# Agilent E4861B ParBERT 3.35 Gb/s Generator/Analyzer Data Module (Pre-Owned)

# Agilent E4861B ParBERT 3.35 Gb/s Generator/Analyzer Data Module (Pre-Owned)

## Key Features At A Glance

-   Modular BERT platform with data rate modules spanning 333 kb/s to 13.5 Gb/s in a single VXI-based system
-   Up to 66 synchronous generator and analyzer channels across multiple speed classes
-   Pattern sequencer with up to five nested loop levels and branching on internal/external events for uninterrupted complex tests
-   PRBS/PRWS hardware pattern generation plus user-defined memory-based patterns up to 64 Mb per channel
-   Delay control input on generator modules enables external jitter injection for receiver margining and jitter tolerance testing
-   Analyzer modules feature integrated clock data recovery (CDR) for testing clock-less interfaces
-   Measurement suite automates BER scans for eye diagrams, bathtub plots with RJ/DJ jitter decomposition, and Q-factor analysis
-   Plug-and-play drivers for Agilent VEE, C/C++, and Visual Basic, plus SCPI/GPIB control for ATE integration

The Agilent ParBERT 81250 is a modular parallel bit error ratio test platform designed for physical layer test and characterization of high-speed multi-port devices. Built on a VXI-based architecture, the system pairs clock modules with interchangeable data, generator, and analyzer modules to deliver a configurable test instrument that addresses everything from synchronous mux/demux devices to clock-synchronous multi-port and multiple serial applications across the computer, communications, and semiconductor industries.

ParBERT 81250 was originally designed to test and characterize synchronous devices such as Mux/Demux components typical of the communications industry, and the platform is equally suited for clock-synchronous multi-port and multiple-serial applications common in the computer industry. The datasheet documents application examples including OC-192 SONET mux/demux test, 10GbE-XAUI characterization, passive optical network (PON) OLT receiver testing, HDMI sink testing, MIPI D-PHY signaling, PCI Express receiver jitter tolerance, and A/D converter characterization using the analyzer's CDR-per-channel feature.

## Brand Heritage

Hewlett-Packard's test and measurement business was spun out as Agilent Technologies in 1999, and the electronic measurement portion of Agilent was subsequently transferred to Keysight Technologies in 2014. ParBERT 81250 instruments shipped under the Agilent brand are part of that lineage, and calibration and service support for many Agilent-era T&M products continues through Keysight's support infrastructure.

## Compare Other Models in This Series

The ParBERT 81250 family is organized around a modular architecture in which a VXI mainframe houses one or more clock groups, each consisting of a central clock module and one or more data modules. Within this architecture the datasheet defines three primary speed classes — a 675 Mb/s class, a 3.35 Gb/s class, and a high-speed class covering 7 Gb/s and 13.5 Gb/s — together with three compatible central clock modules (E4805B, E4808A, and E4809A) whose compatibility with the data modules is defined by the supported data rate range.

Module selection is driven by the data rate of the application and the desired channel count. The 675 Mb/s class uses back-end data modules that hold up to four front-ends per slot; the 3.35 Gb/s class uses modules that hold up to two front-ends per slot; the 7 Gb/s and 13.5 Gb/s class uses dedicated single-channel generator or analyzer modules. The datasheet documents that channels within one module can operate at different data rates of binary ratio, and that multiple clock groups can run independently or be locked in an m/n frequency ratio.

Each pre-owned module and system below is its own dedicated product page with condition-matched pricing. Because ParBERT 81250 is a modular platform, the configuration of clock modules, data modules, and front-ends determines both the channel count and the data rate coverage of a given system — review the specific configuration on each product page to confirm it matches your application.

The principal differences across the family are data rate range, channel density per module slot, and front-end architecture. The 675 Mb/s class (E4832A data module with E4835A analyzer and E4838A generator front-ends) operates from 333 kb/s to 675 Mb/s, holds up to four front-ends per back-end, and addresses LVDS, PECL, ECL, TTL, and 3.3V CMOS I/O. The 3.35 Gb/s class (E4861B data module with E4862B generator and E4863B analyzer front-ends) operates from 20.834 Mb/s to 3.35 Gb/s with up to two front-ends per module and supports LVDS, CML, PECL, ECL, and low-voltage CMOS.

The 7 Gb/s (N4874A generator / N4875A analyzer) and 13.5 Gb/s (N4872A generator / N4873A analyzer) classes are dedicated single-channel modules covering 620 Mb/s to 7 Gb/s and 620 Mb/s to 13.5 Gb/s respectively. Both high-speed classes feature voltage-controlled delay inputs on the generators (±100 ps range with DC–1 GHz modulation bandwidth per the datasheet) for jitter injection, integrated CDR on the analyzers with pre-defined common data rates (including OC-192, 10GbE, Fibre Channel, S-ATA, PCI Express, OC-48, and SAN), 64 Mbit memory depth, and 100 fs delay resolution. Compatible clock modules differ by class: the E4805B supports 675 Mb/s; the E4808A supports 675 Mb/s and 3.35 Gb/s; the E4809A is required for the 7 Gb/s and 13.5 Gb/s modules and also supports 3.35 Gb/s and 675 Mb/s. See the comparison table below for module-by-module specifications.

Model

Type

Max Data Rate

Channels per Module

**E4861B**

Data Module (up to 2 front-ends)

3.35 Gb/s

2

N4872A

Generator

13.5 Gb/s

1

N4873A

Analyzer

13.5 Gb/s

1

N4874A

Generator

7 Gb/s

1

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

## Product Core & Specifications

Parameter

Specification

Frequency range

20.834 MHz to 3.350 GHz

Start delay range

0 to 200 ns (not limited by period)

Fine delay range

±1 period (can be changed without stopping)

Delay resolution

1 ps

Accuracy data mode

±25 ps ±50 ppm relative to the zero-delay and temperature change within ±10 °C after autocalibration

Clock mode accuracy

±50 ps ±50 ppm relative to the zero-delay

Skew between modules of same type

50 ps typ. after deskewing

Patterns - Memory based

Up to 16 Mbit

Patterns - PRBS/PRWS

2^n - 1, n = 7, 9, 10, 11, 15, 23, 31

Mark density

1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 7/8

Clock patterns

Divide or multiply by 1, 2, 4

Analyzer auto-synchronization

On PRBS or memory-based data; Bit synchronization with/without automatic phase alignment; Automatic delay alignment (range: ± 10 ns); BER threshold: 10^-4 to 10^-9

Front-end capacity

Up to 2 front-ends (E4862B Generator and/or E4863B Analyzer)

Compatible clock modules

E4808A or E4809A

Module size

VXI C-size, 1 slot

**Important:** ParBERT 81250 modules and front-ends do not store customer-specific data in non-volatile memory. After power is removed, modules retain no data or settings; any saved settings, patterns, or measurement data reside on the controlling PC and are governed by standard operating-system security controls.**Important:** The ParBERT 81250 is a modular instrument. A minimum system consists of one mainframe (81250A), a slot-0 controller (e.g., 81250A-013 FireWire interface), one central clock module (E4805B, E4808A, or E4809A), and at least one data/generator/analyzer module. Modules and front-ends are sold separately and not interchangeable across clock module families — verify configuration compatibility before ordering.**Important:** ParBERT 81250 user software license (E4875A) is required to operate the hardware and is supplied with the mainframes per the datasheet.**Important:** Do not mix E4809A, E4808A, and E4805B clock modules: master-slave connection is only possible between clock modules of the same type, and one system must be configured with one type of clock module.**Important:** Recommended N4910A 2.4 mm matched cable pair (24-inch) is required to meet published specifications at the cable end for the 7 Gb/s and 13.5 Gb/s modules.**Important:** All specifications are valid from 10 °C to 40 °C ambient temperature after a 30 minute warm-up phase, with outputs and inputs terminated with 50 Ω to ground at ECL levels if not specified otherwise.**Important:** Power line operation at 300-440 Hz is not recommended: leakage current may exceed safety limits above 132 Vac.Recommended pairing: use the N4910A matched 2.4 mm cable pair (24-inch) with the 13.5 Gb/s and 7 Gb/s generator and analyzer modules — module specifications are valid at the end of the N4910A cable set per 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:** 0.0 USD
- **Vendor:** Agilent
- **Type:** Test Set
- **Tags:** 4861, Agilent, Agilent Keysight, Agilent Technologies, consignment-active, E4861B, Manufacturers, Model 4861, Other, Pre-Owned, product_manual_group_1, Product_used, Signal Generators

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 0.00 USD | In stock |

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> Source: [ValueTronics](https://valuetronics.com/products/e4861b-agilent-generator-used)
> Updated: 2026-05-30
