What are the operating temperature limits for these analyzers?

The 8753ES is rated for a wider operating temperature range of 0 to 55 °C, with a storage temperature range of -40 to 70 °C. The E5071C operates from 5 to 40 °C, with a storage temperature range of -10 to +60 °C.

Do both models support electronic calibration?

Yes. The E5071C natively supports Electronic Calibration (ECal) modules, and the 8753ES supports them when equipped with the electronic calibration module option.

What calibration methods are shared between the E5071C and 8753ES?

Both analyzers support Response, Enhanced Response, Full 2-Port, and TRL calibration methods. The E5071C additionally supports Full 3-Port and Full 4-Port calibrations.

Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) E5071C vs Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 8753ES

This comparison covers the Keysight (formerly Agilent HP) E5071C ENA Series and the Keysight 8753ES vector network analyzers. Both instruments are designed for RF component characterization and S-parameter measurements, but they represent different hardware generations. The E5071C provides modern Windows-based control with touchscreen navigation and up to 4-port internal configurations. The 8753ES is a dedicated 2-port analyzer operating on an embedded proprietary system. This guide is for engineers and test system designers deciding which analyzer best fits their frequency range, measurement speed, and integration requirements.

E5071C Port Options: 2 or 4 ports
8753ES Port Options: 2 ports
E5071C Frequency Range: 9 kHz to 20 GHz (option dependent)
8753ES Frequency Range: 30 kHz to 20 GHz (option dependent)
E5071C Max Points per Trace: 100,001
8753ES Max Points per Trace: 3 to 1,601

Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) E5071CKeysight Technologies (Agilent HP) 8753ES

Specifications

Differences only

Specification	Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP)E5071C	Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP)8753ES
General
Interfaces	USB, LAN (10/100/1000 BaseT), GPIB (IEEE 488.2), VGA, Handler I/O	GPIB (IEEE-488), VGA output, External Reference Input/Output (BNC), Trigger Input/Output (BNC)
Display	10.4-inch TFT color LCD touch screen (1024 × 768)	8.4-inch Color LCD (640 x 480 pixels)
Warm-up Time	90 minutes	—
Physical
Power Supply	100 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 350 VA max	90-264 VAC, 47-66 Hz, 350 VA max
Operating Temperature(°C)	5 to 40	0 to 55 °C
Dimensions (W×H×D)(mm)	—	425 mm × 222 mm × 550 mm
Weight(kg)	—	23 kg
Frequency Characteristics
Frequency Range (Options)	9 kHz to 4.5 / 6.5 / 8.5 GHz; 100 kHz to 4.5 / 6.5 / 8.5 GHz (with bias tees); 300 kHz to 14 / 20 GHz (with bias tees)	—
Frequency Resolution	1 Hz	1 Hz
Frequency Range	—	30 kHz to 3 GHz / 6 GHz (frequency-option dependent)
Frequency Accuracy	—	±5 ppm
Frequency Stability	—	±0.1 ppm/°C
Frequency Range (by option)	—	30 kHz to 3 GHz (standard); 30 kHz to 6 / 10 / 11 / 13.5 / 20 GHz (option dependent)
Test Port Output Characteristics
Number of Test Ports	2 or 4 (configuration dependent)	—
Test Port Connector Type	Type-N female (≤ 8.5 GHz models); 3.5 mm male (14/20 GHz models)	—
Nominal Impedance	50 Ω	—
Power Level Resolution	0.05 dB	—
Test Port Input Characteristics
Trace Noise	0.004 dB rms @ 70 kHz IFBW	—
Damage Level	+26 dBm, ±35 VDC	—
Sweep and Measurement Speed
Sweep Types	Linear frequency, log frequency, segment sweep, power sweep	—
IF Bandwidth Range	10 Hz to 500 kHz	—
Measurement Capabilities
Measured Parameters	S-parameters (S11 to S22 for 2-port; S11 to S44 for 4-port), absolute power	—
Display Formats	Log magnitude, linear magnitude, phase, group delay, Smith chart, polar, SWR	—
Time Domain Analysis	Supported (Option 010)	Available with Option 010
Internal Programming	Built-in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)	—
Measurement Parameters	—	S11, S21, S12, S22 (S-parameters)
Number of Ports	—	2
Sweep Types	—	Linear Frequency, Log Frequency, Power, CW (Zero Span), Time Domain (optional)
Number of Measurement Points	—	3 to 1601 (configurable)
IF Bandwidth Range	—	10 Hz to 280 kHz
Sweep Speed	—	~100 ms (201 points, 10 kHz IFBW)
Calibration Methods Supported	—	Full 2-port, 1-port, Response, Enhanced Response, Adapter-removal, TRL/LRM
Averaging Types	—	Point, Sweep
Calibration and Error Correction
Supported Calibration Methods	Response, Response & Isolation, Enhanced Response, 1-Port OSL, Full 2-Port, Full 3-Port, Full 4-Port, TRL	—
Electronic Calibration (ECal)	Supported	—
Fixture Simulator Capabilities	Port extension, impedance conversion, matching circuit embedding, de-embedding	—
Interfaces and Connectivity
External Reference Input	10 MHz (BNC)	10 MHz (BNC)
External Reference Output	10 MHz (BNC)	—
External Trigger Input	BNC	—
GPIB (IEEE-488)	—	Yes
VGA Output	—	Yes
Reference Output	—	10 MHz (BNC)
Trigger Input	—	Yes (BNC)
Trigger Output	—	Yes (BNC)
Computing Platform and Storage
Operating System	Windows (version dependent on manufacturing date)	—
Power and Environmental
Storage Temperature Range	-10 °C to +60 °C	—
Measurement Configuration
Maximum Number of Channels	16 channels	—
Maximum Number of Traces	16 data traces and 16 memory traces per channel	—
Maximum Points per Trace	100,001	—
Averaging Factor	1 to 999	—
Smoothing	0% to 25% of sweep span	—
Power
Maximum Power Consumption	350 VA	—
Power Consumption (Max VA)	—	500 VA
Environmental
Operating Altitude	Up to 2,000 meters (6,561 feet)	—
Non-Operating Altitude	—	0 to 15,300 m
Compliance
Safety Compliance	IEC 61010-1, EN 61010-1, CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 61010-1	—
EMC Compliance	EN 61326-1, CISPR 11 Group 1 Class A	—
Data & Storage
Mass Storage	Removable Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or Solid State Drive (SSD)	—
Standards & Compliance
LXI Compliance	LXI Class C	—
Inputs & Outputs
LAN Interface	10/100/1000 Base-T Ethernet (RJ-45)	—
USB Interface	USB 2.0 (Front/Rear Host, Rear Device)	—
Handler Interface	36-pin parallel (Centronics)	—
Video Output	15-pin mini D-Sub (VGA)	—
Analysis Features
Limit Testing	Upper/lower limits, ripple limits, bandwidth limits (with pass/fail indicators)	—
Marker Search Functions	Maximum, Minimum, Peak, Target, Bandwidth	—
System Capabilities
Multiport Expansion	Supported via external Keysight E5092A Configurable Multiport Test Set	—
Output Power Specifications (Source)
Output Power Range	—	-5 to +10 dBm (standard, typical)
Power Level Resolution	—	0.01 dB
Power Level Accuracy	—	±1.0 dB (typical)
Harmonics	—	<-25 dBc (typical)
Non-Harmonic Spurious	—	<-30 dBc (typical)
Output Impedance	—	50 Ohm / 75 Ohm (configuration dependent)
Power Sweep Range	—	15 dB (typical)
Receiver Characteristics
Input Power Range (Damage Level)	—	+20 dBm max
Noise Floor	—	<-100 dBm (at 10 Hz IFBW, 30 kHz - 3 GHz)
1 dB Compression Point	—	+5 dBm (typical)
System Performance (Calibrated)
Dynamic Range	—	Up to 100 dB (at 10 Hz IFBW)
Directivity	—	>40 dB (calibrated, typical)
Source Match	—	>30 dB (calibrated, typical)
Load Match	—	>30 dB (calibrated, typical)
Transmission Tracking	—	±0.2 dB (typical)
Reflection Tracking	—	±0.3 dB (typical)
Trace Noise (Magnitude)	—	<0.01 dB RMS (at 10 Hz IFBW)
Trace Noise (Phase)	—	<0.1 degree RMS (at 10 Hz IFBW)
Stability (Magnitude)	—	<0.02 dB/°C (typical)
Stability (Phase)	—	<0.2 °/°C (typical)
Port Impedance	—	50 Ohm / 75 Ohm (option dependent)
Display Features
Display Type	—	Color LCD
Display Size	—	8.4-inch (diagonal)
Resolution	—	640 x 480 pixels (VGA)
Number of Traces	—	Up to 4
Number of Channels	—	1
Marker Functions	—	Standard (readout, delta, bandwidth, search)
General Specifications
Storage Temperature Range	—	-40 to 70 °C
Humidity Range	—	5% to 95% RH (non-condensing)
Altitude	—	Up to 4600 m
Power Requirements (Voltage)	—	90 to 264 VAC
Power Requirements (Frequency)	—	47 to 66 Hz
Power Consumption	—	350 VA max
Regulatory Compliance (CE)	—	Yes
Safety Compliance	—	IEC 1010-1 / EN 61010-1
Software and Automation
Programming Language Support	—	SCPI
Options and Accessories
Available Options	—	Option 006 (6 GHz Frequency Extension), Option 075 (75 Ohm Test Port Impedance), Option 010 (Time Domain Analysis), Option 002 (Harmonics Measurement), Option ECal (Electronic Calibration Module)
Rack Mount Kit	—	Available
Connectivity
Test Port Connector Type	—	N-type, female
External Keyboard Interface	—	PS/2
External Mouse Interface	—	PS/2
Printer Interface	—	Parallel (Centronics compatible)
Auxiliary I/O Interface	—	15-pin D-sub
External Reference Input (Nominal)	—	10 MHz, 0 dBm, 50 Ohm BNC
Reference Output (Nominal)	—	10 MHz, 0 dBm, 50 Ohm BNC
Serial Port	—	RS-232, 9-pin D-sub
Parallel Port	—	25-pin D-sub
Performance
Number of Measurement Receivers	—	3 (R, A, B)
Measurement Display
Trace Display Formats	—	Log Magnitude, Linear Magnitude, Phase, Group Delay, Smith Chart (Impedance/Admittance), Polar, VSWR, Real, Imaginary
Storage
Internal Storage	—	Hard drive, 3.5-inch floppy drive
Software
System Firmware	—	Embedded proprietary operating system
Measurement Characteristics
Measurement Speed (per point)	—	100 µs/point (typ.)
IF Bandwidth Resolution	—	1 Hz
Source Characteristics
Source Attenuator Range	—	0 to 70 dB
Source Attenuator Step Size	—	10 dB
Phase Noise (1 GHz carrier, 1 kHz offset)	—	-90 dBc/Hz (typ.)
System Characteristics
Internal Storage Type	—	3.5-inch Floppy Disk Drive
Display
Number of Markers	—	9 independent markers
Limit Lines	—	2 independent limit lines
Trace Math Functions	—	A-B, B-A, R/A, B/A

Frequency Ranges and Hardware Configurations

Frequency limits and hardware configurations vary across both models depending on the selected options. The E5071C offers a starting frequency as low as 9 kHz, with upper frequency options at 4.5 GHz, 6.5 GHz, 8.5 GHz, 14 GHz, or 20 GHz. It can be configured with either 2 or 4 test ports. The test ports use Type-N female connectors for models up to 8.5 GHz, and 3.5 mm male connectors for 14 GHz and 20 GHz models.

The 8753ES operates from a starting frequency of 30 kHz. Its standard configuration covers up to 3 GHz, while options extend this coverage up to 6 GHz, 10 GHz, 11 GHz, 13.5 GHz, or 20 GHz. Unlike the E5071C, the 8753ES is strictly a 2-port analyzer and uses standard female N-type test port connectors.

Sweep and Measurement Performance

Both instruments support key sweep types such as linear frequency, log frequency, power sweeps, and optional Time Domain Analysis (Option 010). However, the underlying measurement capacity differs significantly.

Trace Points and Channels: The E5071C supports up to 100,001 points per trace across a maximum of 16 channels, with up to 16 data traces and 16 memory traces per channel. The 8753ES supports 3 to 1,601 configurable measurement points on a single channel.
IF Bandwidth: The E5071C has an intermediate frequency (IF) bandwidth range of 10 Hz to 500 kHz, while the 8753ES spans 10 Hz to 280 kHz.
Power Resolution: The 8753ES provides a finer power level resolution of 0.01 dB, compared to 0.05 dB on the E5071C.
Trace Noise: The E5071C features a low trace noise of 0.004 dB RMS (at a 70 kHz IF bandwidth), while the 8753ES trace noise is rated under 0.01 dB RMS (at a 10 Hz IF bandwidth).

Control Interfaces, Software, and Storage

The user interface and backend connectivity highlight the distinct eras of these two analyzers. The E5071C operates on a Windows operating system and features a 10.4-inch TFT color LCD touch screen (1024 x 768 resolution). It includes modern connectivity options like Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0, GPIB, and a VGA video output, alongside built-in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) for internal automated programming.

The 8753ES uses an embedded proprietary operating system with an 8.4-inch color LCD (640 x 480 resolution) without touch input. It relies on GPIB, RS-232 serial ports, parallel printer ports, and PS/2 ports for connecting an external keyboard or mouse. For data storage, the E5071C utilizes a removable HDD or SSD, whereas the 8753ES depends on an internal hard drive and a legacy 3.5-inch floppy drive.

Frequently asked questions

What are the operating temperature limits for these analyzers?: The 8753ES is rated for a wider operating temperature range of 0 to 55 °C, with a storage temperature range of -40 to 70 °C. The E5071C operates from 5 to 40 °C, with a storage temperature range of -10 to +60 °C.
Do both models support electronic calibration?: Yes. The E5071C natively supports Electronic Calibration (ECal) modules, and the 8753ES supports them when equipped with the electronic calibration module option.
What calibration methods are shared between the E5071C and 8753ES?: Both analyzers support Response, Enhanced Response, Full 2-Port, and TRL calibration methods. The E5071C additionally supports Full 3-Port and Full 4-Port calibrations.