Test Equipment Solutions Datasheet

Test Equipment Solutions Ltd specialise in the second user sale, rental and distribution of
quality test & measurement (T&M) equipment. We stock all major equipment types such as
spectrum analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, power meters, logic analysers etc from
all the major suppliers such as Agilent, Tektronix, Anritsu and Rohde & Schwarz.

We are focused at the professional end of the marketplace, primarily working with customers
for whom high performance, quality and service are key, whilst realising the cost savings that
second user equipment offers. As such, we fully test & refurbish equipment in our in-house,
traceable Lab. Items are supplied with manuals, accessories and typically a full no-quibble 2
year warranty. Our staff have extensive backgrounds in T&M, totalling over 150 years of
combined experience, which enables us to deliver industry-leading service and support. We
endeavour to be customer focused in every way right down to the detail, such as offering free
delivery on sales, covering the cost of warranty returns BOTH ways (plus supplying a loan
unit, if available) and supplying a free business tool with every order.

As well as the headline benefit of cost saving, second user offers shorter lead times, higher
reliability and multivendor solutions. Rental, of course, is ideal for shorter term needs and
offers fast delivery, flexibility, try-before-you-buy, zero capital expenditure, lower risk and off
balance sheet accounting. Both second user and rental improve the key business measure of
Return On Capital Employed.

We are based near Heathrow Airport in the UK from where we supply test equipment
worldwide. Our facility incorporates Sales, Support, Admin, Logistics and our own in-house
Lab.

All products supplied by Test Equipment Solutions include:

- No-quibble parts & labour warranty (we provide transport for UK mainland addresses).
- Free loan equipment during warranty repair, if available.
- Full electrical, mechanical and safety refurbishment in our in-house Lab.
- Certificate of Conformance (calibration available on request).
- Manuals and accessories required for normal operation.
- Free insured delivery to your UK mainland address (sales).
- Support from our team of seasoned Test & Measurement engineers.
- ISO9001 quality assurance.

Test equipment Solutions Ltd

Unit 8 Elder Way
Waterside Drive
Langley
Berkshire
SL3 6EP

T: +44 (0)1753 596000

F: +44 (0)1753 596001

Email: info@TestEquipmentHQ.com
Web: www.TestEquipmentHQ.com
 Agilent 8657A/8657B
Signal Generators
Profile

Spectral performance for general-purpose test

Overview
The Agilent Technologies 8657A and 8657B signal gener-
ators are designed to test AM, FM, and pulsed receivers
as well as components. With their exceptional analog
modulation, good spectral purity, and superb output
level performance, these signal generators are ideal for
R&D, manufacturing, and support.

In-channel performance DCFM faithfully reproduces digital signals

Measurement confidence For radios with digital squelching, the 8657A and B have
The 8657A and B signal generators provide the spectral extremely stable dc-coupled FM (dcFM). The dc coupling
purity and modulation versatility needed for RF testing of low-rate tones or digital data eliminates droop, and
of communication and navigation equipment. the exceptional stability and center-frequency accuracy
when in dcFM mode eliminates the need to retune the
Low residual FM ensures wide hum and noise test margins signal generator after dcFM is selected.
Hum and noise testing requires a signal generator to
have low residual FM to ensure no measurement error. Pulse modulation with the 8657B
The residual FM of the 8657A and B provides the test High-performance pulse modulation (available on the
margins you need for the most demanding hum and 8657B) will give you confidence in your radar or pulsed
noise tests. carrier measurements. This includes rise/fall times of
<35 ns, rates from dc to 30 MHz, and better than 70 dB
Output level range and accuracy for sensitivity testing on/off ratios (fc<1030 MHz).
With a dynamic range from +13 to –143.5 dBm, the
8657A and B allow sensitivity measurements to be made
on even the most sensitive receivers. The 8657A and B
couple this with a level accuracy of ±1 dB (typically
0.5 dB) to –127 dBm across the full temperature range of
0 to 55 degrees C, to give you accurate and repeatable
measurements every time.

Low RF leakage eliminates measurement interference

Sensitivity measurements can often be masked by RF
leakage (radiated emissions). With the 8657A and B, RF
leakage is reduced to a level that assures virtually no
measurement interference.
Out-of-channel measurements with the 8657A/B Automated tests
Low single-sideband phase noise for adjacent channel selectivity Reliable output attenuators
testing With production lines requiring ever-faster throughput,
A receiver’s ability to reject unwanted signals is meas- test equipment must be more reliable than ever. Output
ured using out-of-channel tests. With its good spectral level cycling requires electromechanical relays to switch
purity, the 8657A and B make it easy to perform in and out of different attenuators to produce varying
demanding tests such as adjacent channel selectivity output levels. The 8657A and B enhance system up-time
measurements. by using a very reliable attenuator technology. The
8657A is especially dependable with its electronic atten-
Adjacent channel selectivity measures a receiver’s ability uator design. Instead of using mechanical relays for
to pick out a desired signal while rejecting a strong sig- switching the attenuators, the 8657A uses solid-state
nal one channel away. To measure adjacent channel components for setting output levels. The patented
selectivity the out-of-channel signal generator must have design uses PIN-diode switching elements with 3 million
low single-sideband (SSB) phase noise and nonharmonic hours mean time between failure rate. This exceptional
spurious content at channel spacings, otherwise the in- reliability is backed with a 5-year warranty against
channel signal is masked. The exceptional phase noise attenuator failure.
performance of the 8657A and B provides a cost-effective
solution for many out-of-channel tests. Ordering information
Please contact your Agilent Technologies Sales and
General purpose and component tests Service Office for more information or visit our website
Output power to drive high-level inputs at www.agilent.com/find/tmdir
For applications requiring high output power, the 8657A
and B can overrange beyond the +13 dBm specified out- Option Description
put level to >+16 dBm for most frequencies.
001 High-stability timebase
DCFM for VCO simulation 002 Rear-panel connections
State-of-the-art dcFM and wide FM bandwidth make the 003 Pulse modulation ( 8657B only)
8657A and B ideal sources for many VCO simulation 1BN Mil std 45662A calibration certification
applications. For example, the 8657A or B can be used to 1BP Mil std 45622A calibration with test data
replace a receiver’s VCO during design. 907 Front handle kit
908 Rack flange kit
909 Rack flange kit w/ front handle
Phase adjust to characterize phase-sensitive devices 910 Adds operation/calibration manual and two service manuals
The 8657A and B give you the ability to adjust the phase 915 Adds service manual
of the output signal in one-degree increments with W30 3-year return repair service
respect to a source that is locked to the same reference W32 3-year return calibration service
timebase. This feature makes it easy to characterize W34 3-year standards compliant calibration service
phase-detector or phase-interferometer receivers during W50 5-year return repair service
design or manufacturing. W52 5-year return calibration service
W54 5-year standards compliant calibration service

Manual tests
100 nonvolatile store/recall registers save set-up time
The 8657A and B offer as a standard feature the ability
to store 100 complete instrument states. This feature
decreases set-up time when performing repetitive tests
and reduces operator errors.

Register sequencing provides semi-automation

Stepping through the store/recall registers is easy with
the front-panel sequence keys or the rear-panel remote-
sequence connector. These features allow the user to
sequence through the storage registers in any order.

2
Technical specifications Output
Specifications describe the instruments warranted per-
formance and apply after a 30-minute warm-up. All Range (dBm)
specifications are valid over the signal generator’s entire 8657A +13 dBm to –143.5 dBm into 50 Ω,
+10 dBm to –143.5 dBm for frequencies
operating/environment range unless otherwise noted.
from 100 kHz to 1 MHz
8657B +13 dBm to –143.5 dBm into 50 Ω,
Supplemental characteristics (indicated by italic type) are +10 dBm to –143.5 dBm with pulse
intended to provide information useful in estimating modulation installed at fc<1.03 GHz
instrument capability in your application by describing Resolution 0.1 dB
typical, but not warranted, performance. Absolute level accuracy3
8657A <±1.5 dB (>+7 dBm)
Note: The upper frequency range of the 8657A is 1.04 GHz. <±1.0 dB (+7 to –127 dBm)
Specifications above 1.04 GHz apply only to the 8657B. <±1.5 dB (<–127 dBm)
8657B <±1.5 dB (>+3.5 dBm)
<±1.0 dB (+3.5 to –127 dBm)
Frequency <±1.5 dB (<–127 dBm)
Range
Level flatness
8657A 100 kHz to 1.04 GHz
100 kHz to 2.06 GHz ±0.5 dB, output level setting of 0 dBm
8657B 100 kHz to 2.6 GHz
Reverse power protection
Underrange To 10 kHz with uncalibrated output and
to maximum output frequency) 50 watts (from a 50 Ω source)
modulation.
Maximum DC voltage 8657A, 50 V
Resolution
8657B, 25 V
8657A 10 Hz
8657B 1 Hz
SWR
Accuracy and stability Same as timebase
8657A (fc(400 kHz) <1.5 for levels <–3.5 dBm
Switching speed1 <35 ms.2 (30 ms typical at 25 °C)
<2.0 for levels ≤ +13 dBm
Phase offset Output signal phase is adjustable in
8657B <1.5 for levels ≤ –6.5 dBm
1-degree nominal increments.
<2.0 for levels ≤ +13 dBm
Output impedance 50 Ω nominal
Internal reference oscillator
1. To be within 100 Hz of carrier frequency.
Std. (typ.) High-stability Option 001 2. Add 5 ms when switching to fc>1.03 GHz for the 8657B.
3. Absolute level accuracy includes allowances for detector linearity, temperature,
Aging rate ±2 ppm/yr 8657A, 1.5 x 10-8 parts/day after 10 days
flatness, attenuator accuracy and measurement uncertainty.
1.0 x 10-9 parts/day after 180 days
8657B, 1.0 x 10-9 parts/day after 45 days
Temperature
(0 to 55 °C) ±10 ppm 7 x 10-9
Line voltage 2 x 10-9 (+5%, –10%)
Frequency 50 MHz 10 MHz
Timebase reference Available at a level of >0.15 Vrms into
output (rear panel) 50 Ω (output of 10, 5, or 1 MHz is selec-
table via internal jumper). If external ref-
erence is used, output will be the same
frequency.
External reference input Accepts any 10, 5, or 1 MHz ±0.002%)
(rear panel) Frequency standard at a level
>0.15 Vrms into 50 Ω

3
Spectral purity Residual FM (CW mode, rms)
Post detection BW
SSB phase noise (in CW mode, at 20 kHz offset) (rms detector)
0.1 to 130 MHz <–124 dBc/Hz (<–130 dBc/Hz, typical) Frequency range 300 Hz to 3 kHz 50 Hz to 15 kHz1
130 to 260 MHz <–136 dBc/Hz (<–140 dBc/Hz, typical)
260 to 520 MHz <–130 dBc/Hz (<–136 dBc/Hz, typical) 0.1 to 130 MHz <4 Hz (typical <2 Hz) <6 Hz (typical <3 Hz)
520 MHz to 1.04 GHz <–124 dBc/Hz (<–130 dBc/Hz, typical) 130 to 260 MHz <1 Hz (typical <0.5 Hz) <1.5 Hz (typical <1 Hz)
1.04 to 2.06 GHz <–118 dBc/Hz (<–123 dBc/Hz, typical) 260 to 520 MHz <2 Hz (typical <1 Hz) <3 Hz (typical <1 Hz)
520 MHz to1.04 GHz 8657A, <4 Hz (typical <1 Hz) 8657A, <6 Hz
8657B, <3 Hz (typical <1 Hz) 8657B, <4 Hz (typical
<1.5 Hz)
1.04 to 2.06 GHz <6 Hz (typical <2 Hz) <8 Hz (typical <3 Hz)

1. Typical residual FM specifications for the 50 Hz to 15 kHz post detection band-

width apply only to the 8657B.

Typical Agilent 8657A SSB phase noise at 500 MHz

Typical Agilent 8657B SSB phase noise at 500 MHz

4
Residual AM (50 Hz to 15 kHz post-detection noise bandwidth, in CW Frequency modulation
mode)
<0.04% AM Maximum FM peak deviation3

Harmonics (≤+7 dBm output levels)1 Center frequency AC mode (the lesser of) DC mode
8657A <–30 dBc 0.1 to 130 MHz 4000 x rate (Hz) or DC mode 8657A, 99 kHz
8657B 0.1 to 1.03 GHz <–30 dBc max. deviation 8657B, 200 kHz
1.03 to 1.8 GHz <–25 dBc 130 to 260 MHz 1000 x rate (Hz) or DC mode 8657A, 50 kHz
1.8 to 2.06 GHz <–25 dBc max. deviation 8657B, 50 kHz
260 to 520 MHz 2000 x rate (Hz) or DC mode 8657A, 99 kHz
Subharmonics (≤+7 dBm output levels) max. deviation 8657B, 100 kHz
8657A, 8657B 0.1 to 1.03 GHz None 520 MHz to 1.04 GHz 4000 x rate (Hz) or DC mode 8657A, 99 kHz
8657B 1.03 to 1.8 GHz <–40 dBc max. deviation 8657B, 200 kHz
1.8 to 2.06 GHz <–35 dBc 1.04 to 2.06 GHz 8000 x rate (Hz) or DC mode 8657B, 400 kHz
max. deviation
Nonharmonics (CW mode)
Offset from carrier Resolution
Frequency range 5 kHz to 2 MHz >2 MHz 8657A 100 Hz for deviations < 10 kHz;
1 kHz for deviations ≥ 10 kHz
0.1 to 130 MHz 8657A, <–60 dBc <–60 dBc 8657B 100 Hz (200 Hz for carrier frequency >1.04 GHz)
8657B, <–63 dBc (typical) for deviations <20 kHz;
130 to 260 MHz 8657A, <–72 dBc <–60 dBc 200 Hz (400 Hz for carrier frequency >1.04 GHz)
8657B, <–75 dBc (typical) for deviations >20 kHz
260 to 520 MHz 8657A, <–66 dBc <–60 dBc
8657B, <–66 dBc (typical) FM rate
520 MHz to 1.04 GHz2 8657A, <–60 dBc <–60 dBc Internal 400 Hz and 1 kHz, ±2%
8657B, <–63 dBc (typical) External
1.03 to 2.06 GHz 8657B, <–57 dBc (typical) <–54 dBc (referenced to 1kHz) dc/5 Hz to 100 kHz, 3 dB bandwidth; dc/20 Hz to
50 kHz, 1 dB bandwidth

1. Spurious specifications apply for output levels ≤+4 dBm and fc<1.03 GHz when
pulse modulation is installed (8657B) only.
2. 520 MHz to 1.03 GHz for 8657B.
3. FM not specified when peak deviation is >(fc –100 kHz).

5
Center frequency accuracy in dc mode Amplitude modulation

Carrier frequency Center frequency accuracy Range

8657A3 0 to 99%, level ≤+7 dBm, fc ≥400 kHz4
0.1 to 130 MHz ±500 Hz 0 to 30%, level ≤+10 dBm, fc ≥400 kHz4
130 to 260 MHz ±125 Hz 8657B5 0 to 100%, level ≤+7 dBm, fc ≥400 kHz
260 to 520 MHz ±250 Hz 0 to 30%, level ≤+10 dBm, fc ≥400 kHz
520 MHz to 1.04 GHz ±500 Hz
1.04 to 2.06 GHz ±1000 Hz Resolution 1%

Center frequency <10 Hz per hour drift (typical <3 Hz per

stability in dc mode hour) Rates
Internal 400 Hz and 1 kHz, ±2%
Distortion (at internal rates)1 <0.5% THD plus noise (typical <1.5% for External 20 Hz to 40 kHz (1dB bandwidth);
all specified deviations and rates) 8657B, typical, 20 Hz to 100 kHz
(3 dB bandwidth)
Sensitivity 1 Vpeak for indicated accuracy, 1 Vdc
when in dc-FM mode Distortion (internal rates, level <+7 dBm)

Indicator accuracy (internal rates) <±5% of setting AM depth fc<1.04 GHz fc>1.04 GHz
0 to 30% AM <1.5% 4%
Incidental AM (peak deviations 31 to 70% AM <3.0% 4%
<20 kHz, internal rates) fc>500 kHz <0.1% AM 71 to 90% AM <4.0% 7%
fc>1.03 GHz2 <0.5% AM
Sensitivity (typical) 1 Vpeak for indicated accuracy

Indicator accuracy (for depths <90%

and internal rates and levels ≤+7 dBm) <±(2% + 6% of setting)
Incidental phase modulation
(at 30% AM depth, internal rates) <0.3 radians peak

1. 8657A only. FM distortion only specified for deviations up to 25 kHz for

130<fc<260 MHz, and for 260<fc<520 MHz.
2. 8657B only.
3. AM depth is further limited by indicator accuracy specifications.
4. 8657A only. For fc<400 kHz, AM depths of 0 to 30%, levels ≤+7 dBm.
5. 8657B only. When pulse modulation is installed, maximum specified output level
in AM is reduced by 3 dB when fc<1.03 GHz.

6
External modulation input Maximum repetition rate dc to 30 MHz, typical

Front panel BNC, 600 Ω dc-coupled; front panel annunciators indicate 1 V Level accuracy ±1.0 dB, typical
peak signal ±5%.
Duty cycle 0 to 100%, typical (limited by rise/fall
time)
Modulating signal output
Pulse modulation input BNC, high impedance (internally selec-
Internal modulating signal is provided at the front panel BNC connector at table to 50 ohms), can be driven directly
nominally 1 V peak into a 600 Ω resistive load. by TTL

Maximum input level ±15 V, typical

Simultaneous modulation
Nominal input threshold 1.6 V, typical
Internal/External AM/FM, FM/AM, AM/AM, FM/FM,
AM/FM/(Pulse1) Video feedthrough <15%, typical
Internal/Internal AM/FM
External/External AM/FM Pulse time delay2 On to off 34 ns, typical
Off to on 47 ns, typical

Pulse modulation (Agilent 8657B only)1

Remote programming
On/off ratio
fc ≥130 MHz >70 dB Interface GPIB (IEEE-488)
fc ≥1.03 GHz >95 dB
IEEE-488 functions SH0, AH1, T0, L2, SR0, RL1, PP0, DC1,
Rise/fall times DT0, C0, E1
fc ≥130 MHz >35 ns
fc ≥1.03 GHz >50 ns
1. 8657B only. Pulse modulation specifications apply for carriers >130 MHz and lev-
els ≤+7 dBm (frequency switching speed typically increases by 30 ms with pulse
modulation on). Additionally, AM is unspecified with pulse modulation turned on
at fc≥1.03 GHz.
2. Time delay between a change in input pulse and carrier response.

7
General By internet, phone, or fax, get assistance with all your
test and measurement needs.
Operating temperature range 0 to 55 °C Online Assistance
www.agilent.com/find/assist
Storage temperature range –40 to +71 °C
Phone or Fax
United States:
Leakage Conducted and radiated interference is (tel) 1 800 452 4844
within the requirements of RE02 (and
CE03 for the 8657B, except broadband Canada:
(tel) 1 877 894 4414
conducted below 70 kHz) of MIL STD
(fax) (905) 206 4120
461B, and FTZ 1046 (FTZ 1115 for
8657B). Furthermore, RF leakage of less Europe:
than 1.0 µV is induced in a two-turn (tel) (31 20) 547 2323
loop, 2.5 cm in diameter, held 2.5 cm (fax) (31 20) 547 2390
away from the front surface. (Typical Japan:
leakage for the 8657Bis <0.05 µV for (tel) (81) 426 56 7832
levels <–40 dBm.) (fax) (81) 426 56 7840
Latin America:
Save/recall/sequence 100 non-volatile registers are available (tel) (305) 269 7500
storage registers to save front panel settings. (fax) (305) 269 7599
Australia:
Rear-panel SEQ input level TTL low to recall next storage register (tel) 1 800 629 485
contents. (fax) (61 3) 9272 0749
New Zealand:
Power requirements 100 or 120 or 220 or 240 volts (+5%, (tel) 0 800 738 378
–10% for 8657A; ±10% for 8657B) from (fax) (64 4) 495 8950
48 to 440 Hz; 160 VA maximum for
Asia Pacific:
8657A (200 VA maximum for 8657B).
(tel) (852) 3197 7777
IEC 1010 compliant. (fax) (852) 2506 9284
Product specifications and descriptions in this
Weight 8657A, net 18.2 kg (40 lb);
document subject to change without notice.
shipping 23.6 kg (52 lb)
Copyright © 1998, 2000 Agilent Technologies
8657B, net 20.5 kg (45 lb);
Printed in U.S.A. 8/00
shipping 26.0 kg (57 lb) 5968-2704E

Dimensions 133 mm H x 425 mm W x 574 mm D

(5.25 in H x 16.75 in W x 22.6 in D)