The new Keysight N9042B UXA X-Series signal analyzer provides wide analysis bandwidth and deep dynamic range to help customers overcome the most demanding challenges in mmWave applications, including tight design deadlines and margins, complex modulation, and stringent standards.

“Understanding signal fidelity is critical to product performance in the 5G, aerospace and defense, satellite, and automotive radar markets,” said Kiran Unni, vice president for industrial technologies practice at Frost & Sullivan. “At mmWave frequencies, signals are more susceptible to disturbances that affect signal quality, such as IQ modulation errors, phase noise, distortion, signal-to-noise ratio, and amplitude and phase linearity. For designers and manufacturers, addressing these challenges is crucial for characterizing and testing the real-world performance of mmWave products.”

The Keysight N9042B UXA X-Series signal analyzer offers the following benefits:

  • It ensures that the designs meet the latest standards thanks to ready-to-use measurement applications and signal analysis software.
  • Clearly visualize signals with a preselected sweep from 2Hz to 110 GHz and with up to 11 GHz of analysis bandwidth.
  • It tests the real-world performance of new 5G radio (NR) transmitters with advanced error vector magnitude (EVM) measurement.
  • Quickly find out-of-band or spurious emissions in radar designs with a higher displayed average noise level (DANL).
  • Develops high data rate satellite communication designs with a corrected analysis bandwidth of 4 GHz.

“With the increasing demand for data, higher frequencies, and greater bandwidth, Keysight’s signal analyzer and generation solutions embody our deep expertise in mmW design and measurement for the latest 5G wireless standards, radar, aerospace, defense, satellite, and communications research,” said Joe Rickert, vice president and general manager of high-frequency R&D for Keysight’s communications solutions group. “We are excited to collaborate with our customers on their measurement and testing needs to accelerate industry innovation.”

Testing Application Software

To ensure designs meet the latest standards through ready-to-use measurement applications in mobile communications, wireless connectivity, and aerospace/defense, Keysight has integrated PathWave X-Series measurement applicationswith the UXA X-Series signal analyzer. These applications simplify complex tasks and deliver repeatable results. In addition, the PathWave 89600 Signal Vector Analysis software, a comprehensive toolkit for signal demodulation and vector analysis, supports more than 75 signal standards and modulation types, enabling customers to explore all facets of a signal and optimize their most advanced designs.

Mobile Communications

Testing 5G components and devices according to 3GPP standards for 5G NR Rel-15 and Rel-16 requires a solution with higher bandwidth capabilities, sensitivity, and accuracy.

The N9042B signal analyzer puts real-world transmitter design performance to the test with EVM measurements and 5G NR signal analysis software that performs uplink and downlink transmitter measurements at the touch of a button.

Satellite Communications

Modern satellite communication systems require a sophisticated approach to characterizing high-bandwidth components. Customers need to characterize amplifiers and components across bandwidths larger than those required by the final application. The N9042B UXA X-Series signal analyzer provides a wide analysis bandwidth and a preselected frequency range, helping customers characterize the performance of their satellite designs.

The N9042B UXA X-Series signal analyzer solution enables customers to achieve high levels of accuracy thanks to:

  • The innovative V3050A Signal Analyzer Frequency Extender from Keysight offers unparalleled accuracy in measuring wide-bandwidth signals at very high frequencies. It provides amazing sensitivity, a preset frequency range up to 110 GHz, wide dynamic range, and an integrated interface with the N9042B UXA signal analyzer.
  • The Keysight Receiver Calibrator, RCal, corrects system transmission losses and frequency response up to a 5 GHz IF bandwidth without requiring an external vector network analyzer, cabling, or manual measurement plane characterization. The RCal fits in the palm of your hand and seamlessly transfers factory-precision calibration data to the Keysight X-Series signal analyzer via a USB connection, reducing the effort and complexity needed to improve receiver test system accuracy.
  • Its companion, the VXG microwave signal generator , offers high output power with ultra-low phase noise and wide bandwidth for demanding wireless, aerospace, and defense applications. The VXG's dual-channel architecture allows for quick switching from jammer and interferer test configurations to dual-channel MIMO with beam shaping.