Detailed Specifications

Characteristic	Rating
Connector	3.5mm Female
Frequency Range	DC-3GHz

State	OPEN
Typical delay (ps)	65.0

State	SHORT
Typical delay (ps)	66.0
BODE SHORT Delay	8ps

LOAD Return Loss (dB)
	50 MHz	450 MHz	1 GHz	3 GHz
Typical	62.9	47.7	36.4	25.8
Minimum	57.4	38.8	>30	19.8

DC Resistance	50 +/- 0.05 Ω
Max Power Rating	125mW

THROUGH Phase Delay (degrees)
	50 MHz	450 MHz	1 GHz	3 GHz
Typical	140.0	132.1	135.2	131.0

THROUGH Return Loss (dB)
	50 MHz	450 MHz	1 GHz	3 GHz
Typical	44.67	37.30	29.10	26.23

THROUGH Insertion Loss (dB)
	50 MHz	450 MHz	1 GHz	3 GHz
Typical	55.5	0.0022	0.0520	0.1475

ISO-SHORT Insertion Loss (dB)
	50 MHz	450 MHz	1 GHz	3 GHz
Typical			72.0

DUT Mount Time Delay (ps)
	50 MHz	450 MHz	1 GHz	3 GHz
Typical	145.0	137.2	135.2	135.9

Power rating, max. LOAD – 125 mW 

Weight, approx.: 20 g 

Dimensions, approx.: 1.5” x 3.75” x 0.45” 

Environmental conditions Operating temperature: -10 °C to +55 °C  

UC 10 Connectors 

The 3.5mm connector is similar to a higher-quality SMA. The key difference lies inside: the 3.5mm connector uses an air dielectric. This eliminates the performance inconsistencies associated with the Teflon interface in SMAs. Furthermore, its outer conductor wall is thicker, giving it superior mechanical strength and durability. This makes the 3.5mm connector a favorite for laboratory and test applications where repeatable measurements are paramount and better performance up to 34 GHz. It is safe to mate with SMA and 2.92mm connectors (Group 1 (1/4-36UNS Thread): SMA, 3.5mm, 2.92mm). 

Ground loop isolation: 

To remove the ground loop in the 2-port measurement setup a ground loop isolator is necessary. Picotest make a number of these devices in the J2102B, J2113A, J2114A or J2115A. 

Model	Description	Price
UC10	Universal 6-Way Calibrator, 3.5mm. Includes calibrated torque wrench, matching component mounts (1 with 1.2nH and one blank), and board holder.	Add to Cart

The Picotest UC10 3.5mm Universal 6-Way Calibrator enables the highest accuracy 1- and 2-port measurements for the OMICRON Lab Bode 100 and Bode 500, as well as supporting calibration for other traditional VNAs.  

It consists of the UC10 Calibration board with a matching (size) calibration board (mounting PCB). The UC10 pairs with the Bode Suite’s Full-Range or User Calibration feature for component test and characterization. It enables the new Bode Analyzer Suite SPICE Modeling features as well, given it allows proper magnitude and phase measurement, essential for accurate SPICE model generation and measurement to simulation correlation.   

The UC10 works from DC-3 GHz with 3.5mm female (50 Ω) connectors. It is characterized by very low return and insertion loss values over the entire operating frequency range from DC to 3 GHz.  Both 1-port and 2-port calibrations are supported for both S domain and Z domain. 

The Bode 100 and Bode 500 VNAs employ non-traditional Z-Domain (Impedance) calibration without support for known calibration kits. This method allows a much simpler process using only 3 calibrations, 2-port OPEN (THROUGH as marked on the Calibrator), 2-Port Load (2PM), and 2 Port Iso-Short (ISO-SHORT). This calibrator is utilized with the existing Bode 100/500 calibration dialogs.  

The Iso-Short is the most complex, requiring both ground loop correction and an ‘ideal’ short. Lacking port extensions or Automatic Fixture Removal (AFR) support, de-embedding the mounting PCB is best accomplished by making the component mounting board match the calibrator, which in the case of the provided Picotest mounting PCBs, they do. Precise fabrication and material control of the calibrator and the associated component DUT mounting board impedance and time delay assure accurate measurement and de-embedding. This is how the UC10 achieves the phase accuracy and the uOhm/fH impedance floor. 

Bode VNA Usage 

The Bode 100/500 VNAs do not offer calibration kit support. They do not use SOLT or SOLR calibration for 2-port measurements. And they don’t offer port extensions, fixture removal or embedding/de- embedding. However, the Bode 100/500 uses a Z parameter calibration, that is more direct and accurate up to its full bandwidth, 450MHz.  

Therefore, the lack of Cal-Kit support requires that users calibrate the measurement differently. A traditional VNA such as the Keysight E5061B, or the R&S ZNL/ZNB uses 8 calibrations to create accurate 2-port impedance measurements at the cable connectors. The DUT mounting board is then de-embedded (removed) using Port Extensions or Automatic Fixture Removal.  

To perform a calibration with the Bode 100/500 you 

• Connect the UC10 in a 2-port shunt through test configuration. 

• Perform the Open calibration with the UC10 connected at the THROUGH connectors 

• Perform the Short calibration with the UC10 connected at the ISO-SHORT connectors  

• Perform the Load calibration with the UC10 connected at the Bode-LOAD connectors 

• Connect and measure your component using the supplied mounting board. 

Bode 100/500 Example Measurement 

In summary, the UC10 calibrator offers all necessary calibration standards in one handy unit. It is the optimal solution for complete calibration of a network analyzer. With precision matched mounting boards the calibration and de-embedding of the printed circuit boards are performed simultaneously for either S parameter or Z parameter supported methods.  

The UC10 calibrator can be used with the E5061B for either full 2-port calibration or impedance calibration.  When using the precision matched component mounting boards the mount can also be de-embedded at the same time.  For full 2-port calibration: 

1. Select full 2-port calibration 

2. Perform port 1 OPEN, SHORT and LOAD calibrations using the SOL connectors on the UC10 calibrator. 

3. Perform port 2 OPEN, SHORT and LOAD calibrations using the SOL connectors on the UC10 calibrator. 

4. Using a blank mount (no component) perform a Flush THROUGH calibration 

5. Connect and measure the mounted component on the matching component mount. 

For impedance calibration 

1. Create or select an ideal cal kit 

2. Select impedance calibration for 2-port shunt through 

3. Perform OPEN (Through) 

4. Perform Short (Iso-short) 

5. Perform 2 port Load (2PM) 

6. Connect and measure the mounted component on the matching component mount. 

So long as the components to be measured are mounted on the matching PCB, the results will be correct with the PCB de-embedded. The component measurement still includes its own electrical length, which also needs to be removed for EM simulation.  

1.2nH Inductor Characterization 

The UC10 calibration kit includes a blank component mount and a 1.2nH +/- 100pH mounted chip inductor for confidence testing. Testing results for the inductor are shown below. 

Typical Specifications

See UC Specifications and Statistics.xlsx

Weight, approx.: 20 g

Dimensions, approx.: 1.5” x 3.75” x 0.45”

Environmental conditions Operating temperature: -10 °C to +55 °C

UC 10 Connectors

The 3.5mm connector is similar to a higher-quality SMA. The key difference lies inside: the 3.5mm connector uses an air dielectric. This eliminates the performance inconsistencies associated with the Teflon interface in SMAs. Furthermore, its outer conductor wall is thicker, giving it superior mechanical strength and durability. This makes the 3.5mm connector a favorite for laboratory and test applications where repeatable measurements are paramount and better performance up to 34 GHz. It is safe to mate with SMA and 2.92mm connectors (Group 1 (1/4-36UNS Thread): SMA, 3.5mm, 2.92mm).

Ground loop isolation:

To remove the ground loop in the 2-port measurement setup a ground loop isolator is necessary. Picotest make a number of these devices in the J2102B, J2113A, J2114A or J2115A.