Building BNC and UHF Calibration Loads for the VNA2180
By Phil Salas – AD5X
This article is a companion to the Product Review of the VNA2180 that appeared in
March 2011 QST .
For maximum accuracy, BNC and UHF calibration loads should be used when making measurements on equipment and components with these connectors.
BNC calibration loads are easily built into RG-58 BNC crimp-on connectors. The parts list is shown in Table 1. Mouser ( www.mouser.com
) part numbers are shown.
Table 1: BNC Calibration-Loads Parts List
QTY Description
3 BNC crimp-on connectors 601-27-9208
1 49.9
Ω 1% ¼-watt resistor 71-CMF5549R900FHEK
1 Buss wire or resistor lead
1 Toothpick
1 Dab of epoxy
For the BNC 50 ohm load, clip one 49.9 ohm resistor lead just long enough to go into the
BNC center pin and solder the resistor lead to the pin. Slide the center pin/resistor into the BNC plug, fold the resistor lead over the BNC collar, and solder the lead to the collar.
The short circuit is assembled the same way, using just a resistor lead or buss wire.
For the open circuit, insert the BNC center pin into the plug. Coat a toothpick end with epoxy and push the toothpick into the BNC plug so it is snug against the center pin.
When the epoxy cures, snip-off the excess toothpick.
When complete, put heat-shrink tubing over the BNC collars and mark with a silver
Sharpie TM pen ( ∞ , 0, and 50). Photo A shows parts prior to assembly, and Photo B shows a 50 ohm marked load.
Photo A: 50 Ohm Load & Open BNC parts Photo B: Final BNC 50 ohm load

The UHF calibration loads are also easy to build. The 50 ohm load consists of two 100 ohm resistors in parallel. Begin by putting a slight bend in the end of one lead of each resistor. Slide one resistor through the UHF center pin, bent lead end first, and feed the resistor lead through one of the shield holes in the connector. Pull the resistor through so it clears the pin inside the connector. Do the same for the second resistor. Solder the resistor leads in the UHF connector center pin, and then solder the ground ends of the resistors to the UHF body. The UHF short is built the same way, only use two pieces of bus wire or resistor leads. An empty UHF connector is used for the open circuit. The parts list is shown in Table 2. Photos of the before and after UHF 50 ohm load is shown in Photos C & D below. The connectors were marked with Casio labeling tape.
Table 2: UHF Calibration-Loads Parts List
QTY Description
3 PL-259 523-83-1SP-1050
2 100 Ω 1% ¼-watt resistor 660-MF1/4D52R1000F
1 Buss wire or resistor lead
Photo C: PL259 and two 100 ohm resistors Photo D: Final 50 ohm load
The return loss of the 50 ohm loads was measured at 180 MHz with a spectrum analyzer/tracking generator and Minicircuits ZFDC-20-5 directional coupler. N adapters were used for the BNC and UHF connectors. The results are shown in Table 3. As you can see, the performance of the homebrew loads is excellent.
Load Return Loss/VSWR
Supplied Array Solutions N-load
Precision Array Solutions N-load (optional)
36dB/ 1.03
42dB/1.01