normally connected to the test ports by way of a 1.0 mm coaxial cable (test port 
cable). Connect the DUT to Port 1 (left test head module) directly, and to Port 2 (right test head 
module) by way of a test cable. It is also possible to connect the DUT using a test port cable on 
each test port, although this configuration will result in greater signal loss.
Do not attempt to connect a test device directly between the two 1.0 mm test 
ports, without at
 least one test port cable. The test head modules will not move 
freely enough to allow such a connection to be made safely. 
Figure 2-2 on page 2-5 shows how the instruments are configured on a work bench for the 
coaxial measurement configuration. The test head modules are placed on the
 bench top in 
front of the PNA and controller.