Agilent E4428C Data Sheet

Agilent
E4428C ESG
Analog Signal Generator

Data Sheet

All specifications apply over a 0 to 55 °C range (unless otherwise
stated) and apply after a 45 minute warm-up time. Supplemental
characteristics, denoted as typical, nominal, or measured, provide
additional (non-warranted) information at 25 °C, which may be
useful in the application of the product.

Definitions

Specifications: Represents warranted performance.

Typical: Represents characteristic performance which is non-warranted. Describes

performance that will be met by a minimum of 80% of all products. All typical values
are indicated by parenthesis.

Nominal: Represents characteristic performance which is non-warranted. Represents
the value of a parameter that is most likely to occur; the expected mean or average.

Measured: Represents characteristic performance which is non-warranted.
Represents the value of a parameter measured on an instrument during design stage.

2

Key Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Specifications for Frequency and Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Sweep modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Internal reference oscillator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Output power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Spectral purity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Specifications for Analog Modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Frequency bands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Frequency modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Phase modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Amplitude modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Wideband AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Pulse modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Internal analog modulation source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

External modulation inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Composite modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Simultaneous modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

General Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Operating characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Inputs and outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Related Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Table of Contents

3

• Industry-leading spectral purity

• Superior level accuracy

• High output power

• High-stability timebase

• Wideband FM and FM

• Excellent modulation accuracy and stability

• Step and list sweep, both frequency and power

• Built-in function generator

• Lightweight, rack-mountable

• 2-year calibration cycle

• Option 503, frequency range from 250 kHz to 3 GHz (electronic attenuator standard)

• Option 506, frequency range from 250 kHz to 6 GHz (mechanical attenuator only)

• Option UNB, higher output with mechanical attenuator

Note: Option 506 is standard with the high power mechanical attenuator used in
Option UNB, and therefore, both options cannot be ordered together.

• Option 1EM, move all front panel connectors to rear panel

Key Features

Key standard features

Optional performance

4

Frequency range

Option

503 250 kHz to 3 GHz [electronic attenuator standard]

506 250 kHz to 6 GHz [mechanical attenuator only]

Frequency minimum 100 kHz

1

Frequency resolution 0.01 Hz

Frequency switching speed

Option 503 Option 506

Freq.2Freq./Amp.

3

Freq.2Freq./Amp.

3

(< 9 ms) (< 9 ms) (< 16 ms) (< 17 ms)

[For hops < 5 MHz within a band]

(< 9 ms) (< 9 ms) (< 12 ms) (< 14 ms)

Phase offset Phase is adjustable remotely [LAN, GPIB, RS-232] or via front panel

in nominal 0.1 ° increments

Operating modes Frequency step, amplitude step and arbitrary list

Dwell time 1 ms to 60 s

Number of points 2 to 401

Stability

Aging rate < ±0.1 ppm/yr or

< ±0.0005 ppm/day after 45 days
Temp [0 to 55° C] (< ±0.05 ppm)
Line voltage (< ±0.002 ppm)
Line voltage range (+5% to –10%)

RF reference input requirements

Frequency 1, 2, 5, 10 MHz ±0.2 ppm

RF reference output

Frequency 10 MHz
Amplitude 4 dBm ±2 dB

Specifications for Frequency and Power

1. Performance below 250 kHz not guaranteed.

2. To within 0.1 ppm of final frequency above 250 MHz or within 100 Hz below 250 MHz.

3. Frequency switching time with the amplitude settled within ±0.1 dB.

Sweep modes

Internal reference oscillator

Frequency

5

Power

Option 503 Option UNB Option 506

250 kHz to 250 MHz +11 to –136 dBm +15 to –136 dBm +12 to –136 dBm
> 250 MHz to 1 GHz +13 to –136 dBm +17 to –136 dBm +14 to –136 dBm
> 1 to 3 GHz +10 to –136 dBm +16 to –136 dBm +13 to –136 dBm
> 3 to 6 GHz N/A N/A +10 to –136 dBm

Maximum available power (measured)

Level resolution 0.02 dB

Level range with Attenuator Hold active

Option 503 Option UNB Option 506

250 kHz to 1 GHz 23 dB 27 dB 24 dB
> 1 to 3 GHz 20 dB 26 dB 23 dB
> 3 to 6 GHz N/A N/A 20 dB

Specifications for Frequency and Power

Power [dB]

3000

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12

10

Frequency [MHz]

4000

Option 503

5000 60000 1000

2000

Option 506

Option UNB

Output power

6

Level accuracy [dB]

Option 503

1

Power level

+7 to –50 to –110 to < –127 dBm
–50 dBm –110 dBm –127 dBm

250 kHz to 2.0 GHz ±0.5 ±0.5 ±0.7 (±1.5)

2.0 to 3 GHz ±0.6 ±0.6 ±0.8 (±2.5)

Option UNB

2

Power level

+10 to –50 to –110 to < –127 dBm
–50 dBm –110 dBm –127 dBm

250 kHz to 2.0 GHz ±0.5 ±0.7 ±0.8 (±1.5)

2.0 to 3 GHz ±0.6 ±0.8 ±1.0 (±2.5)

Option 506

3

Power level

+7 to –50 to –110 to < –127 dBm
–50 dBm –110 dBm –127 dBm

250 kHz to 2.0 GHz ±0.6 ±0.8 ±0.8 (±1.5)

2.0 to 3 GHz ±0.6 ±0.8 ±1.0 (±2.5)
3 to 4 GHz ±0.8 ±0.9 ±1.5 (±2.5)
4 to 6 GHz ±0.8 ±0.9 (±1.5)

Level accuracy with ALC off (±0.15 dB) [relative to ALC on]

Conditions: After power search is executed.

Level switching speed

Option 503 Option UNB Option 506

Normal operation [ALC on] (< 15 ms) (< 21 ms) (< 21 ms)
When using power search manual (< 83 ms) (< 95 ms) (< 95 ms)
When using power search auto (< 103 ms) (< 119 ms) (< 119 ms)

Specifications for Frequency and Power

1. Quoted specifications for 23 °C ±5 °C. Accuracy degrades by less than 0.03 dB/°C over full temperature range. Accuracy degrades by 0.3 dB above +7 dBm,
and by 0.8 dB above +10 dBm.

2. Quoted specifications for 23 °C ±5 °C. Accuracy degrades by less than 0.03 dB/°C over full temperature range. Accuracy degrades by 0.2 dB above +10 dBm,
and by 0.8 dB above +13 dBm.

3. Quoted specifications for 23 °C ±5 °C. Accuracy degrades by less than 0.02 dB/°C over full temperature range. Accuracy degrades by 0.2 dB above +7 dBm.

(

)

Option 503 level accuracy at –110 dBm (measured) Option 506 level accuracy at –110 dBm (measured)

1

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0

Error (dB)

–0.2

–0.4

–0.6

–0.8

–1

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

Option 503 Level Accuracy at -110 dBm (Measured)

Frequency (MHz)

1

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

dB

0

Error

–0.2

–0.4

–0.6

–0.8

–1

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000

Option 506 Level Accuracy at –110 dBm (Measured)

Frequency (MHz)

Note: Special Option HF8 is required
for frequency capability up to 7 GHz

7

Specifications for Frequency and Power

1. Repeatability and relative level accuracy are typical for all frequency ranges.

Repeatability

1900 MHz CW, 5 dBm, attenuator hold On, ALC On

0

20 40

60

80

100

120

Elapsed time (minutes)

Powererror (dB)

0.1

0.09

0.08

0.07

0.06

0.05

0.04

0.03

0.02

0.01

0

Typical unit
Limits

Repeatability

1900 MHz CW, 5 dBm, attenuator hold Off, ALC Off

0

1

Elapsed time (minutes)

Power error (dB)

0.5

0.45

0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.10

0.05

0

2 3 54 6 71 8 910

Typical unit
Limits

Relative level accuracy

Initial power 7 dBm

0

-20 -40 -60

Final power (dBm)

Power error (dB)

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0

-0.1

-0.2

-0.3

-0.4

-140

-120-80 -100

Lower limit
Lower STD deviation
Mean
Upper STD deviation
Upper limit

Repeatability measures the ability of the instrument to return to a given power setting after a
random excursion to any other frequency and power setting. It is a relative measurement that
reflects the difference in dB between the maximum and minimum power readings for a given
setting over a specific time interval. It should not be confused with absolute power accuracy,
which is measured in dBm.

1

Relative level accuracy measures the accuracy of a step change from any power level to any
other power level. This is useful for large changes (i.e. 5 dB steps).

1

Repeatability and linearity

8

1. Repeatability and relative level accuracy are typical for all frequency ranges.

Linearity

CW, 1900 MHz, attenuator hold On, ALC On

-10

-8 -6 -4 -2

0

812

Amplitude (dBm)

ALC offset error (dB)

0.3

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0

-0.05

-0.1

-0.15

-0.2

-0.25

-0.3

14 16

10

2

46

Typical Option 503 unit

Typical Option UNB unit

Typical Option 506 unit

Lower limit

Upper limit

Linearity

CW 5750 MHz, attenuator hold On, ALC On

-10

-8

amplitude (dBm)

ALC offset error (dB)

0.3

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0

-0.05

-0.1

-0.15

-0.2

-0.25

-0.3

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10

Mean, Option 506 unit

Lower Option 503 deviation

Upper Option 503 deviation

Lower limit

Upper limit

Linearity measures the accuracy of small changes while the attenuator
is held in a steady state (to avoid power glitches). This is useful for fine
resolution changes.

1

Specifications for Frequency and Power

Linearity

CW, 850 MHz, attenuator hold On, ALC On

-10

-8 -6 -4 -2 0 8

12

Amplitude (dBm)

ALC offset error (dB)

0.3

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0

-0.05

-0.1

-0.15

-0.2

-0.25

-0.3

-0.35

-0.4
141024 6

Typical Option 503 unit

Typical Option UNB unit

Typical Option 506 unit

Lower limit

Upper limit

16

Limit is undefined above 13 dBm

for Option 503 units. Limit line applies

only to UNB and 506 units.