The Agilent Technologies 8904A Multifunction
Synthesizer uses VLSIC technology to create complex signals from six fundamental waveforms. The
standard 8904A digitally synthesizes precise sine,
square, triangle, ramp, white noise, and dc waveforms and routes these signals to a single output.
Option 001 adds three more identical internal synthesizers (channels) which can either modulate the
first synthesizer or be summed to the output. Frequency, amplitude, waveform, phase, and destination can be independently set for each synthesizer.
Available modulation types for channel A include
AM, FM, F M, DSBSC, and pulse modulation. Option
002 adds a second 50 Ω output, providing a second
separate signal for two channel applications.
Option 003 adds fast hop and digital modulation
capability to the 8904A. Option 005 allows multiple
8904As to be phase synchronized for applications
which require the use of more than one 8904A.
Option 006 changes output one of the 8904A from
a 50 Ω floating output to a 600 Ω, high-power bal-
anced output. With this option, the 8904A can
deliver 10 volts rms into a 600 Ω load from 30 Hz
to over 100 kHz. All this unique capability makes
the Agilent 8904A a powerful new tool for demanding applications like VOR, ILS, FM stereo, and communications signaling.
Agilent 8904A
Multifunction Synthesizer
dc to 600 kHz
Technical Specifications
Build complex waveforms
from common signals
2
AGILENT 8904A SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications describe the instruments’ warranted perform-
ance (<50 Ω output only unless noted) for automatic operation.
Mathematically derived characteristics denote parameters
which can be derived from specifications and knowledge of the
digital generation methods used in the 8904A. Supplemental
characteristics are intended to provide information useful in
applying the instrument by giving typical, but not warranted,
performance parameters. These are noted as “typical,” “normal,” or “approximate.”
Frequency
Range:
Sine wave: 0 Hz to 600 kHz
Square, triangle, ramp: 0 Hz to 50 kHz
Resolution: 0.1 Hz
Accuracy:
Internal 10 MHz timebase: ±50 ppm
External 10 MHz timebase: Same as accuracy and stability
of external timebase
AC amplitude (sinewave)
Range: 0 to 10 V
p-p
into a 50 Ω load
Resolution: 31/2 digits
Accuracy (Amplitude >40 mV
p-p
into 50 Ω):
1%, 0.1 Hz to 100 kHz
3%, 100 kHz to 600 kHz
Flatness (Amplitude >630 mV
p-p
into 50 Ω):
±0.1% (±0.009 dB), 0.1 Hz to 100 kHz
±1.0% (±0.09 dB), 100 kHz to 600 kHz
Spectral Purity (sine wave)
THD+N (Including spurs, amplitude >50 mV rms into 50 Ω):
–63 dBc rms (0.07%), 20 Hz to 7.5 kHz, 30 kHz BW
–63 dBc rms (0.07%), 7.5 kHz to 20 kHz, 80 kHz BW
–55 dBc rms (0.18%), 20 kHz to 100 kHz, 750 kHz BW
Phase (sine wave)
Range: 0 to 359.9°
Resolution: 0.1° or 0.001 radians
Increment Accuracy (Relative to 0° for a fixed frequency):
±0.05°, 0.1 Hz to 100 kHz
DC Amplitude
Range: 0 to ±10 V open circuit
Resolution: Three and a half digits
Accuracy: ±20 mV or ±2.1%, whichever is greater
Gaussian Noise
Spectral Characteristic: Equal energy per unit bandwidth
(“white”)
Amplitude Range: 0 to 10 V
p-p
into a 50 Ω load
1
Resolution: Three and a half digits
Mathematically Derived Characteristics
Noise Flatness (Amplitude >100 mV
p-p
into 50 Ω):
±0.5 dB, 0.1 Hz to 100 kHz
±1.0 dB, 100 kHz to 600 kHz
Supplemental Characteristics
Number of Outputs: One standard; two with Option 002
Number of Internal Channels: One standard, two with
Option 002; four with Option 001
Standard Waveforms: Sine, square, triangle, ramp, dc, and
Gaussian white noise
AC Amplitude Accuracy: Typically:
Square wave: <3% at 20 kHz
Triangle: <4% at 20 kHz
Gaussian white noise: <5%
Ramp: <7% at 20 kHz
Square Wave Rise-time/Fall-time: Typically <2.5 µs
Spurious (Typically the higher of): –50 dBc or 500 µV
p-p,
100 kHz to 600 kHz, 20 MHz BW
Noise Crest Factor: Typically >4.4
Switching Speed (via GPIB): Typically <25 ms
Typical THD+Noise in 80 kHz measurement BW (above 20 kHz,
in a 750 kHz measurement BW) at 5 V
p-p
into a 50 Ω load
Typical level flatness (1 kHz reference) at 5 V
p-p
into a
50 Ω load
1.
3
OPTION 001 SPECIFICATIONS
(50 Ω outputs only)
Modulation
Modulation for channel A ONLY, and specified for
sinewave carrier and modulation. Internal channels
B, C, and D can be used to either collectively modulate channel A with one modulation type, or can
provide simultaneous modulation of channel A with
any of the available modulation types. External
modulation is NOT possible.
Amplitude Modulation (with Option 001)
Rate: 0 Hz to 600 kHz
Depth Range: 0% to 100% of carrier amplitude
Resolution: 0.1% of carrier amplitude
Frequency Modulation (with Option 001)
Rate: 0 Hz to 600 kHz
Deviation Range: 0 Hz up to 600 kHz; however
F
carrier
+ F
deviation
≤600 kHz
Resolution: 0.1 Hz or 31/2 digits, whichever is less
Phase Modulation (with Option 001)
Rate: 0 Hz to 600 kHz
Range: 0° up to 179.9° per channel, however:
Resolution: 0.1° or 0.001 radians
Pulse or DSBSC Modulation (with Option 001)
Rate: 0 Hz to 50 kHz (up 600 kHz for DSBSC)
Summation (with Option 001)
Two, Three, or Four Channels may be summed into a single
output. Two or three channels may be summed for modulation of channel A. All combinations of channels are acceptable, EXCEPT FOR: {A+C and B+D} or {A+D and B+C} at
the same time.
Channel-to-Channel Phase Accuracy (Equal amplitude,
sinewave signals summed into one output): +0.1 degrees
or 30 ns, 0.1 Hz to 100 kHz, whichever is greater
Mathematically Derived Characteristics
AM Accuracy (The higher of): ±0.024% AM or ±0.20% of
setting, up to 20 kHz modulation rate and 100 kHz carrier,
1% to 99% depth
FM Accuracy (The higher of): ±0.1 Hz or ±0.28% of setting,
up to 20 kHz modulation rate, 20 kHz deviation, and where
F
carrier
+ F
deviation
≤100 kHz
F M Accuracy (The higher of): ±0.1° or ±0.28% of setting,
up to 20 kHz modulation rate, where:
DSBSC Peak Envelope Accuracy: Same as amplitude
accuracy, up to 20 kHz modulation rate
Phase Accuracy when One Channel is used to Modulate
Channel A (sinewave): ±0.15° or 30 ns, whichever is
greater, 0.1 Hz to 100 kHz frequency
Supplemental Characteristics
VOR Bearing Accuracy: Typically ±0.05°
AM Accuracy (At a 1 kHz rate and 600 kHz carrier):
Typically <±0.2%
FM Accuracy (At a 1 kHz rate, 20 kHz deviation, and
600 kHz carrier): Typically <±0.2% of setting
Pulse Modulation Level Accuracy: Typically 5% up to 20
kHz pulse rate
DSBSC Carrier Suppression: Typically >72 dB
Intermodulation (Two equal signals summed into one
output): Typically:
<–70 dBc, for frequencies up to 100 kHz
<–60 dBc, for frequencies 100 to 600 kHz
Specifications for level accuracy, modulation
accuracy, and spectral purity are all referenced
to the peak of the composite signal less 3 dB.
When signals are summed the specification for
each individual signal is degraded by its amplitude relative to the peak of the composite signal.
Typical SSB phase noise at 500 kHz
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