# HP 8970B Noise Figure Meter, 10 to 1600 MHz (Pre-Owned) # HP 8970B Noise Figure Meter, 10 to 1600 MHz (Pre-Owned) ## Key Features At A Glance - Noise figure measurement range 0 to 30 dB with ±0.1 dB instrumentation uncertainty - Tunable input frequency 10 to 1600 MHz standard; extends to 2047 MHz with Option 020 - Simultaneous gain measurement from -20 to >+40 dB with ±0.15 dB instrumentation uncertainty - Automatic second-stage correction removes measurement system noise from displayed results - Displays results in noise figure (dB/ratio), effective input noise temperature (K), or Y factor - Stores up to 4 noise source ENR tables with 35 frequencies each for multi-band measurements - GPIB and System Interface Bus (SIB) for automated systems and HP 8971C / LO / plotter control - Measurement speed of 6 to 9 measurements per second at minimum smoothing The HP 8970B Noise Figure Meter is a dedicated noise figure measurement instrument that tunes its input from 10 to 1600 MHz (extendable to 2047 MHz with Option 020) and automates the complete noise figure measurement sequence. The instrument tunes the input frequency, controls an external local oscillator for receiver or microwave measurements, drives the noise source on and off, makes the noise power measurements, calculates the noise figure, removes the effects of the measurement system's own noise, compensates for losses before or after the device under test, and displays the result in noise figure, effective noise temperature, or Y factor. Applications listed in the product literature include amplifier characterization with simultaneous noise figure and gain measurement, transistor measurements using tuners with single-sideband accuracy, receiver testing with tunable IF and external LO control, and mixer characterization showing simultaneous noise figure and conversion loss. The instrument supports real-time, swept, corrected oscilloscope output for tuning work and produces permanent hard-copy plots of noise figure and gain versus frequency through a digital plotter connected over the System Interface Bus. ValueTronics International, LLC stocks, inspects, and ships legacy and current test equipment from our 20,000 square foot secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive, Elgin, Illinois. For an instrument like the HP 8970B — where the test and measurement community has decades of installed base, where specific model compatibility (HP 8971C test sets, HP 346A/B/C noise sources, the recommended synthesized LO list) matters more than catalog newness, and where a unit that arrives uncalibrated or with incorrect IF cal data is unusable — sourcing through a stocking dealer that physically holds and verifies inventory removes the variables that pure pass-through brokers cannot resolve. We can confirm what is in the box, what the input SWR looks like at power-on, and whether the noise source drive and IF output behave as the operating manual describes before the unit ships. ## Brand Heritage Hewlett-Packard's test and measurement business was spun off as Agilent Technologies in 1999. The electronic measurement portion of Agilent was subsequently separated into Keysight Technologies in 2014. HP-branded noise figure instruments such as the 8970B therefore trace through Agilent to today's Keysight test and measurement portfolio. ## Compare Other Models in This Series The HP 8970 series is a noise figure measurement family built around the HP 8970B Noise Figure Meter as the controller and display instrument. By itself the HP 8970B handles 10 to 1600 MHz (or 10 to 2047 MHz with Option 020). The HP 8971C Noise Figure Test Set adds microwave downconversion with a YIG-tuned filter and an optional built-in low-noise preamplifier, allowing the HP 8970B to measure noise figure from 10 MHz to 26.5 GHz when combined with a suitable local oscillator. Two pre-defined system configurations are offered: the HP 8970S, which is a user-configurable combination of the HP 8970B, an HP 8971C (with the customer's chosen options), and a synthesized LO selected from the recommended source list; and the HP 8970V, which is a pre-configured 10 MHz to 20 GHz system consisting of the HP 8970B, HP 8971C, and HP 83711B Synthesized CW Generator. Each model on this datasheet is listed on its own product page with pre-owned-matched pricing. Buyers who need only the 10 to 1600 MHz (or 2047 MHz with Option 020) measurement capability typically choose the HP 8970B alone; buyers who need microwave coverage add the HP 8971C and an LO, either by configuring an HP 8970S or by ordering the pre-defined HP 8970V. Within the family the HP 8970B is the controller — it is the instrument that displays results, runs the GPIB and System Interface Bus, stores the ENR tables, and drives the noise source. Whether the application is RF-only or extends to 26.5 GHz, the HP 8970B is the common element; the HP 8971C and LO selection determine the upper frequency limit and the test port configuration. The principal differences between configurations are frequency coverage and system completeness. The HP 8970B standalone covers 10 to 1600 MHz (2047 MHz with Option 020). The HP 8970S extends specified operation to 10 MHz to 26.5 GHz with the HP 8971C and a recommended synthesized LO; the upper frequency in any given HP 8970S build is set by the LO selected. The HP 8970V is fixed at 10 MHz to 20 GHz because it ships with the HP 83711B. The HP 8971C itself is offered in three variants per the datasheet: standard, Option 001 (adds internal LO power amp, reducing required LO input from +7 dBm to +1 dBm — typically required above 20 GHz or where there is LO cabling loss), and Option 002 (deletes the built-in low-noise RF preamp, intended for measuring high-gain devices or when the user supplies their own preamplifier). The comparison table that follows summarizes how these choices map to frequency range, noise figure, input SWR, and LO drive requirements. Model Type Frequency Range Noise Figure Measurement Range **8970B** Noise Figure Meter 10 to 1600 MHz (10 to 2047 MHz with Option 020) 0 to 30 dB 8971C Noise Figure Test Set 10 MHz to 26.5 GHz — 8970S Measurement System (configurable) 10 MHz to 26.5 GHz (upper frequency limited by LO selected) 0 to 30 dB 8970V Pre-configured Measurement System 10 MHz to 20 GHz 0 to 30 dB Additional differences in specifications beyond the few shown above are not listed here — see each model's full specifications below. ## Product Core & Specifications Specification Value Noise Figure Measurement Measurement range 0 to 30 dB Instrumentation uncertainty ±0.1 dB (for a 14 to 16 dB ENR noise source in a 0 to 55°C environment) Resolution 0.01 dB (0.001 dB over GPIB) Gain Measurement Measurement range \-20 to >+40 dB (for DUT and system noise figures totalling 30 dB or less) Instrumentation uncertainty ±0.15 dB Resolution (Gain >-9.99 dB) 0.01 dB Resolution (Gain <-9.99 dB) 0.1 dB Input Specifications Frequency range Tunable from 10 to 1600 MHz (10 to 2047 MHz with Option 020) Tuning accuracy (for 10 to 40°C) ±(1 MHz + 1% of frequency); 6 MHz maximum Frequency resolution 1 MHz Noise figure (for input power levels below -60 dBm) <7 dB + 0.003 dB/MHz (<7 dB + 0.002 dB/MHz with Option 020) Input SWR (50 ohm reference) <1.7 (10 MHz to 1600 MHz); <1.8 with Option 020; <2.0 (1600 MHz to 2047 MHz, Option 020 only) Maximum operating input power \-10 dBm Maximum net external gain \>65 dB between noise source and HP 8970B RF input Electromagnetic Compatibility EMI Conducted and radiated interference in compliance with MIL-STD-461B CE03, RE02, EN55011 Class A (1991) and CISPR Class A (1990) Conducted and radiated susceptibility Meets MIL-STD-461B-1980, CS01/CS02, RS03 and EN50082-1 (1991) (IEC 801-2, 801-3 and 801-4) General Noise source drive 28.0 ±0.1 V for noise source ON (up to 60 mA peak); <1 V for noise source OFF GPIB capability SH1, AH1, T5, TE0, L4, LE0, SR1, RL1, PP0, DC1, DT1, C0, E1 Operating temperature 0 to 55°C Storage temperature \-55 to 75°C Connectors RF input: N(f); noise source drive: BNC(f) Power 100, 120, 220, or 240 V (±5%, -10%); 48-66 Hz; 150 VA maximum Net weight 15.5 kg (34 lb) Shipping weight 18.5 kg (40 lb) Dimensions 143H x 425W x 467D mm (5.68 x 16.75 x 18.38 in.) Supplemental Characteristics Bandwidth Approximately 4 MHz Sensitivity \-100 dBm (no external gain required; able to measure its own noise figure) Measurement speed 6 to 9 measurements per second with minimum smoothing Sweep speed at minimum smoothing (10 to 1600 MHz) 140 ms per frequency point Jitter at minimum smoothing Peak-to-peak Y-factor variation <0.15 dB (typical) Jitter with increased smoothing Peak-to-peak Y-factor variation <0.02 dB (for smoothing factor of 64) (typical) Maximum safe input level ±20 Vdc; +20 dBm peak (or average) at RF Audible noise level <5.5 bels at 1 meter Functional Properties Noise figure display units Noise Figure: dB, ratio; Uncorrected Y factor: dB, ratio; Effective Input Noise Temperature: K Displayed measurement frequency range 10 to 99,999 MHz Noise figure display jitter <0.01 dB (with appropriate smoothing) Cold noise source data range 0 to 9999 K Hot noise source data range ENR from -7 to +50 dB; spot Thot from 0 to >2.9x10^7 K Number of calibration points in one sweep 181 Storage capacity of hot noise source tables 4 stored ENR tables with 35 frequencies each (plus 1 working ENR table) Compatible digital plotters HP 7470A, HP 7475A, HP 7550A, HP 7440A, HP 9872B **Important:** Maximum average input power at the RF INPUT connector is +20 dBm (100 mW) for both CW and pulsed signals. Voltages exceeding ±20 Vdc at the RF INPUT connector may damage the instrument.**Important:** Maximum Input Power: The maximum average power level for a CW signal at the RF INPUT connector of the HP 8970B must not exceed +20 dBm (100 mW). The maximum power for a pulsed signal is also +20 dBm (100 mW). The HP 8970B may be damaged by voltages exceeding +/- 20 Vdc at the RF INPUT connector.**Important:** A noise source (such as the HP 346A/B/C series) is required to make noise figure measurements with the HP 8970B and is not included with the base instrument.**Important:** Using the HP 346A Noise Source with the HP 8970S/T: A preamplifier is required when using the HP 346A Noise Source to calibrate the HP 8970S/T system. Typically, a preamplifier with > 15 dB of gain and < 6 dB noise figure will work.**Important:** For calibration and measurement repeatability in the HP 8970S/V system, the local oscillator must be synthesized.**Important:** The HP 8970S Noise Figure Measurement System requires a recommended Synthesized Microwave Signal Source (such as HP 83620B, 83622B, 83630B, 83640B, 83650B, 83711B, 83712B, 83731B, 83732B, 83751A, or 83752A) which is purchased separately for the system; only the HP 8970V is pre-configured with the HP 83711B.**Important:** HP 8971C with Option 001 is recommended for operation above 20 GHz.Recommended pairing: combine the HP 8970B with the HP 8971C Noise Figure Test Set and a synthesized microwave signal generator from the HP 8360-series, HP 83711B/83712B, HP 83731B/83732B, or HP 83751A/83752A to form the HP 8970S system for 10 MHz to 26.5 GHz measurements. ## 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:** HP - **Type:** Noise Figure Meter - **Tags:** Agilent, Agilent Keysight, Manufacturers, Meters & DAQ, Noise, product_manual_group_1, Product_used, 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 - HP 8970B Noise Figure Meter, 10 to 1600 MHz (Pre-Owned) - HP 8970B Noise Figure Meter, 10 to 1600 MHz (Pre-Owned) --- > Source: [ValueTronics](https://valuetronics.com/products/8970b-agilent-noise-meter-used) > Updated: 2026-05-30