Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 33522B vs Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 33521B
This technical comparison examines the differences and shared specifications between the Keysight 33522B and 33521B multifunction generators. Both of these benchtop instruments utilize Keysight's proprietary Trueform signal generation technology to deliver clean waveforms with low jitter and low harmonic distortion. Designed for test engineers and technical buyers who need high-fidelity waveform generation for research, development, and automated test environments, these units bypass the limitations of traditional Direct Digital Synthesis. This guide highlights key physical and electrical distinctions—primarily channel count, physical weight, and specific synchronization interfaces—to help you select the correct generator for your bench.
- Number of Channels
- 2 (33522B) vs 1 (33521B)
- Max Bandwidth
- 30 MHz
- Vertical Resolution
- 16 bits
- Sampling Rate
- 1 uSa/s to 250 MSa/s
- Standard Memory
- 1 MSa per channel
Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 33522BKeysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 33521B
Specifications
| Specification | Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP)33522B | Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP)33521B |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Display | 4.3-inch Color TFT WQVGA (480x272) with LED backlight | 4.3" Color TFT WQVGA (480x272) with LED backlight |
| Recommended Calibration Interval | 1 year | — |
| Interfaces | — | USB 2.0 (USB-TMC488), LAN (10/100Base-T Ethernet, LXI Class C), GPIB (optional) |
| Physical | ||
| Power Supply | 100 - 240 V at 50/60 Hz; 100 - 120 V at 400 Hz (< 45 W, < 130 VA) | 100 V to 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz; 100 V to 120 V AC, 400 Hz (max. 45 W) |
| Operating Temperature(°C) | 0 to 55 | 0 °C to 55 °C |
| Dimensions (W×H×D)(mm) | 261.1 × 103.8 × 303.2 (with bumpers) | 261.2 mm × 103.8 mm × 303.2 mm (with bumpers and handle); 212.8 mm × 88.3 mm × 272.3 mm (without bumpers and handle) |
| Weight(kg) | 3.3 | 3.4 kg |
| General Characteristics | ||
| Number of Channels | 2 | — |
| Standard Waveforms | Sine, square, ramp, pulse, triangle, Gaussian noise, PRBS, DC | — |
| Built-In Arbitrary Waveforms | Cardiac, exponential fall, exponential rise, Gaussian pulse, Haversine, Lorentz, D-Lorentz, negative ramp, sinc | — |
| Sampling Rate | 1 μSa/s to 250 MSa/s | — |
| Vertical Resolution | 16 bits | — |
| Memory Depth (Per Channel) | 1 MSa standard (16 MSa with Option MEM) | — |
| Frequency Characteristics | ||
| Bandwidth | 30 MHz | — |
| Arbitrary Waveform Sample Rate Resolution | 1 μSa/s | 1 μSa/s |
| Sine Frequency Range | 1 µHz to 30 MHz | Up to 30 MHz |
| Square Frequency Range | 1 µHz to 30 MHz | — |
| Pulse Frequency Range | 1 µHz to 30 MHz | Up to 30 MHz |
| Frequency Resolution | 1 µHz | — |
| Instrument Bandwidth | — | 30 MHz |
| Arbitrary Waveform Sample Rate | — | 1 μSa/s to 250 MSa/s |
| Amplitude and Offset | ||
| Amplitude Range (into 50 Ohms) | 1 mVpp to 10 Vpp | — |
| Amplitude Range (into Open Circuit) | 2 mVpp to 20 Vpp | — |
| Output Impedance | 50 Ω (nominal) | — |
| Maximum Output Voltage | ±42 Vpk (isolated connector shells) | — |
| Signal Characteristics - Sine | ||
| Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) | < 0.04% | — |
| Non-Harmonic Spurious | < -75 dBc | — |
| Signal Characteristics - Square and Pulse | ||
| Rise/Fall Time | 8.4 ns | — |
| Waveform Sequencing | ||
| Sequence Length | 1 to 512 steps | — |
| Segment Repeat Count | 1 to 1,000,000, or infinite | — |
| Modulation Specifications | ||
| Operating Modes | Continuous, modulate, frequency sweep, burst, output gate | — |
| Supported Modulation Types | AM, FM, PM, FSK, BPSK, PWM, Sum | — |
| Inputs and Outputs | ||
| Sync/Marker Output Connector | Front-panel BNC, isolated | — |
| Sync Output Impedance | 50 Ω (nominal) | — |
| Sync Output Level (into 50 Ohms) | 1.5 Vpp (nominal) | — |
| Sync Output Level (into Open Circuit) | 3 Vpp (nominal) | — |
| Modulation Input Connector | Rear-panel BNC, isolated | — |
| Modulation Input Voltage Range | ±5 V full-scale | — |
| Modulation Input Impedance | 5 kΩ (nominal) | — |
| Modulation Input Bandwidth (-3 dB) | 0 Hz to 100 kHz (typ) | — |
| External Trigger Input Connector | Rear-panel BNC, chassis-referenced | — |
| Frequency Reference | ||
| High-Stability Timebase Accuracy (Option OCX) | ±0.1 ppm (1 year) | — |
| Waveform Characteristics | ||
| Square / Pulse Jitter (rms) | < 40 ps (typical) | — |
| Pulse Minimum Width | 16 ns | — |
| Pulse Edge Time (10% to 90%) | 8.4 ns to 1 µs (adjustable) | — |
| Amplitude & Offset | ||
| DC Offset Range (into 50 Ω) | ±5 Vpk (AC + DC) | — |
| DC Offset Range (into Open Circuit) | ±10 Vpk (AC + DC) | — |
| Modulation & Sweep | ||
| AM Depth Range | 0% to 120% | — |
| FM Peak Deviation | 1 µHz to 15 MHz | — |
| Sweep Time | 1 ms to 3600 s | — |
| Outputs | ||
| Output Isolation | 42 Vpk maximum to earth ground | — |
| Short-Circuit Protection | Indefinite to ground | — |
| General Specifications | ||
| Warm-up Time | 1 hour | — |
| Environmental | ||
| Storage Temperature | -40 °C to 70 °C | — |
| Operating Altitude | Up to 3,000 meters | — |
| Shock and Vibration | MIL-PRF-28800F Class 3 | — |
| Operating Humidity | — | 5% to 80% RH (non-condensing) |
| Acoustic Noise (Nominal) | — | < 35 dBA |
| Vibration and Shock Compliance | — | MIL-PRF-28800F, Class 3 |
| Pollution Degree | — | Pollution Degree 2 |
| Overvoltage Category | — | Overvoltage Category II |
| Sweep | ||
| Sweep Direction | Up or Down | — |
| Sweep Types | — | Linear, Logarithmic, List |
| Sweep Time Range | — | 1 ms to 250,000 s |
| Sweep Trigger Sources | — | Internal, External, Manual, Bus |
| Burst | ||
| Burst Count | 1 to 100,000,000 cycles, or Infinite | — |
| Burst Phase | -360° to +360° | — |
| Burst Types | — | Counted (1 to 1,000,000 cycles, or Infinite), Gated |
| Burst Start Phase Range | — | -360° to +360° |
| Modulation | ||
| PM Phase Deviation Range | 0 to 360° | — |
| Compliance | ||
| Safety Compliance | EN 61010-1, UL 61010-1, CSA C22.2 No. 61010-1 | — |
| EMC Compliance | EN 61326-1, CISPR 11 Group 1 Class A | — |
| Waveform and Output Channels | ||
| Number of Channels | — | 1 |
| Standard Waveforms | — | Sine, square, ramp, pulse, triangle, Gaussian noise, PRBS (Pseudorandom Binary Sequence), DC |
| Built-In Arbitrary Waveforms | — | Cardiac, exponential fall, exponential rise, Gaussian pulse, Haversine, Lorentz, D-Lorentz, negative ramp, sinc |
| Channel-to-Chassis Isolation | — | Connector shells for channel output, Sync, and Mod In are connected together but isolated from chassis |
| Maximum Allowable Voltage on Isolation | — | ±42 Vpk |
| Amplitude and Voltage Characteristics | ||
| Amplitude Range (into 50 Ω) | — | 1 mVpp to 10 Vpp |
| Amplitude Range (into Open Circuit) | — | 2 mVpp to 20 Vpp |
| Vertical Resolution | — | 16 bits |
| Amplitude Resolution | — | 0.1 mVpp, 0.1 mVrms, or 4 digits |
| Waveform Purity and Distortion | ||
| Sine Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) | — | < 0.04% |
| Sine Non-Harmonic Spurious Responses | — | < -75 dBc |
| Pulse Rise and Fall Time | — | 8.4 ns |
| Arbitrary Filter Bandwidth (Filter Off) | — | 40 MHz (nominal) |
| Arbitrary Filter Bandwidth (Normal Filter On) | — | 0.27 × (Sample Rate) (nominal) |
| Arbitrary Filter Bandwidth (Step Filter On) | — | 0.13 × (Sample Rate) (nominal) |
| Arbitrary Rise and Fall Time | — | 0.35 / Bandwidth (10 ns min) with Normal or Step filter On |
| Arbitrary Waveform Characteristics | ||
| Standard Waveform Memory | — | 1 MSa per channel |
| Optional Waveform Memory | — | 16 MSa per channel (Option MEM) |
| Waveform Length | — | 8 Sa to 1 MSa per channel (16 MSa with Option MEM) in increments of 1 sample |
| Minimum Segment Length | — | 8 Sa |
| Segment Length Increment | — | 1 sample |
| Waveform Sequencing Operation | — | Individual arbitrary waveforms (segments) can be combined into user-defined lists (sequences) to form longer, more complex waveforms |
| Preloaded Sequences Capacity | — | Up to 32 sequences totaling up to 1,024 segments preloaded into volatile memory |
| Sequence Length | — | 1 to 512 steps |
| Segment Repeat Count | — | 1 to 1,000,000, or infinite |
| Modulation, Sweep, and Burst | ||
| Operating Modes | — | Continuous, modulate, frequency sweep, burst, output gate |
| Modulation Types | — | AM, FM, PM, FSK, BPSK, PWM, Sum (carrier + modulation) |
| PRBS Pattern Generation | — | PN7, PN9, PN11, PN15, PN23 |
| Variable-Bandwidth Noise | — | Adjustable bandwidth built-in noise generator |
| Sync and Marker Output | ||
| Sync Connector | — | Front-panel BNC, chassis-referenced |
| Sync Functions | — | Sync, sweep marker, burst marker, or arbitrary waveform marker |
| Sync Polarity | — | Normal or inverted |
| Sync Output Voltage (into Open Circuit) | — | 3.3 Vpp (nominal) |
| Sync Output Voltage (into 50 Ω) | — | 1.65 Vpp (nominal) |
| Sync Output Impedance | — | 50 Ω (nominal) |
| Sync Minimum Pulse Width | — | 16 ns (nominal) |
| External Trigger and Gate | ||
| External Trigger Connector | — | Rear-panel BNC, chassis-referenced |
| External Trigger Function | — | Input or output |
| External Trigger Polarity | — | Positive or negative slope |
| External Trigger Input Voltage Level | — | Threshold: 1.5 V (nominal) |
| External Trigger Output Voltage Level (into Open Circuit) | — | 3.3 Vpp (nominal) |
| External Trigger Output Voltage Level (into 50 Ω) | — | 1.65 Vpp (nominal) |
| External Trigger Input Impedance | — | 10 kΩ (nominal), DC-coupled |
| External Trigger Output Impedance | — | 50 Ω (nominal) |
| External Trigger Fanout | — | ≤4 total 33500B Series waveform generators |
| Modulation Input | ||
| Modulation Input Connector | — | Rear-panel BNC, isolated |
| Modulation Input Voltage Level | — | ±5 V or ±10 V full scale |
| Modulation Input Impedance | — | 5 kΩ (nominal) |
| Modulation Input Bandwidth | — | 0 Hz to 100 kHz (-3 dB, typical) |
| System, Connectivity, and Control | ||
| LXI Compliance | — | LXI Class C (rev 1.3) |
| Ethernet Protocol | — | Sockets & VXI-11 protocol |
| USB Protocol | — | USB-TMC488 protocol (USB 2.0) |
| Programming Language | — | SCPI-1999, IEEE-488.2; Agilent 33210A / 33220A compatible |
| Web User Interface | — | Remote operation and monitoring via web browser |
| Real-Time Clock / Calendar | — | Set and read - year, month, day, hour, minute, second |
| Real-Time Clock Battery | — | CR-2032 coin-type, replaceable, >5 year life (typical) |
| Frequency and Timebase | ||
| Square Wave Frequency Range | — | 1 µHz to 30 MHz |
| Ramp/Triangle Frequency Range | — | 1 µHz to 200 kHz |
| PRBS Bit Rate Range | — | 1 mbps to 50 Mbps |
| Frequency Resolution | — | 1 µHz |
| Standard Timebase Frequency Accuracy | — | ±1 ppm of setting ±15 pHz (after 1 year, 0 °C to 55 °C) |
| Optional Timebase (Option OCX) Accuracy | — | ±0.1 ppm of setting ±15 pHz (after 1 year) |
| Standard Timebase Aging Rate | — | ±1 ppm per year |
| Optional Timebase Aging Rate | — | ±0.1 ppm per year |
| Jitter | ||
| Square and Pulse Jitter (Typical) | — | < 40 ps RMS |
| Arbitrary Waveform Jitter (Typical) | — | < 40 ps RMS |
| Amplitude & DC Offset | ||
| DC Offset Range (into 50 Ω) | — | ±5 V pk AC+DC (limited by amplitude setting) |
| DC Offset Range (into Open Circuit) | — | ±10 V pk AC+DC (limited by amplitude setting) |
| Amplitude Accuracy (at 1 kHz) | — | ±(1% of setting + 1 mVpp) into 50 Ω |
| Output Impedance Selection | — | 50 Ω (typical), Open Circuit, or Custom (1 Ω to 10 kΩ) |
| Phase Control | ||
| Phase Adjustment Range | — | -360° to +360° |
| Phase Resolution | — | 0.001° |
| External Reference Clock Input | ||
| External Reference Input Level Range | — | 100 mVpp to 5 Vpp |
| External Reference Input Impedance | — | 1 kΩ (typical), AC-coupled |
| External Reference Clock Output | ||
| External Reference Output Frequency | — | 10 MHz |
| External Reference Output Level | — | 0 dBm (nominal) into 50 Ω |
| External Reference Output Impedance | — | 50 Ω (typical), AC-coupled |
| Storage and Memory | ||
| Non-Volatile Internal Storage Capacity | — | 970 MB |
| Front Panel USB Port Type | — | USB Host (Type A) |
| Environmental and Standards | ||
| Storage Temperature Range | — | -40 °C to +70 °C |
| Operating Altitude | — | Up to 3,000 meters |
| Safety Compliance Standards | — | EN 61010-1, UL 61010-1, CSA C22.2 No. 61010-1 |
| EMC Compliance Standards | — | EN 61326-1, ICES-001, AS/NZS CISPR 11 |
| Warm-up Time | — | 1 hour |
| Pulse Characteristics | ||
| Pulse Width Minimum | — | 16 ns |
| Pulse Width Resolution | — | 100 ps or 11 digits |
| Pulse Duty Cycle Range | — | 0.01% to 99.99% |
| Pulse Overshoot (Typical) | — | < 4% |
| Square Wave Characteristics | ||
| Square Wave Duty Cycle Range | — | 0.01% to 99.99% (subject to minimum width limits) |
| Ramp Wave Characteristics | ||
| Ramp Symmetry Range | — | 0.0% to 100.0% |
| Ramp Symmetry Resolution | — | 0.1% |
| Phase Noise | ||
| Phase Noise | — | -115 dBc/Hz @ 10 MHz carrier, 10 kHz offset (typical) |
| Amplitude Flatness | ||
| Amplitude Flatness (< 5 MHz) | — | ±0.1 dB (relative to 1 kHz, 1 Vpp, 50 Ω) |
| Amplitude Flatness (5 to 30 MHz) | — | ±0.15 dB (relative to 1 kHz, 1 Vpp, 50 Ω) |
| Internal Trigger | ||
| Internal Trigger Period Range | — | 250 ns to 8000 s |
| Internal Trigger Period Resolution | — | 4 ns |
| Internal Trigger Jitter (Typical) | — | < 200 ps |
| Modulation Characteristics | ||
| AM Modulation Depth Range | — | 0.0% to 120.0% |
| FM Maximum Deviation | — | 15 MHz |
| PM Phase Deviation Range | — | 0° to 360° |
| FSK Key Rate Range | — | 2 mHz to 1 MHz |
| BPSK Key Rate Range | — | 2 mHz to 1 MHz |
| PWM Duty Cycle Deviation Range | — | 0% to 50% |
| PRBS Generation | ||
| PRBS Polynomials | — | 2^7-1, 2^9-1, 2^11-1, 2^15-1, 2^20-1, 2^23-1 |
Channel Configuration and Physical Dimensions
The primary difference between these two models is the channel count. The Keysight 33522B is a 2-channel instrument, allowing for differential testing, phase-aligned signal outputs, and independent dual-channel stimulus. In contrast, the Keysight 33521B is a single-channel instrument designed for single-path testing. While both units share a similar footprint, there are minor physical variations. The 33522B weighs 3.3 kg and measures 261.1 mm by 103.8 mm by 303.2 mm with bumpers. The 33521B weighs 3.4 kg and has dimensions of 261.2 mm by 103.8 mm by 303.2 mm with its bumpers and handle attached, which can be reduced to 212.8 mm by 88.3 mm by 272.3 mm if the bumpers and handle are removed.
Trueform Signal Generation Performance
Both models share the same core Trueform architecture, offering identical performance in waveform parameters. Each generator features a 16-bit vertical resolution and a sample rate of up to 250 MSa/s, with a frequency resolution of 1 uHz. They support standard waveforms such as sine, square, ramp, pulse, triangle, Gaussian noise, PRBS, and DC up to 30 MHz. The instruments offer 1 MSa of standard waveform memory per channel, which is upgradable to 16 MSa with Option MEM. Their pulse generation capabilities are highly consistent, featuring a minimum pulse width of 16 ns, rise and fall times of 8.4 ns, and typical jitter under 40 ps RMS.
Input, Output, and Synchronization Options
When integrating these instruments into automated systems, the input and output electrical characteristics show minor differences. The 33522B features a front-panel Sync/Marker output on an isolated BNC connector, providing a nominal output level of 1.5 Vpp into 50 ohms (3 Vpp into open circuit). On the 33521B, the Sync connector is a front-panel chassis-referenced BNC, delivering a nominal output level of 1.65 Vpp into 50 ohms (3.3 Vpp into open circuit). Both units feature isolated rear-panel BNC modulation inputs with a nominal impedance of 5 kohms, accepting full-scale input voltage ranges of ±5 V.
Frequently asked questions
- How is connector isolation handled on these generators?
- For both the 33522B and 33521B, the connector shells are isolated from the chassis, supporting a maximum allowable voltage on isolation of 42 Vpk. On the single-channel 33521B, the output channel, Sync, and Modulation Input connector shells are connected to each other but isolated from the main chassis.
- Can these models generate customized wave sequences?
- Yes. Both generators can combine individual arbitrary waveform segments into user-defined lists or sequences to form more complex waveforms. They support a sequence length of 1 to 512 steps and a segment repeat count up to 1,000,000 or infinite.