# Agilent E4428C ESG Analog Signal Generator (Pre-Owned)

# Agilent E4428C ESG Analog Signal Generator (Pre-Owned)

## Key Features At A Glance

-   Frequency coverage to 6 GHz across the option range (Option 503 to 3 GHz; Option 506 to 6 GHz)
-   AM, FM, phase, and pulse modulation with composite and simultaneous modulation paths
-   Built-in function generator: sine, square, ramp, triangle, pulse, and noise waveforms
-   GPIB (IEEE-488.2), RS-232, and LAN (10BaseT) remote interfaces with SCPI for automation
-   Step and list sweep of both frequency and power, 2 to 65,535 points
-   0.01 Hz frequency resolution and 0.02 dB level resolution
-   High-stability timebase, aging rate < ±0.1 ppm/yr; 2-year calibration cycle
-   Lightweight (< 16 kg), rack-mountable; 50 Ω type-N RF output

The Agilent E4428C ESG is an analog signal generator that produces RF carrier signals with analog modulation across a frequency range that extends to 6 GHz in its widest configuration. It delivers calibrated output power, a high-stability frequency reference, and a built-in modulation source, presenting frequency, power, and modulation control through both a front panel and full remote programming. The instrument is offered in frequency-range and output-power configurations selected by option, with a 50 Ω type-N RF output.

An analog signal generator provides a known, controllable RF stimulus — a carrier at a defined frequency and amplitude that can be modulated in a defined way — so that a device or system can be excited and its response measured. The E4428C generates amplitude, frequency, phase, and pulse modulation, and its spectral-purity and jitter performance is characterized at SONET/SDH carrier frequencies and data rates of 155, 622, and 2488 MB/s. Step and list sweeps of both frequency and power allow a sequence of carrier settings to be stepped through automatically.

ValueTronics stocks and holds its own test-and-measurement inventory in a 20,000-square-foot secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive in Elgin, Illinois. Every used unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house before it ships, while new units leave factory-sealed exactly as received. Holding inventory directly lets us match the right instrument and configuration to an engineer's application and get it out the door quickly.

## Brand Heritage

This instrument carries Agilent Technologies branding. Agilent originated as the test-and-measurement business of Hewlett-Packard, which was spun out as Agilent Technologies in 1999; that electronic measurement business was subsequently established as Keysight Technologies in 2014.

## Accessories Supplied

-   CD-ROM of English user guide and assembly level service manual (E4428C-CD1, standard with instrument)

> **Newer model:** per the manufacturer, this unit has been replaced by MXG X-Series.

## Product Core & Specifications

Specification

Value

Frequency

Frequency range (Option 503)

250 kHz to 3 GHz \[electronic attenuator standard\]

Frequency range (Option 506)

250 kHz to 6 GHz \[mechanical attenuator only\]

Frequency minimum

100 kHz (performance below 250 kHz not guaranteed)

Frequency resolution

0.01 Hz

Frequency switching speed, Option 503 \[hops < 5 MHz within a band\]

Freq. (< 9 ms); Freq./Amp. (< 9 ms)

Frequency switching speed, Option 506 \[hops < 5 MHz within a band\]

Freq. (< 16 ms); Freq./Amp. (< 17 ms); within a band (< 12 ms) / (< 14 ms)

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 (Step); 2 to 1601 (List)

Internal Reference Oscillator

Aging rate

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

Temp \[0 to 55 °C\]

(< ±0.05 ppm)

Line voltage

(< ±0.002 ppm)

Line voltage range

(+5% to –10%)

RF reference input frequency

1, 2, 5, 10 MHz ±0.2 ppm

RF reference output frequency

10 MHz

RF reference output amplitude

4 dBm ±2 dB

Output Power — Maximum Available Power (measured)

250 kHz to 250 MHz

Opt 503: +11 to –136 dBm; Opt 503 with UNB: +15 to –136 dBm; Opt 506: +12 to –136 dBm

\> 250 MHz to 1 GHz

Opt 503: +13 to –136 dBm; Opt 503 with UNB: +17 to –136 dBm; Opt 506: +14 to –136 dBm

\> 1 to 3 GHz

Opt 503: +10 to –136 dBm; Opt 503 with UNB: +16 to –136 dBm; Opt 506: +13 to –136 dBm

\> 3 to 6 GHz

Opt 503: N/A; Opt 503 with UNB: N/A; Opt 506: +10 to –136 dBm

Level resolution

0.02 dB

Level range with Attenuator Hold active, 250 kHz to 1 GHz

Opt 503: 23 dB; Opt 503 with UNB: 27 dB; Opt 506: 24 dB

Level range with Attenuator Hold active, > 1 to 3 GHz

Opt 503: 20 dB; Opt 503 with UNB: 26 dB; Opt 506: 23 dB

Level range with Attenuator Hold active, > 3 to 6 GHz

Opt 503: N/A; Opt 503 with UNB: N/A; Opt 506: 20 dB

Level Accuracy \[dB\], Option 503 (23 °C ±5 °C)

250 kHz to 2.0 GHz

+7 to –50 dBm: ±0.5; –50 to –110 dBm: ±0.5; –110 to –127 dBm: ±0.7; < –127 dBm: (±1.5)

2.0 to 3 GHz

+7 to –50 dBm: ±0.6; –50 to –110 dBm: ±0.6; –110 to –127 dBm: ±0.8; < –127 dBm: (±2.5)

Level Accuracy \[dB\], Option UNB (23 °C ±5 °C)

250 kHz to 2.0 GHz

+10 to –50 dBm: ±0.5; –50 to –110 dBm: ±0.7; –110 to –127 dBm: ±0.8; < –127 dBm: (±1.5)

2.0 to 3 GHz

+10 to –50 dBm: ±0.6; –50 to –110 dBm: ±0.8; –110 to –127 dBm: ±1.0; < –127 dBm: (±2.5)

Level Accuracy \[dB\], Option 506 (23 °C ±5 °C)

250 kHz to 2.0 GHz

+7 to –50 dBm: ±0.6; –50 to –110 dBm: ±0.8; –110 to –127 dBm: ±0.8; < –127 dBm: (±1.5)

2.0 to 3 GHz

+7 to –50 dBm: ±0.6; –50 to –110 dBm: ±0.8; –110 to –127 dBm: ±1.0; < –127 dBm: (±2.5)

3 to 4 GHz

+7 to –50 dBm: ±0.8; –50 to –110 dBm: ±0.9; –110 to –127 dBm: ±1.5; < –127 dBm: (±2.5)

4 to 6 GHz

+7 to –50 dBm: ±0.8; –50 to –110 dBm: ±0.9; –110 to –127 dBm: (±1.5)

Level accuracy with ALC off

(±0.15 dB) \[relative to ALC on, after power search is executed\]

Level switching speed, Normal operation \[ALC on\]

Opt 503: (< 15 ms); Opt 503 with UNB: (< 21 ms); Opt 506: (< 21 ms)

Level switching speed, power search manual

Opt 503: (< 83 ms); Opt 503 with UNB: (< 95 ms); Opt 506: (< 95 ms)

Level switching speed, power search auto

Opt 503: (< 103 ms); Opt 503 with UNB: (< 119 ms); Opt 506: (< 119 ms)

Spectral Purity

SSB phase noise \[at 20 kHz offset\], 500 MHz

< –135 dBc/Hz, (< –138 dBc/Hz)

SSB phase noise \[at 20 kHz offset\], 1 GHz

< –130 dBc/Hz, (< –134 dBc/Hz)

SSB phase noise \[at 20 kHz offset\], 2 GHz

< –124 dBc/Hz, (< –128 dBc/Hz)

SSB phase noise \[at 20 kHz offset\], 3 GHz

< –121 dBc/Hz, (< –125 dBc/Hz)

SSB phase noise \[at 20 kHz offset\], 4 GHz

< –118 dBc/Hz, (< –122 dBc/Hz)

SSB phase noise \[at 20 kHz offset\], 6 GHz

< –113 dBc/Hz, (< –117 dBc/Hz)

Residual FM \[CW mode, 0.3 to 3 kHz BW, CCITT, rms\]

< N x 1 Hz (< N x 0.5 Hz)

Harmonics

< –30 dBc above 1 GHz, (< –30 dBc 1 GHz and below)

Nonharmonics, 250 kHz to 250 MHz

\> 3 kHz offset: < –65 dBc; > 10 kHz offset: (< –58 dBc)

Nonharmonics, 250 MHz to 500 MHz

< –80 dBc; < –80 dBc

Nonharmonics, 500 MHz to 1 GHz

< –80 dBc; < –80 dBc

Nonharmonics, 1 to 2 GHz

< –74 dBc; < –74 dBc

Nonharmonics, 2 to 4 GHz

< –68 dBc; < –68 dBc

Nonharmonics, 4 to 6 GHz

< –62 dBc; < –62 dBc

Subharmonics ≤ 1 GHz

None

Subharmonics > 1 GHz

None

Frequency Modulation (FM)

Maximum deviation

N x 1 MHz

Resolution

0.1% of deviation or 1 Hz, whichever is greater

Modulation frequency rate \[deviation = 100 kHz\], FM path 1 \[DC\]

1 dB BW: DC to 100 kHz; 3 dB BW: (DC to 10 MHz)

Modulation frequency rate, FM path 2 \[DC\]

1 dB BW: DC to 100 kHz; 3 dB BW: (DC to 0.9 MHz)

Modulation frequency rate, FM path 1 \[AC\]

1 dB BW: 20 Hz to 100 kHz; 3 dB BW: (5 Hz to 10 MHz)

Modulation frequency rate, FM path 2 \[AC\]

1 dB BW: 20 Hz to 100 kHz; 3 dB BW: (5 Hz to 0.9 MHz)

Deviation accuracy \[1 kHz rate, deviation < N x 100 kHz\]

< ± 3.5% of FM deviation + 20 Hz

Carrier frequency accuracy relative to CW in DCFM

±0.1% of set deviation + (N x 1 Hz)

Distortion \[1 kHz rate, dev. = N x 100 kHz\]

< 1%

FM external inputs sensitivity

1 Vpeak for indicated deviation

FM external inputs impedance

50 Ω, nominal

Phase Modulation (ØM)

Resolution

0.1% of set deviation

Modulation frequency response, Normal BW

Max deviation N x 10 radians; ØM path 1: DC to 100 kHz; ØM path 2: DC to 100 kHz

Modulation frequency response, High BW

Max deviation N x 1 radians; ØM path 1: (DC to 1 MHz); ØM path 2: (DC to 0.9 MHz)

Deviation accuracy \[1 kHz rate, Normal BW mode\]

< ±5% of deviation + 0.01 radians

Distortion \[1 kHz rate, deviation < 10N radians, Normal BW mode\]

< 1%

ØM external inputs sensitivity

1 Vpeak for indicated deviation

ØM external inputs impedance

50 Ω, nominal

Amplitude Modulation (AM) \[fc > 500 kHz\]

Range

0 to 100%

Resolution

0.1%

Rates \[3 dB bandwidth\], DC coupled

0 to 10 kHz

> **Important:** Option 506 and Option UNB cannot be ordered together: Option 506 is standard with the high-power mechanical attenuator used in Option UNB.

> **Important:** Frequency performance below 250 kHz is not guaranteed (frequency minimum 100 kHz).

> **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:** External 1 and External 2 modulation input damage levels are 5 Vrms and 10 Vpeak (50 ohm input impedance).

> **Important:** Reverse power protection maximum DC voltage is 40 V.

## 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:** 3495.0 USD - 4755.0 USD
- **Vendor:** Agilent
- **Type:** Rf Gen
- **Tags:** Agilent, Agilent Keysight, Manufacturers, product_manual_group_1, Product_used, RF, Signal Generators

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| None | 3495.00 USD | In stock |
| NIST Traceable | 4055.00 USD | In stock |
| NIST Traceable with Full Data | 4405.00 USD | In stock |
| ISO IEC 17025 Accredited | 4755.00 USD | In stock |

## Images

- E4428C Agilent RF Generator

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> Source: [ValueTronics](https://valuetronics.com/products/e4428c-agilent-rf-generator-used)
> Updated: 2026-06-27