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Agilent 54540A 500 MHz 4-Channel Digitizing Oscilloscope (Pre-Owned)

Agilent 54540A 500 MHz 4-Channel Digitizing Oscilloscope (Pre-Owned)

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Agilent 54540A 500 MHz 4-Channel Digitizing Oscilloscope (Pre-Owned)

Key Features At A Glance

  • 500 MHz repetitive bandwidth with rise time ≤700 ps; real-time bandwidth scales from 125 MHz (3-4 channels) to 500 MHz (single channel)
  • Maximum sample rate of 2 GSa/s (1 channel), 1 GSa/s (2 channels), or 500 MSa/s (3-4 channels) with 4 simultaneous acquisition channels
  • 32,768-point maximum record length in real-time mode with 10 ps timebase resolution
  • Peak detect captures glitches as narrow as 1 ns at sample rates of 250 MSa/s or less
  • Sequential single-shot mode captures successive events without dead time and stores up to 400 Kbytes of waveform data
  • 23 automatic measurements available from front panel or HP-IB, with user-definable thresholds and statistics, limit test, and waveform compare modes
  • DOS-compatible 3.5-inch disk drive for storing setups, waveforms, and screen images (TIFF, PCX, EPS); HP-IB, RS-232, and Centronics I/O standard
  • Built-in FFT analysis with Hanning, Flattop, and Rectangular windowing for frequency-domain measurements to 1 GHz
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The Agilent 54540A is a 500 MHz four-channel digitizing oscilloscope that combines high-speed real-time acquisition with deep memory and a rich automated measurement set. With a maximum sample rate of 2 GSa/s on a single channel, the 54540A is designed for engineers who need to capture fast transient events, glitches, and single-shot phenomena with the timing precision that traditional analog scopes cannot deliver.

An oscilloscope captures voltage waveforms over time and displays them on screen so an engineer can visualize amplitude, frequency, timing, and signal shape. The 54540A applies that fundamental capability to applications the datasheet specifically supports: capturing glitches as narrow as 1 ns in peak detect mode, recording successive single-shot events through sequential single-shot mode, and performing telecommunication mask-template measurements to ANSI, CCITT, and ISDN standards when equipped with the optional 21-mask application package.

ValueTronics International stocks, tests, and ships test and measurement equipment from our 20,000 sq ft secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive in Elgin, Illinois. Every used 54540A that passes through our facility is professionally inspected and performance-verified by our technicians before it ships — this is the verification step that separates a ValueTronics-graded instrument from an unverified marketplace listing. When you buy from us, you have a named contact, a documented condition grade, and a real phone number to call if anything is not as described.

Brand Heritage

Hewlett-Packard's test and measurement business was spun off as Agilent Technologies in 1999 and subsequently transferred to Keysight Technologies in 2014. The 54540A carries the Agilent brand of that intermediate era; its measurement architecture and HP-IB programming heritage trace back to the long-established HP instrument line that preceded both successor companies.

Product Core & Specifications

General Specifications
Maximum Sample Rate 2 GSa/s (1 CH on), 1 GSa/s (2 CH on), 500 MSa/s (3 or 4 CH on)
Number of Channels 4 (all simultaneous acquisition)
Record Length 32,768 pts (real time) maximum; 501 pts (repetitive)
Resolution 8 bits, 10 bits via HP-IB with averaging
Vertical Specifications
Repetitive Bandwidth 500 MHz (equivalent time) (rise time ≤ 700 ps)
Real Time Bandwidth 125 MHz (3 or 4 CH); 250 MHz (2 CH); 500 MHz (1 CH)
Sensitivity 1 mV/div to 5 V/div
dc Gain Accuracy ± 1.25% of full scale
Input Impedance R: 1 MΩ ± 1% or 50 Ω ± 1%; C: 7 pF nominal
Input Coupling ac, dc
Maximum Input 1 M&ohm;: ± 250 V (dc + ac) [ac < 10 kHz]; 50 &ohm;: 5 V rms
Offset Range 1 mV to 50 mV/div: ±2 V; >50 mV to 250 mV/div: ±10 V; >250 mV to 1.25 V/div: ±50 V; >1.25 V/div to 5 V/div: ±250 V
Offset Accuracy ±(1.25% of channel offset + 2% of full scale)
Voltage Measurement Accuracy (Dual Cursor) ±[(1.25%)(full scale)+(0.032)(V/div)]
Voltage Measurement Accuracy (Single Cursor) ±[(1.25%)(full scale)+(offset accuracy)+(0.016)(V/div)]
Horizontal Specifications
Time Base Range 500 ps/div to 5 s/div
Resolution 10 ps
Delta-t Accuracy (Repetitive, >8 averages) [(0.005%)(delta-t)+(100 ps + 0.1% of full scale)]
Delta-t Accuracy (Real Time) [(0.005%)(delta-t)+(0.2)(sample period)]
Delta-t Accuracy (Peak Detect) [(0.005%)(delta-t)+(1 sample period)]
Time Tag Resolution 100 ps
Time Tag Accuracy ±[0.005%(reading)+100 ps]
Delay Range (posttrigger) 10E07 x sample period
Delay Range (pretrigger) 32K x sample period
Trigger Specifications
Internal Sensitivity 0.5 div (dc to 100 MHz); 1.0 div (100 MHz to 500 MHz)
External Sensitivity (54520A) 0.0225 x signal range (dc to 100 MHz); 0.045 x signal range (100 MHz to 500 MHz)
Auxiliary Sensitivity dc to 50 MHz: 250 mVp-p
Pulse Width (minimum) 1 ns
Level Range (Internal) ±1.5 x full scale from center screen
Level Range (External 54520A) ±25 V
Level Range (Auxiliary) ±5 V
Trigger Modes Edge, pattern, glitch, time qualified pattern, line, state event-delayed, time-delayed, TV (NTSC, PAL, and user-definable formats)
Trigger Coupling dc, ac, low frequency reject
Display Characteristics
Display Mode "A" models: monochrome CRT. "C" models: flatpanel color TFT liquid-crystal displays.
Display Modes Averaging from 2 to 2048, envelope, infinite & variable persistence from 500 ms to 10 s, connect the dots, peak detect
Graticules Full grid, axes, frame, or no graticule
Automatic Measurements 23 measurements on front panel or over HP-IB: Rise time, Fall time, Frequency, Period, -Width, +Width, Duty cycle, Delta time, V p-p, V min, V max, V avg, V base, V amptd, V top, V ac rms, V dc rms, Preshoot, Overshoot, Voltage at time, Time at min voltage, Time at max voltage, Time at voltage
User-Definable Thresholds Upper and lower thresholds can be set from -25% to 125% for all automatic measurements
Measurement Modes Continuous, statistics, limit test, or waveform compare
Math/Analysis Functions Add, subtract, multiply, versus, integrate, differentiate, invert, magnify, and FFT
Additional Characteristics
Peak Detect Captures and displays glitches or other high-speed events as narrow as 1 ns in real-time mode at sample rates of 250 MSa/s or less with sequential single-shot turned off.
Sequential Single Shot Captures successive single-shot events without capturing the dead time in between; stores up to 400 Kbytes of waveform data.
Waveform Store 4 nonvolatile, 2 pixel (volatile), and segmentable memory for storing measurement failure waveforms or sequential single-shot waveforms.
I/O Characteristics
HP-IB Fully programmable, complies with IEEE 488.2
RS-232 Bidirectional serial communication
Centronics Talk-only parallel communication for HP PCL compatible printers
Disk Drive DOS-compatible, 3-1/2" disk drive to store and recall setups, waveforms, and screen images (TIFF, PCX, and EPS)
Front Panel Setups 9 (nonvolatile memories)
FFT Characteristics
Frequency Range dc to: 250 MHz (3-4 ch on); 500 MHz (2 ch on); 1 GHz (1 ch on)
Frequency Resolution (Minimum) (max samp rate)/(512 pts): 997 kHz (3-4 ch); 1.95 MHz (2 ch); 3.9 MHz (1 ch)
Frequency Resolution (Maximum) (min samp rate)/(32,768 pts): 0.305 MHz
Frequency Accuracy [1/2 (sample frequency)(1/32768)] + (5 x 10E-5)(signal frequency)
Amplitude Display Power in dBm
Windowing Hanning, Flattop, Rectangular
Environmental Characteristics
Power Voltage 115/230 Vac, -25% to +15%, 48 to 440 Hz, 350 VA maximum
Weight Net: approximately 11.8 kg (26 lb); Shipping: approximately 21.3 kg (47 lb)
Dimensions Height: 218 mm (8.6 in); Width: 440 mm (17.3 in); Depth: 367 mm (14.5 in)
Important: Maximum input: ±250 V (DC + AC, AC <10 kHz) at the 1 MΩ setting; 5 V RMS at the 50 Ω setting. Real-time bandwidth scales with active channel count — confirm the channel configuration your measurement requires before connecting the DUT.

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.

Model No

Agilent

Condition

Used

Manufacturer

Agilent

Channels

4

Frequency

500 MHz

Record length

64 kPts

Sampling rate

2 GS/s