The HP E4859A Serial Cell Generator and Analyzer System is a modular VXI C-size instrument platform designed to characterize the transmission performance of time division multiple access (TDMA) and other burst-mode transmitters and receivers during research and development. The entry system comprises a single burst-mode serial cell generator, a companion cell error analyzer, a central clock source, and a sequencer, with capacity to expand by plugging additional modules into the mainframe's unused slots.

The HP E4859A supports research and design of burst-mode transmission systems including local access networks using TDMA technology such as passive optical networks (PON), hybrid fibre coax (HFC), and fiber to the curb (FTTC), as well as optical buses for airplanes and ships, MIL bus 3838, digital satellite modems, digital CATV transmission, optical LANs, and military communication systems. The system can emulate and analyze cells in passive star, tree, bus, or ring network topologies, in point-to-point links, and in bi-directional transmission scenarios for upstream and downstream signals.

Brand Heritage

Hewlett-Packard's test and measurement business was spun out as Agilent Technologies in 1999, and the electronic measurement portion of Agilent was subsequently established as Keysight Technologies in 2014. Instruments originally branded HP, including the E4859A platform, trace their support and successor product lines through this corporate evolution.

Compare Other Models in This Series

The HP E4859A platform is built around a VXI C-size mainframe that hosts the central clock and sequencer plus a configurable population of generator and analyzer modules. The architecture allows a single chassis to scale from a one-generator/one-analyzer entry configuration up to 19 generators with 1 analyzer, or 10 generators with 10 analyzers, or any combination in between, as engineering needs evolve.

The module family comprises the HP E4853A serial cell generator/analyzer module, which provides one generator and one analyzer in a single VXI slot, and the HP E4854A dual serial cell generator module, which provides two generators in a single VXI slot. Both modules attach to the same central clock and sequencer and share the same bit rate, output amplitude ranges, and cell-editing capabilities described in this datasheet.

Each pre-owned module and mainframe configuration below is its own dedicated product page with condition-matched pricing. Selecting the right combination of HP E4853A generator/analyzer modules and HP E4854A dual-generator modules within a single HP E4859A mainframe is the practical way to size capacity to the number of branches and analyzers the bench requires.

The HP E4853A module provides one generator channel plus one analyzer channel in a single VXI slot and is the building block of any configuration that needs to both emulate and analyze burst-mode cells. The HP E4854A module provides two generator channels in a single VXI slot with no analyzer, and is the right choice when the bench needs additional generators to populate more network branches without adding analyzer resources.

Configurations are governed by mainframe slot count and by the analyzer-to-generator mix the application requires. A passive optical network with many upstream branches and a single central line termination, for example, is generator-heavy and analyzer-light; bi-directional testing benches may want a more balanced split. The comparison table that follows lists the modules and the entry system together so the right combination can be specified on one purchase order.

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

Accessories Supplied

• One serial cell generator/analyzer module HP E4853A
• Central clock module HP E4805A with option 001 (1 Hz frequency resolution)
• User software HP E4872A
• TDMA license-to-use HP E4856A
• VXI C-size power mainframe HP E1401B
• Embedded controller with 32 MB HP E1497A #ANC
• Embedded SCSI disk HP E4208B
• Pre-installed HP-UX 9.x and SICL
• LAN transceiver, licenses, media, accessories, and user guides

Product Core & Specifications

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.