Atec Agilent-8902A User Manual

The Agilent Technologies 8902A measuring receiver
delivers the accuracy and resolution of a high per­formance power meter at frequencies from 150 kHz
to 1.3 GHz (50 MHz to 26.5 GHz with the Agilent
11793A microwave converter) and levels from
+30 dBm to –127 dBm. It accurately measures AM,
FM, and fM, including residuals and incidentals,
with a single keystroke. The 8902A measuring

receiver, with the 11793A, counts RF signals to

26.5 GHz with 10 Hz resolution and excellent long­term frequency stability. The 8902A measuring
receiver with Option 050 offers increased power
measurement accuracy. This option specifies Tuned
RF Level on the 8902A measuring receiver to an
accuracy of ±(0.015 dB + 0.005 dB/10 dB step).

Agilent 8902A

Measuring Receiver

Technical Specifications

Agilent 11722A Sensor Module
Agilent 11792A Sensor Module
Agilent 11793A Microwave Converter
Agilent 11812A Verification Kit

2

AGILENT 8902A MEASURING RECEIVER*
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Specifications describe the test set’s warranted performance

and are valid over the entire operation and environmental
ranges unless otherwise noted. All specifications are valid
after a 30-minute warm-up period of continuous opera­tion, and within the frequency ranges defined below.

Supplemental characteristics are intended to provide
additional information useful in applying the instru­ment by giving typical, but non-warranted performance
parameters. These characteristics are shown in Italics
and labeled as “nominal,” “typical,” or “supplemental.”

* Shaded text signifies measurements made with the

8902A measuring receiver using the 11793A microwave
converter and 11792A sensor module. With this config­uration, all standard 8902A specifications apply except
where changes are shown as shaded text.

Frequency Modulation

RATES1:

20 Hz to 10 kHz, 150 kHz ≤ f

c

<10 MHz.

20 Hz to 200 kHz, 10 MHz ≤ f

c

≤1300 MHz.

20 Hz to 200 kHz, 10 MHz ≤ f

c

≤26.5 GHz.

DEVIATIONS

1

:

40 kHz

peak

maximum, 150 kHz ≤ f

c

<10 MHz.

400 kHz

peak

maximum, 10 MHz ≤ fc≤1300 MHz.

400 kHz

peak

maximum, 10 MHz ≤ fc≤26.5 GHz.

ACCURACY

1, 2, 3

:

FM Accuracy Frequency Range Rates Deviations

±2% of reading 250 kHz – 10 MHz 20 Hz – 10 kHz ≤40 kHz

peak

±1 digit

±1% of reading 10 MHz – 1300 MHz 50 Hz – 100 kHz ≤400 kHz

peak

±1 digit

±5% of reading 10 MHz – 1300 MHz 20 Hz – 200 kHz ≤400 kHz

peak

±1 digit

±1% of reading 10 MHz – 26.5 GHz 50 Hz – 100 kHz ≤400 kHz

peak

±1 digit

±5% of reading 10 MHz – 26.5 GHz 20 Hz – 200 kHz ≤400 kHz

peak

±1 digit

For rms detector add ±3% of reading.

DEMODULATED OUTPUT DISTORTION

1, 4

:

THD Frequency Range Rates Deviations

<0.1% 400 kHz – 10 MHz 20 Hz – 10 kHz <10 kHz

<0.1% 10 MHz – 1300 MHz 20 Hz – 100 kHz <100 kHz

<0.1% 10 MHz – 26.5 GHz 20 Hz – 100 kHz <100 kHz

AM REJECTION (50 Hz to 3 kHz BW)3:

AM Rejection Frequency Range Rates AM Depths

<20 Hz peak 150 kHz – 1300 MHz 400 Hz or 1 kHz ≤50%

deviation

<20 Hz peak 150 kHz – 26.5 GHz 400 Hz or 1 kHz ≤50%

deviation

RESIDUAL FM (50 Hz to 3 kHz BW):

<8 Hz

rms

at 1300 MHz, decreasing linearly with

frequency to <1 Hz

rms

for 100 MHz and below.

<17 Hz

rms'

1300 MHz <f

c

≤6.2 GHz.

<33 Hz

rms'

6.2 GHz <f

c

≤12.4 GHz.

<49 Hz

rms'

12.4 GHz <f

c

≤18.6 GHz.

<65 Hz

rms'

18.6 GHz <f

c

≤26.5 GHz.

Supplemental Characteristics:

MAXIMUM FM DEVIATION, RESOLUTION, AND
MAXIMUM DEMODULATED OUTPUT SENSITIVITY

ACROSS AN OPEN CIRCUIT (600 Ω output impedance)

5

:

Maximum Maximum Demodulated Deviations

Resolution Output Sensitivity (DF)

100 Hz 0.01 mV/Hz DF

peak

≥ 40 kHz

10 Hz 0.1 mV/Hz 4.0 kHz ≤

DF

peak

<40 kHz

1 Hz 1.0 mV/Hz DF

peak

< 4 kHz

0.1 Hz 1.0 mV/ Hz DF

rms

< 0.3 kHz

(rms detector only)

Resolution is increased one digit with 750 µs de-empha­sis and pre-display on.

The demodulated output signal present at the
Modulation Out/Audio In connector is increased in
amplitude by a factor of 10 with 750 µs de-emphasis.

DEMODULATED OUTPUT DISTORTION

1, 4

:

THD Frequency Range Rates Deviations

<0.3% 150 kHz – 400 kHz 20 Hz – 10 kHz <10 kHz

<0.1% 400 kHz – 10 MHz 20 Hz – 10 kHz <10 kHz

<0.1% 10 MHz – 26.5 GHz 20 Hz – 100 kHz <100 kHz

DETECTORS: +peak, – peak, ±peak/2, peak hold, average (rms
sinewave calibrated), rms.

STEREO SEPARATION (50 Hz to 15 kHz): >47 dB.

1. But not to exceed: 20 kHz rates and 40 kHz peak deviations with 750 µs de­emphasis filter.

2. Not to exceed for stated accuracy: 50 Hz to 40 kHz rates with rms detector.

3. Peak residuals must be accounted for in peak readings.

4. With 750 µs de-emphasis and pre-display "off," distortion is not specified for
modulation outputs >4V peak. This condition can occur near maximum deviation
for a measurement range, at rates <2 kHz.

5. For optimum flatness, cables should be terminated with their characteristic
impedance.

3

150 kHz ≤f

c

<10 MHz

Amplitude Modulation

RATES:

20 Hz to 10 kHz, 150 kHz ≤f

c

<10 MHz.

20 Hz to 100 kHz, 10 MHz ≤f

c

≤1300 MHz.

DEPTH: to 99%.

ACCURACY

2, 3, 6

:

AM Accuracy Frequency Range Rates Depths

±2% of reading 150 kHz – 10 MHz 50 Hz – 10 kHz 5% – 99%

±1 digit

±3% of reading 150 kHz – 10 MHz 20 Hz – 10 kHz to 99%

±1 digit

±1% of reading 10 MHz – 1300 MHz 50 Hz – 50 kHz 5% – 99%

±1 digit

±3% of reading 10 MHz – 1300 MHz 20 Hz – 100 kHz to 99%

±1 digit

±1.5% of reading 1300 MHz – 26.5 GHz 50 Hz – 50 kHz 5% – 99%

±1 digit

±3% of reading 10 MHz – 26.5 GHz 20 Hz – 100 kHz to 99%

±1 digit

For rms detector add ±3% of reading.

FLATNESS

5, 7

:

Flatness Frequency Range Rates Depths

±0.3% of reading 10 MHz – 1300 MHz 90 Hz – 10 kHz 20% – 80%

±1 digit

±0.3% of reading 10 MHz – 26.5 GHz 90 Hz – 10 kHz 20% – 80%

±1 digit

DEMODULATED OUTPUT DISTORTION:

<0.3% THD for ≤50% depth.
<0.6% THD for ≤95% depth.

For f

c

>1300 MHz add 0.4% THD.

FM REJECTION (50 Hz to 3 kHz BW)

3

:

FM Rejection Frequency Range Rates Deviations

<0.2% AM 250 kHz – 10 MHz 400 Hz or 1 kHz <5 kHz

peak

<0.2% AM 10 MHz – 1300 MHz 400 Hz or 1 kHz <50 kHz

peak

<0.2% AM 10 MHz – 26.5 GHz 400 Hz or 1 kHz <50 kHz

peak

RESIDUAL AM (50 Hz to 3 kHz BW): <0.01%

rms

.

Supplemental Characteristics:

DETECTORS: +peak, –peak, ±peak/2, peak hold, average (rms

sinewave calibrated), rms.

MAXIMUM DEPTH, RESOLUTION, AND MAXIMUM DEMODU­LATED OUTPUT SENSITIVITY ACROSS AN OPEN CIRCUIT

(600 Ω output impedance)

5

:

Maximum Maximum Demodulated Depths

Resolution Output Sensitivity

0.1% 0.01V / percent AM

peak

≥40.0%

0.01% 0.1V / percent AM

peak

<40.0%

0.001%

(rms detector only) 0.1V / percent AM

rms

<3.0%

Phase Modulation

RATES:

200 Hz to 10 kHz, 150 kHz ≤f

c

<10 MHz.

200 Hz to 20 kHz, 10 MHz ≤f

c

≤1300 MHz.

200 Hz to 20 kHz, 10 MHz ≤f

c

≤26.5 GHz.

ACCURACY

3

:

±4% of reading ±1 digit, 150 kHz ≤f

c

<10 MHz.

±3% of reading ±1 digit, 10 MHz ≤f

c

≤1300 MHz.

±3% of reading ±1 digit, 10 MHz ≤f

c

≤26.5 GHz.

For rms detector add ±3% of reading.

DEMODULATED OUTPUT DISTORTION: <0.1% THD.

AM REJECTION (for 50% AM at 1 kHz rate)

3

:

<0.03 radians peak (50 Hz to 3 kHz BW).

MAXIMUM DEVIATION, RESOLUTION, AND MAXIMUM
DEMODULATED OUTPUT SENSITIVITY ACROSS AN OPEN

CIRCUIT (600 Ω output impedance)

5

:

Supplemental Characteristics:

MODULATION RATES: usable from 20 Hz to 100 kHz with degraded

performance.

DETECTORS: +peak, – peak, ±peak/2, peak hold, average (rms
sinewave calibrated), rms.

2. Not to exceed for stated accuracy: 50 Hz to 40 kHz rates with rms detector.

3. Peak residuals must be accounted for in peak readings.

5. For optimum flatness, cables should be terminated with their characteristic
impedance.

6. For peak measurements only: AM accuracy may be affected by distortion generat­ed by the measuring receiver. In the worst case this distortion can decrease accu­racy by 0.1% of reading for each 0.1% of distortion.

7. Flatness is the variation in indicated AM depth for constant depth on input signal.

4

Modulation Reference

AM CALIBRATOR DEPTH AND ACCURACY:

33.33% depth nominal, internally calibrated to an accuracy of ±0.1%.

FM CALIBRATOR DEVIATION AND ACCURACY:

34 kHz

peak

deviation nominal, internally calibrated to an accuracy

of ±0.1%.

Supplemental Characteristics:

CARRIER FREQUENCY: 10.1 MHz.

MODULATION RATE: 10 kHz.

OUTPUT LEVEL: – 25 dBm.

Frequency Counter

RANGE:

150 kHz to 1300 MHz.
150 kHz to 26.5 GHz.

SENSITIVITY:

12 mV

rms

(–25 dBm), 150 kHz ≤fc≤650 MHz.

22 mV

rms

(–20 dBm), 650 MHz ≤fc≤1300 MHz.

40 mV

rms

(–15 dBm), 150 kHz ≤fc≤650 MHz.

71 mV

rms

(–10 dBm), 650 MHz <f

c

≤1300 MHz.

40 mV

rms

(–15 dBm), 1300 MHz <f

c

≤26.5 GHz.

MAXIMUM RESOLUTION:

1 Hz.
10 Hz.

ACCURACY:

± reference accuracy ± 3 counts of least-significant digit,
f

c

<100 MHz.
± reference accuracy ± 3 counts of least-significant digit, or
30 Hz, whichever is larger, f

c

≥100 MHz.

Supplemental Characteristics:

MODES: Frequency and Frequency Error (displays the difference

between the frequency entered via the keyboard and the actual RF
input frequency).

SENSITIVITY IN MANUAL TUNING MODE:
Approximate frequency must be entered from keyboard.

0.22 mV

rms

(–60 dBm).

0.71 mV

rms

(–50 dBm).

Using the RF amplifier and the IF amplifiers, sensitivity can be
increased to approximately:

–100 dBm.
–90 dBm, f

c

≤1300 MHz.

–75 dBm, 1300 MHz <f

c

≤26.5 GHz.

8. After 30-day warm-up.

9. The 8902A fundamental RF power measurement units are watts. Further internal
processing is done on this number to display all other units.

10. When using a power sensor, the noise specification may mask the linearity speci­fication and become the predominant error. When operating on the top RF power
range, add the power sensor's linearity percentages found in the power sensor's
specifications.

Internal Time Base Reference

FREQUENCY: 10 MHz.

AGING RATE:

<1 x 10

–6

/month.

<1 x 10

–9

/day (Option 002)8.

Supplemental Characteristics:

INTERNAL REFERENCE ACCURACY:

Overall accuracy is a function of timebase calibration, aging rate,
temperature effects, line voltage effects, and short-term stability.

Standard Option 002

Aging Rate <1 x 10–6/mo. <1 x 10–9/day

Temperature Effects <2 x 10–7/°C <2 x 10

–10

/°C

Line Voltage Effects

(+5%, –10% Line <1 x 10

–6

<6 x 10

–10

Voltage Change)

Short-Term Stability — <1 x 10–9for

1 second average

RF Power

The Agilent 8902A measuring receiver, with
11722A sensor module, performs RF power meas­urements from –20 dBm (10 µW) to +30 dBm (1 W)
at frequencies from 100 kHz to 2.6 GHz.

The 8902A measuring receiver, with 11792A sensor
module, performs RF power measurements from
–20 dBm (10 µW) to +30 dBm (1 W) at frequencies
from 50 MHz to 26.5 GHz.

RF POWER RESOLUTION9:

0.01% of full scale in watts or volts mode.

0.01 dB in dBm or dB

relative

mode.

LINEARITY (includes sensor non-linearity):

RF range linearity ± RF range-to-range change error.

RF RANGE LINEARITY (using recorder output)

10

:

±0.02 dB, RF ranges 2 through 5.
±0.03 dB, RF range 1.
Using front-panel display add ±1 count of least-significant digit.

RF RANGE-TO-RANGE CHANGE ERROR (using recorder output):

±0.02 dB/RF range change from reference range.
Using front-panel display add ±1 count of least-significant digit.

INPUT SWR:

Using 11722A sensor module: <1.15.

Using 11792A sensor module:

<1.15, 1300 MHz ≤f

c

.

<1.25, 1300 MHz <f

c

≤18.0 GHz.

<1.40, 18.0 GHz <f

c

≤26.5 GHz.