Agilent X-Series Signal Generator Enhancements Enable Faster Verification

Agilent Technologies introduced enhancements to its MXG and EXG X-Series signal generators.

The enhancements are designed to improve measurement accuracy, accelerate research and development, and provide in-depth signal simulation, the company says. “The ongoing innovation and performance realized in our X-Series signal generators further strengthen our technology leadership in this market and reaffirm our commitment to meeting the needs of customers testing the highest performance devices,” said Andy Botka, vice president and general manager of Agilent’s Microwave and Communications Division. “Our new enhancements build on this commitment by enabling our customers do their jobs better, faster and more effectively.”

The enhanced MXG and EXG X-Series RF vector signal generators allow users to apply channel corrections directly to their fixtures and devices under test. A proprietary ASIC, in concert with an Agilent USB power sensor, enables automatic amplitude and phase flatness corrections or equalization. This capability is targeted at engineers working on WLAN 802.11ac or LTE-Advanced transceivers and components.

Two new X-Series connectivity options enable realistic complex-modulated direct digital stimulus (output mode) and digital upconversion (input mode) using an N5102A digital signal interface module. This DSIM enhancement allows users to employ realistic complex IQ waveforms, which in turn enables faster verification of FPGA algorithms or digital-to-RF performance. It also helps minimize re-design by catching baseband subsystem problems earlier in the design cycle, the company says.

A power servo enhancement speeds verification by allowing automatic leveling for external RF amplifiers.

Agilent’s N7609B Signal Studio for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) software features an advanced Beidou real-time mode that allows users to perform real-time, multi-satellite simulation for China’s Beidou system. Leveraging the X-Series’ real-time baseband subsystem, users can simultaneously simulate a combination of 40 channels of satellites plus multipath for GPS, GLONASS and Beidou, with 16 additional channels for Galileo satellites plus multipath.

For more information, visit Agilent Technologies.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.