The AEM Networks 26.5 GHz Handheld VNA & TDR Adapter transforms the portable TestPro platform into a high-frequency, dual-mode test solution for laboratory, production and field environments. Operating from 1 MHz to 26.5 GHz, it brings advanced RF measurement capability closer to where cables, harnesses and interconnects are actually built, installed and maintained – reducing dependence on dedicated laboratory equipment.
As automotive, telecom, aerospace and other high-speed systems operate at higher frequencies, lower-frequency testing may no longer reveal all the defects that can affect signal integrity. Testing up to 26.5 GHz allows cables, connectors, and interconnects to be evaluated closer to their actual operating bandwidth, helping expose small discontinuities, transmission losses and other high-frequency performance issues that may otherwise go undetected.
The handheld TDR option is designed primarily for cable diagnostics and fault location. It operates on the TestPro platform and provides TDR, Return Loss, and Insertion Loss measurements, together with PASS/FAIL limits, visual fault mapping, reference-cable comparison, and harness profiles.
The VNA option provides full 2-port S-parameter measurements (S11, S12, S21 & S22) across the adapter’s full 1 MHz–26.5 GHz frequency range, with ±2 ppm frequency accuracy. These measurements allow engineers to analyse both the transmission and reflection characteristics of cables, connectors, and RF interconnects.
Results can be viewed as S-parameter magnitude vs. frequency, phase, real/imaginary components, or time-domain impulse and step response — and combined into calculated parameters such as ACR-N, ACR-F, Power Sum NEXT, and other formula-based measurements for differential and crosstalk analysis. Testing can run in Single-Ended or Dual-Ended mode, with configurable dynamic range settings to balance noise floor performance against test speed.
The handheld TDR option supports Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR), Return Loss, and Insertion Loss, with a TDR resolution of 13 ps / approximately 3.8 mm spatial resolution — fine enough to identify small impedance discontinuities and closely spaced connector-level faults.
Test results can be viewed as PASS/FAIL, or as INFO-only depending on the RF limit selected — Insertion Loss results, for example, only carry a Pass/Fail verdict when a limit with insertion loss thresholds is applied. Fault locations are shown either as an Event Table (listing distance and fault type) or an Event Map (a graphical view of the cable), so technicians don’t need to interpret raw TDR waveforms directly.
The unit also provides:
The platform supports the following standards:
This makes it suitable for validating high-speed automotive Ethernet cables and harnesses — including ADAS, battery management system (BMS), and other in-vehicle network applications where signal integrity at increasing data rates is critical.
Attach a micro-USB cable between the tester with 26.5 GHz adapter and your PC — or use the RJ45 Ethernet port if you prefer a network connection instead of USB. Connect the 5V DC power supply and press the power button — a green LED confirms it’s powered on, and the “heartbeat” LED will blink steadily to indicate normal operation. In VNA Manager Pro, click Scan to detect the device’s IP address (default 192.168.7.2), then Connect.
The platform is IP-addressable through Ethernet, allowing users to access measurement data and support remote monitoring across production floors or distributed test locations. For the VNA option, the system can connect to a PC over Ethernet and be controlled through VNA Manager Pro or custom API commands, enabling testing to be managed remotely rather than requiring an engineer to be physically beside the instrument.
Enhance your testing capabilities with our advanced OTDR test adapters. Designed to seamlessly integrate with both NSA and TestPro systems, these adapters are the perfect solution for accurate and reliable fiber optic testing.
