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The Keysight E8257N is a fully-synthesized PSG analog sweep generator built for high output power, low phase noise, and ramp sweep capability. A signal generator of this type produces controlled, known signals used to stimulate a device under test, and the E8257N delivers continuous-wave and swept microwave signals as a precision stimulus source on the RF and microwave bench.
As a stimulus source, the E8257N integrates with scalar network analyzers for swept measurements and fits into automated test systems, where Option 340 emulates earlier signal generator command sets for general ATE compatibility. With Option 340 it also supports two-tone master/slave measurements, in which two units synchronously track each other with independent control of start and stop frequencies.
ValueTronics stocks test and measurement equipment directly in our own 20,000 square foot secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive in Elgin, Illinois. Every pre-owned unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house before it ships, while new units ship factory-sealed exactly as received from the manufacturer.
Keysight Technologies traces its test and measurement heritage to Hewlett-Packard, whose instrument and measurement business was spun off as Agilent Technologies in 1999 and subsequently established as the independent Keysight Technologies in 2014.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Frequency | |
| Frequency range (Standard) | 10 MHz to 40 GHz |
| Frequency range (Option 340) | 250 kHz to 40 GHz |
| Frequency range (Option 550) | 250 kHz to 50 GHz |
| Resolution (CW) | 0.001 Hz |
| Resolution (all sweep modes) | 0.01 Hz |
| CW switching speed | < 11 ms (typ); 7 ms (nom) |
| Phase offset | Adjustable in nominal 0.1° increments |
| Internal Timebase Reference Oscillator (OCXO) | |
| Aging rate (Standard) | < ± 1 x 10⁻⁹ /hr @ 25 °C ± 5 °C after 1 hr warm up |
| Aging rate (Option UNX) | < ± 3 x 10⁻⁸ /yr or < ± 2.5 x 10⁻¹⁰ /day after 30 days |
| Temperature effects (Standard) | < ± 2.0 x 10⁻⁶ from 0 to 50 °C |
| Temperature effects (Option UNX) | < ± 4.5 x 10⁻⁹ from 0 to 55 °C (typ) |
| Line voltage effects (typ) | < ± 2.0 x 10⁻¹⁰ for ± 10% change |
| External reference frequency | 10 MHz only |
| External reference lock range | ± 1.0 ppm |
| Reference output | 10 MHz; > +4 dBm into 50 Ω load (typ) |
| External reference input amplitude | 5 dBm ± 5 dB |
| External reference input impedance | 50 Ω (nom) |
| Step (Digital) Sweep | |
| Dwell time | 1 ms to 60 s |
| Number of points (step sweep) | 2 to 65535 |
| Number of points (list sweep, Option 340) | 2 to 1601 per table |
| Triggering | Auto, external, single, or GPIB |
| Settling time (frequency) | < 9 ms (typ) |
| Settling time (amplitude) | < 5 ms (typ) |
| Ramp (Analog) Sweep | |
| Sweep span range | Settable from minimum 2 to full range |
| Maximum sweep rate (≥ 3.2 GHz) | 400 MHz/ms |
| Frequency accuracy (Option 340) | ± 0.05% of span ± timebase (at 100 ms sweep time) |
| Frequency resolution (sweep width < 20 GHz) | < 0.1% |
| Frequency resolution (sweep width ≥ 20 GHz) | < 0.2% |
| Sweep time (manual mode) | Settable 10 ms to 200 seconds |
| Markers | 10 independent continuously variable frequency markers |
| Output | |
| Minimum settable output power (Standard, 10 MHz to 40 GHz) | -105 dBm |
| Minimum settable output power (Option 340) | -135 dBm |
| Minimum settable output power (Option 550, > 40 to 50 GHz) | -110 dBm |
| Maximum output power (Standard, > 250 MHz to 3.2 GHz) | +10 dBm |
| Maximum output power (Option 1EU, > 250 MHz to 3.2 GHz) | +20 dBm (+22 typ) |
| Maximum output power (Standard, > 18 to 37 GHz) | +7 dBm |
| Step attenuator (Standard) | 0 dB and 5 dB to 115 dB in 10 dB steps |
| Level accuracy (> 10 MHz to 20 GHz) | ± 1.5 dB |
| Level accuracy (> 20 to 40 GHz) | ± 2.0 dB |
| Flatness | ± 1.5 dB measured at 0 dBm |
| Resolution | 0.01 dB |
| Temperature stability | 0.02 dB/°C (typ) |
| Output impedance | 50 Ω (nom) |
| SWR (10 MHz to 40 GHz, internally leveled) | < 2.0:1 |
| Maximum reverse power | 1/2 Watt, 0 VDC |
| Spectral Purity | |
| Harmonics (> 10 MHz to 2 GHz, Standard) | -30 dBc |
| Harmonics (> 2 to 20 GHz, Standard) | -50 dBc |
| Sub-harmonics (10 MHz to 2 GHz, Standard) | -30 dBc |
| Sub-harmonics (> 2 GHz to 10 GHz, Standard) | -50 dBc |
| Non-harmonics (10 MHz to 2 GHz, Standard) | -40 dBc |
| Non-harmonics (> 2 GHz to 20 GHz, Standard) | -55 dBc |
| Residual FM (CW, Standard, 50 Hz to 15 kHz BW) | < 500 Hz |
| Residual AM | < 1.0% peak |
| Broadband noise (10 MHz to 20 GHz, offsets > 10 MHz) | < -148 dBc/Hz (typ) |
| SSB phase noise (10 kHz offset, 250 kHz to 250 MHz, Standard) | -130 dBc/Hz (typ -134) |
| SSB phase noise (10 kHz offset, > 250 to 500 MHz, Standard) | -134 dBc/Hz (typ -138) |
| SSB phase noise (10 kHz offset, > 3.2 to 10 GHz, Standard) | -110 dBc/Hz (typ -113) |
| Frequency Modulation | |
| Maximum deviation (10 MHz to 250 MHz) | 2 MHz |
| Maximum deviation (> 2 GHz to 3.2 GHz) | 8 MHz |
| Resolution | 0.1% of deviation or 1 Hz, whichever is greater |
| Deviation accuracy | < ± (3.5% of FM deviation + 20 Hz) |
| Incidental AM | < 0.3% (for 50 Hz to 15 kHz BW) |
| Residual FM | < 3000 Hz rms (for 50 Hz to 15 kHz BW) |
| Phase Modulation | |
| Maximum deviation (Standard, > 2 GHz to 3.2 GHz, normal BW) | 50 rad |
| Maximum deviation (Standard, high BW mode) | 5 rad |
| Resolution | 0.1% of set deviation |
| Deviation accuracy | < ± 5% of deviation + 0.01 radians (1 kHz rate, normal BW) |
| Distortion | < 1% (1 kHz rate, THD, normal BW mode) |
| Amplitude Modulation | |
| Depth (ALC On, linear mode) | > 90% |
| Settable | 0 to 100% |
| Sensitivity | 0 to 100%/V |
| Resolution | 0.1% |
| Depth accuracy (ALC On, 1 kHz rate) | ± (6% of setting + 1%) |
| Rates (3 dB BW, 30% depth, DC coupled) | 0 to 100 kHz |
| Pulse Modulation | |
| On/off ratio | 80 dB |
| Rise/fall times (> 400 MHz, Standard) | 20 ns |
| Minimum pulse width (ALC on) | 1 µs |
| Repetition frequency (ALC on) | 10 Hz to 500 kHz |
| Level accuracy (ALC on, 50 MHz to 3.2 GHz) | ± 0.5 dB |
| Pulse overshoot (Standard) | < 15% (typ) |
| Internal Pulse Generator | |
| Period (PRI) | 70 ns to 42 s (repetition frequency: 0.024 Hz to 14.28 MHz) |
| Pulse width | 10 ns to 42 s |
| Delay accuracy | 10 ns or 10% of setting |
| Resolution | 10 ns (width, delay, and PRI) |
| Sync pulse output rise time | < 50 ns |
| Remote Programming | |
| Interfaces (Standard) | GPIB (IEEE-488.2, 1987) |
| Interfaces (Option 340) | GPIB (IEEE-488.2, 1987), RS-232, 10BaseT LAN interface |
| Control languages | SCPI version 1997.0 |
| General Specifications | |
| Power requirements | 100/120 VAC, 50/60 or 400 Hz, or 220/240 VAC, 50/60 Hz (automatically selected); < 250 W typical, 400 W maximum |
| Operating temperature range | 0 to 50 °C |
Important: Option 550 (250 kHz to 50 GHz) requires Options 340 and UNX, and Options 008, UNX, 1EH, and 1EU each require Option 340.
Recommended pairing: use the Keysight 8757D scalar network analyzer with Option 340 for swept scalar network measurements.
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.
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.
Model No
Keysight
Condition
Pre-Owned
Manufacturer
Keysight
Rf_gen_freq
10 MHz to 40 GHz
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