# Agilent E4420B 2 GHz ESG-A Series RF Signal Generator (Pre-Owned)

# Agilent E4420B 2 GHz ESG-A Series RF Signal Generator (Pre-Owned)

## Key Features At A Glance

-   Frequency range 250 kHz to 3 GHz with 0.01 Hz resolution
-   Digital and analog modulation capabilities including PSK, QAM, FSK, MSK, AM, FM, ΦM, and pulse
-   Standard output power +10 dBm to -136 dBm (with Option UNB), with electronic or mechanical attenuator
-   Broadband analog I/Q inputs with internal calibration and adjustable DC offset, I/Q gain ratio, and quadrature
-   GPIB, RS-232 remote programming with SCPI 1992.0 control language
-   Coherent carrier output (250 MHz to maximum carrier frequency) standard on digital series
-   Built-in function generator with sine, square, ramp, triangle, pulse, and noise waveforms
-   Expandable architecture supporting optional real-time I/Q baseband generator, dual arbitrary waveform generator, and standard-specific personalities (W-CDMA, cdma2000, EDGE, CDMA, GSM/EDGE BERT)

The Agilent E4432B is a 3 GHz ESG-D series RF signal generator covering 250 kHz to 3 GHz, designed for testing both analog and digital communications systems. As part of the ESG family, it incorporates a broad array of capabilities and accepts flexible option additions, providing a test solution that addresses the requirements of numerous current and proposed air interface standards. The instrument's expandable architecture allows it to be configured for a wide variety of tests, from altering aspects of a digital signal or signal operating environment to creating experimental signals.

The E4432B is applied across analog and digital communications system testing, including transmitter and receiver evaluation for wireless protocols. The datasheet identifies digital modulation formats for DECT, GSM, NADC, PDC, PHS, and TETRA, and option-enabled personalities support multichannel CDMA, W-CDMA, cdma2000, EDGE, and GSM/EDGE base station bit error rate testing. The instrument supports CDMA base station amplifier testing, GSM transmitter measurements for base transceiver stations and mobile stations, and component testing for wireless and proprietary nonstandard wireless protocols.

## Brand Heritage

Hewlett-Packard's test and measurement division was spun out as Agilent Technologies in 1999. In 2014, Agilent's electronic measurement business was transferred to Keysight Technologies, which is the current corporate successor for instruments originally branded as HP or Agilent in the test and measurement product lines.

## Compare Other Models in This Series

The ESG family of RF signal generators consists of four series spanning the same 250 kHz to 4 GHz frequency range: the ESG-A series (analog only), the ESG-AP series (analog with high spectral purity), the ESG-D series (digital and analog), and the ESG-DP series (digital and analog with high spectral purity). Within each series, four frequency-ceiling models are offered (1 GHz, 2 GHz, 3 GHz, and 4 GHz), enabling buyers to match the instrument's top frequency to their application.

All four series share the same core architecture — expandable design, choice of electronic or mechanical attenuator, superior level accuracy, wideband FM and ΦM, step sweep modes, built-in function generator, and lightweight rack-mountable form factor. The series differ in two primary dimensions: whether digital modulation capability (broadband analog I/Q inputs, coherent carrier output, and option-enabled digital communications personalities) is included, and whether the high spectral purity configuration is selected for improved SSB phase noise and reduced residual FM.

Each pre-owned model below is its own dedicated product page with condition-matched pricing and individually verified specifications. Compare the headline specs across the family on the comparison table, then navigate to the specific model page that matches your application's frequency range and modulation requirements.

The E4432B is the 3 GHz model in the ESG-D series, providing digital and analog modulation capabilities across 250 kHz to 3 GHz. It supports the option-enabled real-time I/Q baseband generator (Option UN8), dual arbitrary waveform generator (Option UND), multichannel CDMA and W-CDMA personalities, real-time 3GPP W-CDMA and cdma2000 personalities, real-time EDGE personality, and internal bit-error-rate analyzer (Option UN7).

The four ESG series differ primarily in modulation capability and spectral purity. The ESG-A and ESG-AP series provide analog modulation only (FM, ΦM, AM, and pulse), while the ESG-D and ESG-DP series add digital modulation with broadband analog I/Q inputs, I/Q adjustment and internal calibration, and coherent carrier output. The high spectral purity series (ESG-AP and ESG-DP) provide improved SSB phase noise — for example, less than -120 dBc/Hz at 3 GHz (20 kHz offset) on the ESG-DP versus less than -104 dBc/Hz typical on the ESG-D — and reduced residual FM (less than N × 1 Hz versus N × 2 to 4 Hz on the standard series).

Within each series, the four frequency-ceiling models (1 GHz, 2 GHz, 3 GHz, and 4 GHz) share the same modulation architecture but differ in maximum operating frequency. The comparison table below reflects the frequency range, output power range, and key spectral performance differences across the family. Select the frequency model that exceeds your highest test signal frequency with appropriate headroom, then select the series that matches your modulation needs (analog only or digital plus analog) and spectral purity requirements.

Model

Frequency Range

Series Type

Spectral Purity

**E4420B**

250 kHz to 2 GHz

ESG-A (Analog)

Standard

E4400B

250 kHz to 1 GHz

ESG-A (Analog)

Standard

E4421B

250 kHz to 3 GHz

ESG-A (Analog)

Standard

E4422B

250 kHz to 4 GHz

ESG-A (Analog)

Standard

Additional differences in specifications beyond the few shown above are not listed here — see each model's full specifications below.

## Product Core & Specifications

Category

Specification

Value

Frequency

Underrange

100 kHz

Resolution

0.01 Hz

Accuracy

Same as timebase

Switching speed (ESG-A/D, modulation off)

<40 ms typical

Switching speed (ESG-AP/DP, modulation off)

<55 ms typical

Phase offset

Adjustable via GPIB or front panel in nominal 0.1° increments

Sweep Modes

Operating modes

Frequency step, amplitude step and arbitrary list

Dwell time

1 ms to 60 s

Number of points

2 to 401

Internal Reference Oscillator (Standard)

Aging rate (ESG-A/ESG-D std)

<±1 ppm/yr

Aging rate (ESG-AP/ESG-DP std, ESG-A/D Opt 1E5)

<±0.1 ppm/yr or <±0.0005 ppm/day after 45 days

Temperature (0 to 55 °C, std)

<±1 ppm, typical

Line voltage (+5%, –10%, std)

<±0.1 ppm, typical

Timebase Reference Output

Frequency

10 MHz

Amplitude

\>0.35 Vrms into 50 Ω load

External Reference Input

Frequency

1, 2, 5, 10 MHz ± typical 10 ppm

Amplitude

\>0.15 Vrms

Input impedance

50 Ω

Output - Amplitude

Resolution

0.02 dB

Output impedance

50 Ω

Amplitude switching speed (without power search)

<30 ms, typical

Amplitude switching speed (with power search)

<300 ms, typical

Reverse Power Protection

250 kHz to 2 GHz

50 watts

\>2000 MHz to 4 GHz

25 watts

Max DC voltage

50 V

Spectral Purity - Harmonics

Harmonics (≤+4 dBm; ≤+7.5 dBm Opt UNB)

<–30 dBc (typical below 1 GHz)

Subharmonics (ESG-AP/DP)

None

Frequency Modulation

Max deviation (ESG-A/ESG-D)

N × 10 MHz

Max deviation (ESG-AP/ESG-DP)

N × 1 MHz

Resolution

0.1% of deviation or 1 Hz, whichever is greater

FM1 3 dB bandwidth, typical

dc/5 Hz to 10 MHz

FM2 3 dB bandwidth, typical

dc/5 Hz to 1 MHz

Deviation accuracy (1 kHz rate, dev < N × 100 kHz)

<±(3.5% of FM deviation + 20 Hz)

Amplitude Modulation (fc > 500 kHz)

Range

0 to 100%

Resolution

0.1%

Rates (3 dB bandwidth)

dc/10 Hz to 10 kHz

Accuracy (1 kHz rate)

<±(6% of setting + 1%)

Distortion (30% AM, 1 kHz rate, THD)

<1.5%

Pulse Modulation

On/off ratio (≤3 GHz)

\>80 dB

On/off ratio (>3 GHz)

\>60 dB

Rise/fall times

150 ns, typical

Pulse repetition frequency (ALC On)

10 Hz to 250 kHz, typical

Internal Modulation Source

Waveforms

Sine, square, ramp, triangle, pulse, noise

Rate range (sine)

0.1 Hz to 50 kHz

Resolution

0.1 Hz

Frequency accuracy

0.005%, typical

General

Power requirements

90 to 254 V; 50, 60, or 400 Hz; 200 W maximum

Operating temperature range

0 to 55 °C

Storage temperature range

–40 to 71 °C

Shock and vibration

Meets MIL-STD-28800E Type III, Class 3

Weight

<13.5 kg (28 lb.) net, <19.5 kg (42 lb.) shipping

Dimensions

133 mm H × 426 mm W × 432 mm D (5.25 in H × 16.8 in W × 17 in D)

Remote Programming

Interface

GPIB (IEEE-488.2-1987) with listen and talk, RS-232

Control languages

SCPI version 1992.0, also compatible with 8656B and 8657A/B/C/D/J mnemonics

Functions controlled

All front panel functions except power switch and knob

IEEE-488 functions

SH1, AH1, T6, TE0, L4, LE0, SR1, RL1, PP0, DC1, DT0, C0, E2

**Important:** Reverse power protection triggers at nominally 1 watt; maximum reverse RF power is 50 watts (250 kHz to 2 GHz) and the maximum DC voltage on the RF output is 50 V.**Important:** This is a legacy Agilent product line; many configuration options and personalities require specific hardware revisions or other options to be installed (e.g., Option 300 requires Option UN8 revision C or better; Option 200 requires Option UN8). Verify option compatibility before ordering.**Important:** Specifications describe the instrument's warranted performance and apply after a 45 minute warm-up. All specifications are valid over the signal generator's entire operating/environmental range while in phase noise mode 2, unless otherwise noted.**Important:** With high performance pulse modulation (Option 1E6) installed, all maximum power specifications drop by 4 dB.**Important:** Level accuracy specification maintained only with return to calibration.**Important:** Conducted and radiated interference meets MIL-STD-461C CE02 Part 2 and CISPR 11.Recommended pairing: the 83300A remote interface (auxiliary 9-pin RS-232 connector on the rear panel) supports remote keypad sequencer operation as described in the datasheet.

## About this used unit

-   Warranty included
-   Functional verification included
-   Standard Calibration Upgrade Options: No Calibration Required, NIST Traceable, Z540.1 or ISO 17025 with Data, Z540.3 Guardbanding with Data.
-   Note that unnecessary accessories may not be included (contact Test Architect to confirm).

**Please review the Manufacturer's Data Sheet to verify published specifications. Feedback on this webpage is always welcome — please reach out to your Test Architect at any time for questions or concerns. Thank you, we truly appreciate you being our customer.**

## Details

- **Price:** 2795.0 USD - 3775.0 USD
- **Vendor:** Agilent
- **Type:** Rf Gen
- **Tags:** Agilent, Agilent Keysight, Manufacturers, product_manual_group_1, Product_used, RF, Signal Generators

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| 1E5 / None | 2795.00 USD | In stock |
| 1E5 / NIST Traceable | 3355.00 USD | In stock |
| 1E5 / NIST Traceable With Full Data | 3565.00 USD | In stock |
| 1E5 / ISO IEC 17025 Accredited | 3775.00 USD | In stock |

## Images

- Agilent E4420B 2 GHz ESG-A Series RF Signal Generator (Pre-Owned)

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> Source: [ValueTronics](https://valuetronics.com/products/e4420b-agilent-rf-generator-used)
> Updated: 2026-05-30