Agilent E8663B
Analog Signal Generator
Data Sheet
The Agilent E8663B is a fully synthesized signal generator with low phase
noise and high output power.
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 (spec): Represents warranted performance for instruments with a
current calibration.
Typical (typ): Represents characteristic performance which is non-warranted.
Describes performance that will be met by a minimum of 80% of all products.
Nominal (nom): Represents characteristic performance which is non-warranted.
Represents the value of a parameter that is most likely to occur; the expected mean or mode
of all instruments.
Measured: Represents characteristic performance which is non-warranted.
Represents the value of a parameter measured on an instrument during design stage.
2
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Step (digital) sweep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Spectral purity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Frequency modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Phase modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Amplitude modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
External modulation inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Internal modulation source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Pulse modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Narrow pulse modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Internal pulse generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Simultaneous modulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Remote programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
General specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Input/Output Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Front panel connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Rear panel connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Options, Accessories, and Related Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Web Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Related Agilent Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Table of Contents
3
Range
1
Option 503 100 kHz to 3.2 GHz
Option 509 100 kHz to 9 GHz
Resolution
CW 0.001 Hz
All sweep modes 0.01 Hz
CW switching speed
2, 3
< 11 ms (typ) (7 ms (nom))
Phase offset Adjustable in nominal 0.1 ° increments
Frequency bands
Band Frequency range N
5
1 100 kHz to 250 MHz 1/8
2 > 250 to 500 MHz 1/16
3 > 500 MHz to 1 GHz 1/8
4 > 1 to 2 GHz 1/4
5 > 2 to 3.2 GHz 1/2
Accuracy ± aging rate ± temperature effects
± line voltage effects (nom)
Internal timebase reference oscillator
Aging rate < ±3 x10
–8
/year or
< ±2.5 x 10
–10
/day after 30 days
Temperature effects (typ) < ±4.5 x 10
–9
0 to 55 °C
Line voltage effects (typ) < ±2 x 10
–10
for ±10% change
External reference frequency 10 MHz only
Lock range ±1.0 ppm
Reference output
Frequency 10 MHz
Amplitude > +4 dBm into 50 Ω load (typ)
External reference input
Amplitude 5 dBm ±5 dB
6
Input impedance 50 Ω (nom)
Operating modes • Step sweep of frequency or amplitude or both (start to stop)
• List sweep of frequency or amplitude or both (arbitrary list)
Sweep range
Frequency sweep Within instrument frequency range
Amplitude sweep Within attenuator hold range (see “Output” section)
Dwell time 1 ms to 60 s
Number of points 2 to 65535 (step sweep)
2 to 1601 per table (list sweep)
Triggering Auto, external, single, or GPIB
Settling time
Frequency < 8 ms (typ)
6
Amplitude < 5 ms (typ)
Specifications
Frequency
1. Performance is unspecified below 250 kHz.
2. Time from GPIB trigger to frequency within 0.1 ppm of final frequency above 250 MHz or within 100 Hz below 250 MHz.
3. Add 19 ms (typical) when switching from greater than 3.2 GHz to less than 3.2 GHz (Option 509 only).
4. N is a factor used to help define certain specifications within the document.
5. To optimize phase noise use 5 dBm ± 2 dB.
6. 19 ms (typ) when stepping from greater than 3.2 GHz to less than 3.2 GHz (Option 509 only).
Step (digital) sweep
4
Power1(dBm)
Frequency range Spec. (typ)
Option 503 and 509:
100 to 250 kHz –135 to +10 (nom)
250 kHz to 3.2 GHz –135 to +15 (+18)
250 kHz to 3.2 GHz with Option UNW –135 to +10 (+13)
> 3.2 GHz to 9 GHz –135 to +21 (+22)
Step attenuator
2
Options 503 and 509 0 dB and 5 dB to 115 dB in 10 dB
steps
Maximum available power (measured)
Attenuator hold range
Minimum From –20 dBm to maximum specified output power with step
attenuator in 0 dB position.
Amplitude switching speed
3
ALC on or off < 3 ms (typ)
(without power search)
Output
1. Maximum power specifications are warranted from 15 to 35 °C, and are typical from 0 to 15 °C. Maximum power over the 35 to 55 °C range
typically degrades less than 2 dB.
2. The step attenuator provides coarse power attenuation to achieve low power levels. Fine power level adjustment is provided
by the ALC (Automatic Level Control) within the attenuator hold range.
3. To within 0.1 dB of final amplitude within one attenuator range. Add 10 to 50 ms when using power search.
26
24
22
20
18
dBm
16
14
12
10
0.1 750 1700 2200 2700 3200
Option 503 output power (measured)
Frequency (MHz)
5
Level accuracy1(dB)
Frequency
> +10 dBm +10 to 0 dBm 0 to –10 dBm –10 to –70 dBm –70 to –90 dBm
100 to 250 kHz
±0.6 (nom) ±0.6 (nom) ±0.6 (nom) ±0.7 (nom) ±0.8 (nom)
250 kHz to 2 GHz ±0.6 ±0.6 ±0.6 ±0.7 ±0.8
> 2 to 9 GHz ±0.8 ±0.8 ±0.8 ±0.9 ±1.0
Level accuracy (measured)
Resolution 0.01 dB
Temperature stability 0.01 dB/°C (typ)
User flatness correction
Number of points 2 to 1601 points/table
Number of tables Up to 10,000, memory limited
Path loss Arbitrary, within attenuator range
Entry modes Remote power meter
2
, remote bus, manual
(user edit/view)
Output impedance 50 Ω (nom)
SWR (internally leveled)
250 kHz to 2 GHz < 1.4:1 (typ)
> 2 GHz to 9 GHz < 1.6:1 (typ)
Leveling modes Internal leveling, external detector leveling,
millimeter source module, ALC off
External detector leveling
Range –0.2 mV to –0.5 V (nom) (–36 dBm to
+4 dBm using Agilent 33330D/E detector)
Bandwidth Selectable 0.1 to 100 kHz (nom)
(Note: not intended for pulsed operation)
Maximum reverse power 1/2 Watt, 0 V
DC
1. Specifications apply in CW and list/step sweep modes over the 15 to 35 ºC temperature range, with attenuator hold off
(normal operating mode). Degradation outside this range, for ALC power levels > –10 dBm, is typically < 0.3 dB.
2. Compatible with Agilent EPM Series (E4418B and E4419B) power meters.
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
–0.05
Error (dB)
–0.1
–0.15
–0.2
0.1 200 800 1400 2000 2800 3200
Option 503 level accuracy
Frequency (MHz)
6
Harmonics
1
(dBc at +10 dBm or maximum specified
output power, whichever is lower)
< 10 MHz –28 dBc (typical below 1 MHz)
10 MHz to 2 GHz –30 dBc
> 2 GHz to 9 GHz –55 dBc
Harmonics (measured)
Sub-harmonics
2
(dBc at +10 dBm or maximum specified output
power, whichever is lower)
100 kHz to 9 GHz None
Non-harmonics (dBc at +10 dBm or maximum specified output
power, whichever is lower, for offsets > 300 Hz
Frequency Spec Typical
250 kHz to 250 MHz –65 –72 for > 10 kHz offsets
> 250 MHz to 1 GHz –80 –88
> 1 to 2 GHz –74 –82
> 2 to 3.2 GHz –68 –76
> 3.2 to 9 GHz –62 –70
Spectral purity
1. Specifications are typical for harmonics beyond specified frequency range (beyond 50 GHz for Option 567).
2. Sub-harmonics are defined as Carrier Freq / N).
3. Phase noise specifications are warranted from 15 to 35 °C.
4. Measured at +10 dBm or maximum specified power, whichever is less.
Absolute SSB phase noise (dBc/Hz) (CW)
3
Offset from carrier
Frequency 1 Hz 10 Hz 100 Hz 1 kHz 10 kHz 100 kHz
Spec (typ) Spec (typ) Spec (typ) Spec (typ) Spec (typ) Spec (typ)
250 kHz to 250 MHz
4
–58 (–66) –87 (–94) –104 (–120) –121 (–128) –128 (–132) –130 (–133)
> 250 to 500 MHz
4
–61 (–72) –88 (–98) –108 (–118) –126 (–132) –132 (–136) –136 (–141)
> 500 MHz to 1 GHz
4
–57 (–65) –84 (–93) –101 (–111) –121 (–130) –130 (–134) –130 (–135)
> 1 to 2 GHz
4
–51 (–58) –79 (–86) –96 (–106) –115 (–124) –124 (–129) –124 (–129)
> 2 to 3.2 GHz –46 (–54) –74 (–82) –92 (–102) –111 (–120) –120 (–124) –120 (–124)
> 3.2 to 9 GHz –37 (–44) –65 (–72) –81 (–92) –101 (–109) –110 (–114) –110 (–115)
Residual SSB phase noise (dBc/Hz) (CW)
3
Offset from carrier
Frequency 1 Hz 10 Hz 100 Hz 1 kHz 10 kHz 100 kHz
Spec (typ) Spec (typ) Spec (typ) Spec (typ) Spec (typ) Spec (typ)
250 kHz to 250 MHz
4
(–94) –100 (–107) –110 (–118) –120 (–126) –128 (–132) –130 (–133)
> 250 to 500 MHz
4
(–101) –105 (–112) –115 (–122) –124 (–131) –132 (–136) –136 (–141)
> 500 MHz to 1 GHz
4
(–94) –100 (–107) –110 (–118) –120 (–126) –130 (–134) –130 (–134)
> 1 to 2 GHz
4
(–89) –96 (–101) –104 (–112) –114 (–120) –124 (–129) –124 (–129)
> 2 to 3.2 GHz (–85) –92 (–97) –100 (–108) –110 (–116) –120 (–124) –120 (–124)
> 3.2 to 9 GHz (–74) (–87) (–98) (–106) (–114) (–115)
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