# Keysight N5186A MXG Vector Signal Generator (Pre-Owned) # Keysight N5186A MXG Vector Signal Generator (Pre-Owned) ## Key Features At A Glance - LAN (LXI Class C), GPIB, and USB remote programming via SCPI for ATE and automated test integration - CW frequency from 9 kHz up to 3, 6, or 8.5 GHz depending on frequency option (-503/-506/-508) - Output level settable +20 to -135 dBm at 0.01 dB resolution (+30 dBm with Option 1EA) via electronic attenuator - 0.00001 Hz CW frequency resolution with phase adjustable in nominal 0.1° increments - Available in one-channel or four-channel configurations at a Type-N 50 Ω output - Optional internal I/Q baseband generator (Options BxX) with up to 960 MHz RF (I+Q) bandwidth - Up to 2 GSa arbitrary waveform playback memory with optional memory upgrades (M05/M10/M20) The Keysight N5186A MXG is a vector signal generator that delivers calibrated RF stimulus across a frequency range that, depending on the installed frequency option, extends from 9 kHz to as high as 8.5 GHz. It pairs a wideband internal I/Q baseband architecture with analog and vector modulation capability in a single instrument, and is offered in both one-channel and four-channel configurations through a precision Type-N 50 Ω output. A vector signal generator produces modulated RF signals with precisely controlled amplitude, phase, and digital modulation, providing the known stimulus an engineer needs to characterize a receiver, amplifier, or wireless subsystem. The N5186A's published performance spans a broad set of communication formats — including GSM, W-CDMA, LTE FDD, 5G NR FR1, and 802.11a/g/ac/be — with documented error vector magnitude (EVM) and adjacent-channel power ratio (ACPR) results characterized for each. ValueTronics stocks and holds its own inventory in a 20,000 square-foot secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive in Elgin, Illinois. Every pre-owned instrument is inspected and functionally verified in-house before it ships, while new units ship factory-sealed exactly as received from the manufacturer. ## Brand Heritage Keysight Technologies traces its instrument heritage to Hewlett-Packard, whose test-and-measurement business was spun out as Agilent Technologies in 1999. That measurement business was then established as Keysight Technologies in 2014. ## Product Core & Specifications Specification Value Frequency CW frequency range (Option 503) 9 kHz to 3 GHz CW frequency range (Option 506) 9 kHz to 6 GHz CW frequency range (Option 508) 9 kHz to 8.5 GHz Frequency resolution (CW) 0.00001 Hz Phase adjustments Adjustable in nominal 0.1° increments Frequency switching speed, CW mode (SCPI) ≤ 9 ms (meas) Frequency switching speed, digital modulation (SCPI) ≤ 15 ms (meas) Frequency Reference Internal time base reference oscillator aging rate < ± 3 × 10⁻⁸/year or ± 30 ppb/year after 30 days; < ± 5 × 10⁻¹⁰/year or ± 0.5 ppb/day after 30 days Initial achievable calibration accuracy ± 4 × 10⁻⁸ or ± 40 ppb Adjustment resolution < 1.3 × 10⁻¹¹ Temperature effects < ± 1 × 10⁻⁸, nominal Line voltage effects < ± 1 × 10⁻⁹ for ± 5% change, nominal Reference output frequency 10 MHz or 100 MHz, user selectable Reference output amplitude ≥ +6 dBm, nominal into 50 Ω load at 10 MHz; ≥ +8 dBm, nominal into 50 Ω load at 100 MHz External reference input frequency (standard) 10 MHz External reference lock range ± 1 ppm External reference amplitude –3 dBm to +20 dBm, nominal External reference impedance 50 Ω, nominal External reference waveform Sine or square Output Power Settable range +20 to -135 dBm (std); +30 to -135 dBm (option 1EA) Resolution 0.01 dB Connector Type N 50 Ω, nominal (3.5 mm with options 1EM, 001, 002, 003, 004) Maximum reverse power 20 W, 50 VDC (nom) Attenuator type Electronic Max output power, 9 kHz to < 20 kHz +1 dBm (std); +1 dBm (+4 dBm typ) (option 1EA) Max output power, 20 kHz to < 50 kHz +7 dBm (std); +7 dBm (+10 dBm typ) (option 1EA) Max output power, 50 kHz to < 200 kHz +12 dBm (std); +12 dBm (+14 dBm typ) (option 1EA) Max output power, 200 kHz to < 10 MHz +15 dBm (std); +15 dBm (+19 dBm typ) (option 1EA) Max output power, 10 MHz to < 5 GHz +18 dBm (std); +25 dBm (+26 dBm typ) (option 1EA) Max output power, 5 GHz to < 8 GHz +18 dBm (std); +23 dBm (+25 dBm typ) (option 1EA) Max output power, 8 GHz to < 8.5 GHz +18 dBm (std); +22 dBm (+24 dBm typ) (option 1EA) Absolute level accuracy (CW), 1 GHz to < 5 GHz, +20 to +15 dBm (option 1EA) ± 1 dB (± 0.4 dB typ) Absolute level accuracy (CW), 5 GHz to < 7 GHz, +20 to +15 dBm (option 1EA) ± 0.9 dB (± 0.3 dB typ) Absolute level accuracy (CW), 7 to 8.5 GHz, +20 to +15 dBm (option 1EA) ± 1 dB (± 0.4 dB typ) Absolute level accuracy (CW), 1 GHz to < 5 GHz, < +5 dBm to -60 dBm ± 1.4 dB (± 0.5 dB typ) Absolute level accuracy (CW), 5 GHz to < 7 GHz, < +5 dBm to -60 dBm ± 1.4 dB (± 0.5 dB typ) Absolute level accuracy (CW), 7 to 8.5 GHz, < +5 dBm to -60 dBm ± 1.4 dB (± 0.5 dB typ) Amplitude switching speed, CW mode (SCPI) ≤ 9 ms (meas) Amplitude switching speed, digital modulation on (SCPI) ≤ 15 ms (meas) Phase Noise (Absolute SSB, CW enhanced SNR mode at +10 dBm, Standard, 20 to 30 °C; offsets 1 Hz / 10 Hz / 100 Hz / 1 kHz / 10 kHz / 100 kHz / 1 MHz / 10 MHz / 100 MHz; () = typical, dBc/Hz) 100 MHz carrier (-89) / -103 (-110) / -120 (-126) / -140 (-146) / -143 (-148) / -143 (-148) / -141 (-149) / -141 (-148) / - 500 MHz carrier (-76) / -89 (-96) / -106 (-113) / -130 (-135) / -136 (-140) / -136 (-140) / -151 (-157) / -151 (-157) / (-157) 1 GHz carrier (-70) / -84 (-90) / -99 (-106) / -124 (-129) / -129 (-134) / -129 (-134) / -151 (-157) / -152 (-158) / (-158) 2 GHz carrier (-64) / -77 (-84) / -93 (-100) / -117 (-123) / -123 (-128) / -123 (-127) / -146 (-154) / -151 (-158) / (-158) 3 GHz carrier (-60) / -74 (-80) / -89 (-96) / -114 (-120) / -119 (-124) / -119 (-124) / -144 (-152) / -152 (-158) / (-158) 4 GHz carrier (-59) / -71 (-77) / -87 (-94) / -112 (-117) / -116 (-122) / -116 (-121) / -141 (-150) / -151 (-157) / (-158) 5 GHz carrier (-57) / -69 (-76) / -86 (-92) / -109 (-115) / -115 (-120) / -115 (-119) / -139 (-148) / -150 (-156) / (-157) 6 GHz carrier (-55) / -68 (-74) / -84 (-90) / -108 (-114) / -113 (-118) / -113 (-118) / -137 (-146) / -149 (-155) / (-155) 7 GHz carrier (-54) / -67 (-73) / -83 (-89) / -107 (-112) / -112 (-117) / -112 (-116) / -137 (-146) / -148 (-155) / (-154) 8 GHz carrier (-53) / -66 (-72) / -82 (-88) / -105 (-111) / -111 (-116) / -110 (-115) / -134 (-144) / -146 (-153) / (-153) Spectral Purity Harmonics (CW), 9 kHz to 100 kHz, < +10 dBm (<-30 dBc typ) Harmonics (CW), > 100 kHz to 3 GHz <-35 dBc (-41 dBc) at < +10 dBm; <-33 dBc (-39 dBc) at < +12 dBm Harmonics (CW), > 3 GHz to 4.25 GHz <-30 dBc (-34 dBc) at < +10 dBm; (<-32 dBc) at < +12 dBm Harmonics (CW), > 4.25 GHz to 8.5 GHz (<-34 dBc) at < +10 dBm; (<-32 dBc) at < +12 dBm Non-harmonics (CW, > 10 kHz offset, +10 dBm), 9 kHz to < 15 MHz \-52 dBc (std); -52 dBc (-59 dBc) (option EP3/EP4) Non-harmonics, 15 MHz to < 30 MHz \-60 dBc (std); -60 dBc (-68 dBc) (option EP3/EP4) Non-harmonics, 30 MHz to < 8.5 GHz \-75 dBc (std); -80 dBc (option EP3/EP4) Fixed spurs (+10 dBm), 300 MHz \-77 dBc Fixed spurs, DAC spur (19.2 GHz – 2fout) \-67 dBc Fixed spurs, DAC spur (3fout - 19.2 GHz) \-69 dBc Analog Modulation (I/Q based, E7642APPC) AM waveform Sine, dual-sine, triangle, ramp up, ramp down, square AM rate (sine) 1 Hz to (maximum baseband bandwidth / 2) AM rate (all other waveforms) 1 Hz to (maximum baseband bandwidth / 16) AM depth 0 to 100% FM waveform Sine, dual-sine, triangle, ramp up, ramp down, square FM rate (sine) 1 Hz to (maximum baseband bandwidth / 4) FM rate (all other waveforms) 1 Hz to (maximum baseband bandwidth / 16) FM depth 0 Hz to 50 MHz PM waveform Sine, dual-sine, triangle, ramp up, ramp down, square PM rate (sine) 1 Hz to (maximum baseband bandwidth / 4) PM rate (all other waveforms) 1 Hz to (maximum baseband bandwidth / 16) PM depth 0 to 10 radians Vector Modulation Internal I/Q offset Separate I and Q offsets, ± 20% Internal I/Q quadrature angle ± 20° Internal I/Q gain balance ± 10 dB Internal I/Q time skew ± 83.3333 ns I/Q common delay range 0 to 41.6667 ns I/Q common delay resolution 250 fs Frequency response over modulation bandwidth (400 MHz to 8.5 GHz), measured Amplitude ± 0.6 dB; Phase ± 2° Channel response correction (E7653APPC), scatter parameter file format .s2p, .csv Number of cascadable calibration sets 4 Automated channel response correction 256 taps > **Important:** Maximum reverse power: 20 W, 50 VDC (nominal). > **Important:** AC line voltage dropouts (IEC 61000-4-11) of duration greater than 5 ms will cause the RF output to turn off until it is re-enabled by the operator, in order to protect internal hardware. > **Important:** Lower edge of the modulated signal is not recommended to extend below 10 MHz, and the upper edge of the modulated signal is not recommended to extend above 8.5 GHz. > **Important:** Output power performance operating below 20 kHz frequency is not warranted if the power level is set below -85 dBm. > **Important:** For indoor use only. ## 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:** Keysight Technologies - **Type:** Rf Gen - **Tags:** product_manual_group_3 ## Variants | Variant | Price | Available | |---------|-------|-----------| | Default Title | 0.00 USD | In stock | ## Images - Keysight N5186A MXG Vector Signal Generator (Pre-Owned) --- > Source: [ValueTronics](https://valuetronics.com/products/n5186a-keysight-rf-generator-used) > Updated: 2026-06-20