Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) E4407B vs Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 8563E
This technical comparison reviews the Keysight (Agilent HP) E4407B and the Keysight (Agilent HP) 8563E spectrum analyzers. Both instruments support measurement capabilities up to 26.5 GHz, but they serve different roles in performance and field ruggedness. The E4407B belongs to the ESA-E Series as a mid-performance benchtop unit, while the 8563E is a high-performance portable analyzer built for harsher environments. Engineers can use this analysis of their shared and distinct characteristics to choose the ideal instrument for their RF and microwave testing requirements.
- Standard Frequency Range
- 9 kHz to 26.5 GHz (Both models)
- Phase Noise @ 10 kHz Offset
- E4407B: ≤ -90 dBc/Hz | 8563E: ≤ -113 dBc/Hz
- Operating Temperature
- E4407B: 0 to 55 °C | 8563E: -10 to +55 °C
- RF Input Connector
- APC-3.5 mm male (Both models)
Specifications
| Specification | Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP)E4407B | Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP)8563E |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Calibration Cycle | 1 year | — |
| EMC/EMI Compliance | CISPR Pub 11 Group 1 Class A | — |
| Interfaces | — | GPIB (IEEE-488) |
| Display | — | CRT |
| Standard Measurements | — | Adjacent channel power, channel power, carrier power, occupied bandwidth, time-gated measurements |
| Warm-up Time | — | 5 minutes (for frequency reference stability) |
| Physical | ||
| Power Supply | 90 to 132 V (47-440 Hz) / 195 to 250 V (47-66 Hz); < 300 W | — |
| Operating Temperature(°C) | 0 to 55 | -10 to +55 |
| Dimensions (W×H×D)(mm) | 416 × 222 × 409 | — |
| Weight(kg) | 17.1 | — |
| Frequency Specifications | ||
| Frequency Range | 9 kHz to 26.5 GHz (100 Hz to 26.5 GHz with Option UKB) | — |
| Phase Noise @ 10 kHz Offset | ≤ -90 dBc/Hz (1 GHz carrier) | — |
| Sweep Time Range | 1 ms to 4000 s (Span > 0 Hz), 50 µs to 4000 s (Zero Span) | — |
| Frequency Range (Standard) | — | 9 kHz to 26.5 GHz |
| Frequency Range (Option 006) | — | 30 Hz to 26.5 GHz |
| Preselected Frequency Range | — | 2.75 GHz to 26.5 GHz |
| Frequency Band Breakdown | — | 0 to 2.9 GHz, 2.75 to 6.46 GHz, 5.86 to 13.0 GHz, 12.4 to 19.7 GHz, 19.1 to 26.5 GHz |
| Frequency Reference Aging Rate | — | ±1 × 10⁻⁷ / year |
| Frequency Reference Temperature Stability | — | ±1 × 10⁻⁸ (-10 to +55 °C) |
| Span Range | — | 0 Hz (Zero Span), 100 Hz to 26.5 GHz |
| Sweep Time Range (Zero Span) | — | 50 µs to 6000 s |
| Sweep Time Range (Span > 0 Hz) | — | 50 ms to 100 s |
| Sweep Time Accuracy | — | ±10% |
| Resolution Bandwidth (RBW) Range | — | 1 Hz to 2 MHz (1, 3, 10 sequence) |
| Digital Resolution Bandwidths | — | 1, 3, 10, 30, 100 Hz |
| Video Bandwidth (VBW) Range | — | 1 Hz to 3 MHz (1, 3, 10 sequence) |
| Frequency Counter Resolution | — | 1 Hz |
| Amplitude Specifications | ||
| Absolute Amplitude Accuracy | ±0.4 dB overall | — |
| Maximum Safe Continuous CW Power | +30 dBm (1 W) | — |
| Input Attenuator Range | 0 to 65 dB in 5 dB steps | 0 to 70 dB |
| Amplitude Measurement Range | — | DANL to +30 dBm |
| Maximum Safe Input (Continuous Power) | — | +30 dBm (1 W) |
| Maximum Safe Input (DC Voltage) | — | 0 Vdc |
| Displayed Average Noise Level (DANL) | — | ≤ -149 dBm (10 MHz to 2.9 GHz, 1 Hz RBW) |
| 1 dB Gain Compression Point | — | -5 dBm (10 MHz to 2.9 GHz) |
| Display Range (Log Scale) | — | 10 to 100 dB (1 to 10 dB/div) |
| Display Range (Linear Scale) | — | 10 divisions |
| Reference Level Range | — | -119.9 to +30 dBm |
| Input Attenuator Step Size | — | 10 dB |
| Inputs and Outputs | ||
| Front Panel RF Input Connector | APC-3.5 mm (male) | — |
| RF Input Impedance | 50 Ω | 50 Ω (nominal) |
| RF Input Connector | — | APC-3.5 mm (male) |
| External Reference Input | — | 10 MHz |
| Sweep Output | — | 0 to +10 V (nominal) |
| Video Output | — | 0 to +1 V (nominal) |
| General and Environmental | ||
| Warm-up Time | 5 minutes to guaranteed measurement accuracy | — |
| Storage Temperature Range | -40 to +75 °C | — |
| Frequency | ||
| Span Range | 0 Hz (zero span), 100 Hz to 26.5 GHz | — |
| Timebase Aging Rate (Standard) | ± 2 × 10^-6 / year | — |
| Timebase Aging Rate (Option 1D5) | ± 1 × 10^-7 / year | — |
| Inputs & Outputs | ||
| Timebase Reference Input/Output | 10 MHz | — |
| Calibrator Signal | — | 300 MHz, -10 dBm |
| Calibration Output Connector | — | BNC (female) |
| Probe Power | — | +15 Vdc, -12.6 Vdc (150 mA max) |
| 10 MHz Reference Output | — | > 0 dBm into 50 Ω, BNC (female) |
| External Trigger Input | — | TTL levels, rear panel BNC (female) |
| Earphone Output | — | 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) front-panel jack |
| Amplitude | ||
| Amplitude Reference Signal | 50 MHz, -20 dBm | — |
| Reference Level Range | -149.9 dBm to +30 dBm | — |
| Amplitude Units | dBm, dBmV, dBµV, V, W | dBm, dBmV, dBµV, Volts, Watts |
| Standard Detectors | Normal, positive peak, sample, negative peak | — |
| Log Scale Fidelity | ± 0.3 dB (0 to -60 dB from reference level) | — |
| Residual Responses | <-90 dBm (0 dB attenuation, 50 Ω load) | — |
| Amplitude Detectors | — | Normal (Rosenfell), Positive Peak, Negative Peak, Sample |
| Options & Enhancements | ||
| Tracking Generator Frequency (Option 1DN) | 9 kHz to 3.0 GHz | — |
| Frequency Performance | ||
| Phase Noise @ 100 kHz Offset | ≤ -113 dBc/Hz (typical ≤ -117 dBc/Hz) | — |
| Phase Noise @ 1 MHz Offset | ≤ -119 dBc/Hz (typical ≤ -127 dBc/Hz) | — |
| Sweep Specifications | ||
| Sweep Points | 401 | — |
| Options & Configurations | ||
| Time-Gated Spectrum Analysis | Available via Option 1D6 | — |
| DSP and Fast ADC | Available via Option B7D | — |
| Dynamic Range and Spectral Purity | ||
| Phase Noise (at 10 kHz offset) | — | ≤ -113 dBc/Hz (at 1 GHz) |
| Phase Noise (at 30 kHz offset) | — | ≤ -113 dBc/Hz (at 1 GHz) |
| Third Order Intercept (TOI) | — | > +15 dBm (10 MHz to 2.9 GHz) |
| Residual Responses | — | ≤ -90 dBm (≥ 200 kHz, 0 dB attenuation) |
| Environmental and Compliance | ||
| Shock and Vibration Profile | — | MIL-T-28800 rugged |
| Sweep & Trigger | ||
| Sweep Trigger Modes | — | Free run, line, video, external |
| Features | ||
| Audio Demodulation | — | AM / FM (with built-in speaker and headphone jack) |
| Amplitude & Resolution | ||
| RBW Selectivity (Analog Filters) | — | < 15:1 (60 dB / 3 dB ratio for 300 Hz to 2 MHz) |
| RBW Selectivity (Digital Filters) | — | < 5:1 (60 dB / 3 dB ratio for 1 Hz to 100 Hz) |
| Log Scale Divisions | — | 1, 2, 5, and 10 dB/div |
| Options | ||
| Option 001 | — | Second IF Output (310.7 MHz), rear panel BNC |
| Environmental & Physical | ||
| Environmental Profile | — | Meets MIL-T-28800 Type III, Class 3, Style C |
| Compliance | ||
| EMI / RFI Compliance | — | Meets CISPR 11 and MIL-STD-461C |
RF Performance and Phase Noise
The main performance differentiator between these two instruments is their phase noise capability. The Keysight 8563E provides high-performance tuning with a phase noise specification of ≤ -113 dBc/Hz at a 10 kHz offset from a 1 GHz carrier. In comparison, the E4407B is rated at ≤ -90 dBc/Hz under the same offset conditions.
Amplitude limits and reference levels also vary. The E4407B supports a wider reference level range of -149.9 dBm to +30 dBm, whereas the 8563E offers a range of -119.9 to +30 dBm. Both instruments handle a maximum safe continuous CW input power of +30 dBm (1 W).
Frequency Coverage and Resolution Bandwidth
While both units default to a standard frequency range of 9 kHz to 26.5 GHz, they address low-frequency options differently. The 8563E can be configured with Option 006 to extend its lower range down to 30 Hz. The E4407B requires Option UKB to reach down to 100 Hz. Both units offer zero span up to a full 26.5 GHz span range.
For resolution bandwidth, the 8563E features an analog filter range from 1 Hz to 2 MHz and digital resolution bandwidths down to 1 Hz, delivering tight selectivity for resolving closely spaced signals.
Attenuator Control and Mechanical Design
The E4407B features an input attenuator range of 0 to 65 dB adjustable in fine 5 dB steps. The 8563E offers a slightly broader attenuation range of 0 to 70 dB with a step size of 10 dB.
Regarding environmental ruggedness, the 8563E is designed to meet MIL-T-28800 Type III, Class 3, Style C specifications. This standard gives the 8563E a broader operating temperature window of -10 to +55 °C, compared to the 0 to 55 °C limit of the E4407B. Additionally, the E4407B is physically larger and weighs 17.1 kg.
Frequently asked questions
- Which analyzer is better suited for harsh field environments?
- The Keysight 8563E is designed for harsh conditions, built to MIL-T-28800 specifications, and operates in lower temperatures down to -10 °C.
- Can either instrument generate tracking signals?
- The E4407B can be equipped with Option 1DN to provide a tracking generator frequency range from 9 kHz to 3.0 GHz.