Every camera, radar module, and domain controller in a modern vehicle depends on the data cables that connect it. As vehicles take on more autonomous functions, those harnesses must meet tight RF performance requirements, and a defect that slips past the end of the line can surface as a safety issue in the field. AEM Networks built the MMVNA to make full RF characterization of automotive harnesses practical at production speed and production cost.

The MMVNA is a compact, eight-port vector network analyzer purpose-built for twisted pair and coaxial cables and components. It performs mixed-mode S-parameter measurements in single-ended or differential configurations, capturing up to 256 S-parameter combinations in a single sweep that takes seconds. Where a traditional benchtop analyzer consumes bench space and a large share of the capital budget, the MMVNA delivers lab-grade accuracy in a small footprint at a fraction of the cost, with the lowest cost and size per port in its class.

Proven on the production line
Leading automotive harness manufacturers have used the MMVNA for end-of-line testing for years, and it has been integrated into leading test table solutions. Engineers configure tests around each harness’s construction, set limits on any or all S-parameters, and get a clear result with traceable reports through AEM’s VNA Manager Pro software. Multiple analyzers can be combined to cover harnesses with higher port counts, and each unit is IP addressable, so test plans can be configured remotely and applied uniformly across plants. For automated lines, the MMVNA integrates with existing test software through a TCP/IP socket and command interface.

Ready for next-generation data rates
The MMVNA characterizes cabling up to 3 GHz and can measure end-to-end performance of Single Pair Ethernet runs up to 1 km. For programs moving to higher-speed links, AEM’s K6GVNA-KIT adds a 6 GHz four-port analyzer that works with the same VNA Manager Pro software, so harness makers can qualify next-generation SPE and other high-speed cabling on a platform their teams already know.

From design to service bay
The MMVNA is equally at home in the lab, where design teams use it to validate plugs, jacks, and harness assemblies before release to production. AEM’s Connector Test System pairs the analyzer with non-destructive pogo-pin fixtures and calibration kits, allowing 100% inspection of automotive connectors without damaging parts. For continuity and resistance checks, the AHT-128 Cable Harness Tester scales from 128 to 1,024 test points, and TestPro Automotive extends RF troubleshooting to harnesses installed in the vehicle.

Together, these tools give OEMs and harness suppliers one partner for high-speed data harness validation, from first prototype to final assembly and service. See the MMVNA in action at the AEM booth.