The Agilent/Keysight 83480A is a modular Digital Communications Analyzer mainframe designed for high-speed optical and electrical waveform analysis, eye-diagram characterization, and compliance mask testing. Operating as a high-bandwidth equivalent-time sampling oscilloscope, it accommodates up to two plug-in modules to support bandwidths up to 50 GHz, making it an industry-standard platform for SDH/SONET, Fibre Channel, and Ethernet transceiver characterization.
Specifications
Mainframe & Configuration
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of Plug-in Slots | 2 slots |
| Maximum Channels Supported | 4 channels (using two dual-channel modules) |
| Backward Compatibility | All HP/Agilent 54750A plug-in modules |
| Plug-In Module Compatibility | 83480 series and 54750 series optical and electrical modules |
| Mainframe Bandwidth Support | Up to 50 GHz (module dependent) |
Vertical System (Optical & Electrical)
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Vertical Scale Factor Range | Module-dependent (typically 1 mV/div to 100 mV/div) |
| Reference Receivers Support | Integrated within compatible optical plug-in modules |
Horizontal System (Timebase)
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Sampling Mode | Equivalent-time sampling |
Triggering System
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Standard Trigger Frequency Range | DC to 2.5 GHz |
| External Trigger Input Impedance | 50 ohms (nominal) |
Measurement & Analysis Capabilities
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Eye-Diagram Parameter Measurements | Extinction ratio, eye height, eye width, crossing percentage, Q-factor, SNR, jitter (RMS and p-p) |
| Automatic Pulse Measurements | Rise/fall time, pulse width, period, frequency, overshoot, undershoot, duty cycle, peak-to-peak amplitude |
| Histogram Features | Vertical and horizontal histograms with automatic statistical reporting |
| Auto-scale Feature | One-button automatic vertical and horizontal scaling |
Display & User Interface
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Waveform Accumulation Modes | Infinite persistence, variable persistence, and color-graded display |
| Horizontal/Vertical Zoom | Supported (magnified waveform analysis) |
Connectivity, I/O & Storage
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| GPIB Capability | IEEE-488.2 standard interface |
| Removable Storage Media Support | 3.5-inch 1.44 MB floppy disk drive |
| Internal Waveform Storage Capacity | Up to 4 volatile waveforms |
| Programming Language Support | SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) |
Environmental & Compliance
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating Temperature (Specified Accuracy) | 15 °C to 35 °C |
| Storage Temperature Range | -40 °C to +70 °C |
| Operating Altitude Limit | 4,600 m (15,000 ft) |
| Recommended Calibration Cycle | 1 year |
Acquisition
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Waveform Record Length | 4096 points |
Technology
Equivalent-time sampling oscilloscope
Applications
High-speed optical and electrical communication testing, eye-diagram analysis, and compliance mask testing