# Agilent E4438C ESG Vector Signal Generator (Pre-Owned) # Agilent E4438C ESG Vector Signal Generator (Pre-Owned) ## Key Features At A Glance - Vector signal generator with frequency coverage from 250 kHz up to 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 GHz by frequency option - GPIB (IEEE-488.2), RS-232, and LAN (10BaseT) remote interfaces standard for automated test systems - Choice of electronic or mechanical attenuator, with step and list sweep of both frequency and power - Broadband analog I/Q inputs with I/Q adjustment capabilities and an internal calibration routine - Built-in function generator plus analog FM, phase, AM, and pulse modulation - Optional internal baseband generator with 8 or 64 MSa memory for arbitrary-waveform and real-time modes - Optional signal-format personalities (W-CDMA, cdma2000, GSM/EDGE, 802.11 WLAN, AWGN and more) licensed separately - Coherent carrier output up to 4 GHz; 1-year standard warranty and 2-year calibration cycle The Agilent E4438C ESG is a vector signal generator that incorporates a broad array of capabilities for testing both analog and digital communications systems. It is available as a vector platform, with the required frequency range chosen as an ordering option, and is built on an expandable architecture that accepts future enhancements. Across its configuration range the instrument provides frequency coverage from 250 kHz up to 6 GHz, with a frequency resolution of 0.01 Hz. Flexible options let the E4438C address the performance of nearly all current and proposed air-interface standards, and many test functions can be customized to meet the needs of proprietary and other nonstandard wireless protocols. Configurations can alter nearly every aspect of a digital signal or signal operating environment, and can create experimental signals, making the platform suitable for wireless communications system testing across a wide variety of tests. ValueTronics stocks test and measurement equipment in our own 20,000 sq ft secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive in Elgin, Illinois. Because we hold inventory directly, every pre-owned unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house by our technicians before it ships, while new units ship factory-sealed exactly as received from the manufacturer. That hands-on stocking model is what lets us speak to condition and configuration with confidence. ## Brand Heritage The test and measurement business that produced this instrument originated within Hewlett-Packard and was spun out as Agilent Technologies in 1999. Agilent's electronic measurement division subsequently became Keysight Technologies in 2014. Equipment branded Agilent dates from this intermediate era of the company's corporate history. ## Accessories Supplied - Agilent IO Libraries Suite (ships with the E4438C) ## Product Core & Specifications Specification Value Frequency Frequency range (Option 501) 250 kHz to 1 GHz Frequency range (Option 502) 250 kHz to 2 GHz Frequency range (Option 503) 250 kHz to 3 GHz Frequency range (Option 504) 250 kHz to 4 GHz Frequency range (Option 506) 250 kHz to 6 GHz \[requires Option UNJ\] Frequency minimum 100 kHz (performance below 250 kHz not guaranteed) Frequency resolution 0.01 Hz Phase offset Adjustable remotely \[LAN, GPIB, RS-232\] or via 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 65,535 Internal reference oscillator Aging rate (Standard) < ±1 ppm/yr Aging rate (With Option UNJ or 1E5) < ±0.1 ppm/yr or < ±0.0005 ppm/day after 45 days Temp \[0 to 55° C\] (Standard) (< ±1 ppm) Temp \[0 to 55° C\] (With Option UNJ or 1E5) (< ±0.05 ppm) RF reference output frequency 10 MHz RF reference output amplitude 4 dBm ±2 dB RF reference input frequency (Standard) 1, 2, 5, 10 MHz ± 10 ppm RF reference input amplitude –3.5 dBm to 20 dBm RF reference input impedance 50 Ω Output power Power 250 kHz to 250 MHz (Option 501-504) +11 to –136 dBm Power > 250 MHz to 1 GHz (Option 501-504) +13 to –136 dBm Power > 1 to 3 GHz (Option 501-504) +10 to –136 dBm Power > 3 to 4 GHz (Option 501-504) +7 to –136 dBm Power 250 kHz to 250 MHz (With Option UNB) +15 to –136 dBm Power > 250 MHz to 1 GHz (With Option UNB) +17 to –136 dBm Power > 1 to 3 GHz (With Option UNB) +16 to –136 dBm Power > 3 to 4 GHz (With Option UNB) +13 to –136 dBm Power 250 kHz to 250 MHz (Option 506) +12 to –136 dBm Power > 250 MHz to 1 GHz (Option 506) +14 to –136 dBm Power > 1 to 3 GHz (Option 506) +13 to –136 dBm Power > 3 to 4 GHz (Option 506) +10 to –136 dBm Power > 4 to 6 GHz (Option 506) +10 to –136 dBm Level resolution 0.02 dB Level accuracy \[dB\] (Option 501-504, 23 °C ± 5 °C) 250 kHz to 2.0 GHz (+7 to –50 dBm) ±0.5 250 kHz to 2.0 GHz (–50 to –110 dBm) ±0.5 250 kHz to 2.0 GHz (–110 to –127 dBm) ±0.7 2.2 to 3 GHz (+7 to –50 dBm) ±0.6 2.2 to 3 GHz (–50 to –110 dBm) ±0.6 2.2 to 3 GHz (–110 to –127 dBm) ±0.8 3 to 4 GHz (+7 to –50 dBm) ±0.7 3 to 4 GHz (–50 to –110 dBm) ±0.7 3 to 4 GHz (–110 to –127 dBm) ±0.9 Spectral purity SSB phase noise at 20 kHz offset, 500 MHz (Standard) (< –124 dBc/Hz) SSB phase noise at 20 kHz offset, 1 GHz (Standard) (< –118 dBc/Hz) SSB phase noise at 20 kHz offset, 2 GHz (Standard) (< –112 dBc/Hz) SSB phase noise at 20 kHz offset, 3 GHz (Standard) (< –106 dBc/Hz) SSB phase noise at 20 kHz offset, 4 GHz (Standard) (< –106 dBc/Hz) SSB phase noise at 20 kHz offset, 500 MHz (With Option UNJ) < –137 dBc/Hz, (< –138 dBc/Hz) SSB phase noise at 20 kHz offset, 6 GHz (With Option UNJ) < –115 dBc/Hz, (< –117 dBc/Hz) Residual FM \[CW, 0.3 to 3 kHz BW, CCITT, rms\] (Standard, PN mode 1) < N x 2 Hz Residual FM (Standard, PN mode 2) < N x 4 Hz Residual FM (Option UNJ) < N x 1 Hz (< N x 0.5 Hz) Harmonics < –30 dBc above 1 GHz, (< –30 dBc 1 GHz and below) Frequency modulation Maximum deviation (Standard) N x 8 MHz Maximum deviation (With Option UNJ) N x 1 MHz Resolution 0.1% of deviation or 1 Hz, whichever is greater Deviation accuracy \[1 kHz rate, deviation < N x 100 kHz\] < ± 3.5% of FM deviation + 20 Hz Distortion \[1 kHz rate, dev.= N x 100 kHz\] < 1% FM external input sensitivity 1 Vpeak for indicated deviation FM external input impedance 50 Ω, nominal Phase modulation Resolution 0.1% of set deviation Maximum deviation, Normal BW (Standard) N x 80 rad Maximum deviation, Normal BW (With Option UNJ) N x 10 radians Deviation accuracy \[1 kHz rate, Normal BW mode\] < ±5% of deviation + 0.01 radians Amplitude modulation Range 0 to 100% Resolution 0.1% Rates \[3 dB bandwidth\], DC coupled 0 to 10 kHz Rates \[3 dB bandwidth\], AC coupled 10 Hz to 10 kHz Accuracy \[1 kHz rate\] < ±(6% of setting +1%) Distortion \[1 kHz rate, THD\], 30% AM (Option 501-504/UNJ) < 1.5% Pulse modulation On/off ratio, ≤4 GHz \> 80 dB On/off ratio, > 4 GHz (> 64 dB) > **Important:** Specified performance applies after a 45-minute warm-up. > **Important:** The E4438C is available as a vector platform only. For analog models refer to the E4420B through E4426B. > **Important:** Choose your required frequency range as an Option when configuring the E4438C; frequency range is set by Options 501 (1 GHz), 502 (2 GHz), 503 (3 GHz), 504 (4 GHz), or 506 (6 GHz). > **Important:** Option 506 (6 GHz) requires Option UNJ and includes a mechanical attenuator. > **Important:** Frequency minimum is 100 kHz; performance below 250 kHz is not guaranteed. > **Important:** Specifications describe the instrument's warranted performance and apply after a 45 minute warm-up, valid over the entire operating/environmental range unless otherwise noted. > **Important:** Power requirements: 90 to 254 V; 50 or 60 Hz; 300 W maximum, power factor corrected. Not for 400 Hz use. For 400 Hz systems, order transformer 70001-60066. > **Important:** Save and recall of user files and instrument states from non-volatile storage is guaranteed only over the range 0 to 40 °C. > **Important:** Many BNC connectors for digital modulation (data, data clock, symbol sync, burst gate, I/Q outputs) are provided only on signal generators with Option 601 or 602. > **Important:** Option 300 GSM/EDGE base station BERT is a system of two instruments requiring an ESG with Option 300 plus an E4406A VSA with Option 300; the ESG also requires Option 601 or 602, the TDMA personalities (Option 402), and the UN7 BER board. > **Important:** Baseband Studio for waveform streaming (N5110A) and for fading (N5115A) both require a PC equipped with the Agilent N5101A Baseband Studio PCI card; the PCI card is not functional as a stand-alone product. > Usage tip: pair the E4438C with the Agilent N5102A Baseband Studio digital signal interface module to add ESG digital input or output connectivity (Options 0032 and 0042). ## About this Pre-Owned unit This pre-owned unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house before it ships and is backed by our pre-owned warranty. To confirm its exact condition, firmware revision, installed options, or included accessories for your application before ordering, contact our Test Architects. - 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). ValueTronics supplies both new and used test and measurement equipment. New units ship factory-sealed, exactly as received from the manufacturer; every used unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house at our 20,000 sq ft secure facility in Elgin, Illinois before it ships. Our Test Architects can help you select the condition, calibration, and configuration that fit your application. **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:** 0.0 USD - **Vendor:** Agilent - **Type:** Rf Gen - **Tags:** Agilent, Agilent Keysight, Agilent Technologies, E4438, E4438C, Inc., Keysight, Manufacturers, Model 4438, Pre-Owned, product_manual_group_1, Product_used, RF, Rf Gen, Signal Generators, Updated Item Review ## Variants | Variant | Price | Available | |---------|-------|-----------| | None | 0.00 USD | In stock | | NIST Traceable | 0.00 USD | In stock | | NIST Traceable with Full Data | 0.00 USD | In stock | | ISO IEC 17025 Accredited | 0.00 USD | In stock | ## Images - E4438C Agilent RF Generator --- > Source: [ValueTronics](https://valuetronics.com/products/e4438c-agilent-rf-generator-used) > Updated: 2026-06-02