scope:

Balun-less measurement methods, nomenclature, and fixtures are defined for measurement of transmission parameters of four-pair (16 port) devices typically utilizing multi-port network analyzers. The methods and fixtures have shown to facilitate measurement of all differential mode, mixed mode, and common mode transmission parameters up to 1 GHz. Test interface performance specifications above 1GHz are under study.

Purpose

Removal of the balun transformers from the measurement circuit allows extension of the bandwidth of testing up to the inherent capabilities of the network analyzer and the associated test fixtures. Elimination of baluns also allows the DUT to be tested with both differential mode stimulus or response, or common mode stimulus or response. This enables testing of mixed mode parameters such as TCL, TCTL and cross-modal NEXT and FEXT couplings without reconfiguration of the DUT or the measurement setup.