The N5173B is an EXG X-Series microwave analog signal generator from Agilent. It produces continuous-wave and swept microwave signals spanning 9 kHz at the low end up to 13, 20, 31.8, or 40 GHz at the top end, depending on the frequency option ordered (513, 520, 532, or 540). As an analog microwave source, it delivers a settable carrier with fine frequency resolution down to 0.001 Hz (nominal) and a phase offset adjustable in nominal 0.1-degree increments.

A signal generator supplies a known, controllable stimulus that engineers use to characterize how a device under test responds. The N5173B's simultaneous and composite modulation capabilities allow pulse, AM, and FM to run concurrently, which is useful for simulating signal impairments, FM chirp RADAR, or scan modulation. Its jitter performance is characterized against SONET/SDH data rates from 155 MB/s upward across the instrument's frequency range.

ValueTronics stocks and holds its own inventory in a 20,000 sq ft secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive, Elgin, Illinois, so the instruments we list are equipment we keep on hand rather than source on demand. Every used unit is inspected and functionally verified in-house by our technicians before it ships, while new units ship factory-sealed exactly as received from the manufacturer. That combination lets buyers choose between new and pre-owned with confidence that the condition described is the condition delivered.

Brand Heritage

Agilent Technologies originated as the test-and-measurement business of Hewlett-Packard, which was spun off as an independent company in 1999. In 2014, that electronic measurement business was transferred to Keysight Technologies. Datasheets bearing the Agilent name, such as this one, date from that intermediate era of the brand's history.

Compare Other Models in This Series

The N5173B is offered in four frequency configurations that share a common analog microwave architecture but differ in top-end reach: Option 513 covers 9 kHz to 13 GHz, Option 520 to 20 GHz, Option 532 to 31.8 GHz, and Option 540 to 40 GHz. Selecting the right option means matching the frequency ceiling to the highest signal your application needs to generate.

Across all four configurations the core feature set stays consistent: the same sweep modes, the same remote interfaces, the same OCXO reference architecture, and the same optional analog and pulse modulation suites. What scales with the option is the usable frequency span and a handful of frequency-dependent specifications.

Each pre-owned configuration linked below is its own dedicated product page with condition-matched pricing. Choose the frequency option that fits your application, then select the pre-owned listing that matches your budget and availability requirements.

Beyond the frequency ceiling, the configurations diverge in their RF output connector. Options 513 and 520 use a 3.5 mm (APC-3.5) SMA male connector, while Options 532 and 540 use a precision 2.4 mm male connector with supplied 2.4-to-2.4 mm and 2.4-to-2.9 mm female adapters. Option 1ED can add a Type-N connector to a 513 or 520.

Maximum specified output power and several spectral-purity figures also shift across the bands. For example, standard maximum output power and phase-noise values differ between the 513/520 and 532/540 groups and across frequency ranges, as detailed in the comparison table below.

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

Product Core & Specifications

Important: Maximum reverse power at the RF output: 0.5 W, 0 Vdc.

Important: Analog modulation is not standard: AM, FM, and phase modulation require Option UNT; pulse modulation requires Option UNW (or UW2). The internal analog modulation source and multifunction generator (Option 303) also require Option UNT.

Important: Option 1ED (Type-N connector) is available only on Option 513 or 520 units; for instruments with Type-N connectors, specifications are degraded typically 0.2 dB above 18 GHz.

Important: Specifications represent warranted performance of a calibrated instrument stored for a minimum of 2 hours within the operating temperature range of 0 to 55 °C and after a 45 minute warm-up period.

Usage tip: the front- and rear-panel USB ports work with U2000 Series USB average power sensors, which also support the instrument's USB/LAN direct power-meter control for user flatness correction.

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.