Siglent VNA calibration kit - performance

[Sariel]

Hey,

Does anyone have any experience using Siglent calibration kits (such as F603FE) with a keysight VNA?
https://siglentna.com/product/f603fe_female_3_5mm_vna_cal_kit/

It is advertised that it is very similar to keysight's 85033E kit.

How well can I expect it to perform?
(I truly need good performance up to 4.5GHz and not higher).

Thanks,

[jwet]

Since you've gotten no answers, I'll try. 

The HP mechanical standards are very, very good if used correctly and treated well. (few are treated so well in labs I've worked in).  The specs for 85032B kit, is about twice as good as the one you reference though the 600 series specs are pretty darn good.  It's like everything in engineering, what is "truly good performance".  Return losses on a load over 40 db are very good, phase error of .8 deg are very good.

If you torque these to spec, keep them in the jewelry box out of the way, they'll probably be great.  In my experience, 3.5 mm stuff has the shortest life, APC-7's are better if careful and N connectors are pretty bullet proof.

I think this new sets of Sigilent's would likely be better than something you'd find used anywhere.  When you get them, do some repeatability tests and send them back if they don't repeat.

The pricing is pretty enticing.  I have accumulated several cal standard sets over the years in all formats.  HP, Maury and Gen Rad.  I have a few lab made ones that are adequate for most of what I do and they can knock around the lab. (<2GHz).  These standards at their price might be a good starter set and could turn into lab standards if you upgrade to something fancier later.

The specs on these are close to an 8753's base specs.  The othter question is longevity- be kind to them.

[Sariel]

Thank you for you detailed answer.
I will try and compare the two sets( I will borrow the other one).

[switchabl]

It is advertised that it is very similar to keysight's 85033E kit.

I mean, just looking at their datasheet that's basically a lie, right? The load in particular is >=34dB RL versus >=46dB @0-2GHz/44dB @2-3GHz/38dB @3-9GHz for the Keysight. The open and short are also somewhat worse but the load is mostly going to determine the performance in practice.

If we give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe something was lost in translation and it is just the general design (and calibration coefficients) that is supposed to be similar and not the performance. That doesn't necesarily mean it won't work for you or that it is bad value. But it seems that you do get what you pay for in this case.

[shabaz]

It could be worth reaching out to Kirkby Microwave: https://www.kirkbymicrowave.co.uk/
since it's a similar ballpark cost (a bit more expensive but not much).
I have not purchased a cal kit from there, but, the owner (Dr. Kirkby) was very helpful in giving me advice when I needed it, and measured and provided calibration data to me, for a small charge, for a cal kit I supplied to him.