Can Keysight laser modules operate as standalone units without a mainframe?

Most Keysight modular sources, such as the 81689A, 81640A, 81600B, and 81654A, require a compatible host mainframe (such as the 8163A/B or 8164A/B) for power, control interfaces, and display. Standalone units like the 8168F contain internal power supplies and local interfaces.

What fiber options are available for these polarization-maintaining laser sources?

Several Keysight lasers, including the 81689A and 8168F, support Panda-type polarization-maintaining fiber via factory options (such as Option 071 or 072) to preserve the polarization state of the laser output.

Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) Lasers

6 models with full specifications in Lasers.

Keysight Technologies (formerly Agilent HP) offers a highly regarded suite of laser sources primarily designed for optical telecommunication testing, DWDM passive component evaluation, and physical layer fiber characterization. The catalog spans modular external cavity lasers (ECLs) designed for multi-slot lightwave mainframes, standalone high-performance tunables, and stable Fabry-Perot (FP) source modules. These instruments assist technical buyers and optical engineers in testing narrow-band optical components, characterizing multi-channel DWDM systems, and performing basic fiber attenuation measurements. Choosing the correct laser requires assessing the need for continuous wavelength sweep capabilities, specific spectral bands (such as C-band, L-band, or O-band), tuning resolution, and optical output power stability.

Supported Wavelength Bands: C-band, L-band, O-band (model dependent)
Tuning Resolution: Down to 0.1 pm (12.5 MHz at 1550 nm)
Maximum Continuous Sweep Speed: Up to 40 nm/s
Laser Cavity Configurations: External Cavity Laser (ECL/ECDL), Fabry-Perot (FP)

All models

Model	Type	Interfaces	Operating Temperature	Power Supply
81689A	Sources	Mainframe-dependent (GPIB, LAN, USB depending on host mainframe)	—	Powered directly via mainframe slot
8168F	Sources	—	0 °C to +55 °C	—
81600B	Sources	GPIB, LAN, USB (provided via 8164A/B mainframe)	10 °C to 40 °C	Powered directly by the 8164A/B mainframe slot
81640A	Sources	Via mainframe backplane (GPIB, LAN, RS-232 on mainframe)	+10 °C to +35 °C	Provided via mainframe backplane
81654A	Sources	Through mainframe backplane (GPIB, USB, LAN mainframe-dependent)	0 °C to 45 °C	Powered by mainframe
83430A	Sources	3× Modulation Inputs (Digital AC Coupled, Digital DC Coupled, Analog AC Coupled via SMA female connectors); Optical Output (Diamond HMS-10 with universal interface adapter)	0 to 55 °C	90 to 132 V AC / 198 to 264 V AC, 47 to 66 Hz, 150 VA maximum

Modular Tunable Lasers for System Mainframes

For multi-channel test configurations, modular tunable external cavity lasers (ECLs) provide scalable performance within a centralized mainframe environment, such as the Keysight 8163A/B, 8164A/B, or 8166A/B. The 81689A is a compact single-slot module optimized specifically for the C-band (1525 nm to 1575 nm) to support dense-WDM passive component and transmission tests. It offers a wavelength resolution of 0.01 nm and a continuous output power of at least 6 dBm.

For broader wavelength coverage and higher resolution, the 81640A covers both C- and L-bands from 1510 nm to 1640 nm with a continuous sweep speed up to 40 nm/s and a wavelength resolution of 0.1 pm. Similarly, the 81600B offers various band options, including Option 130 (1260 nm to 1375 nm) and Option 200 (1440 nm to 1640 nm), allowing configuration of the exact testing spectrum required. These modules draw power directly from the mainframe backplane and use the host display and interface (GPIB, LAN, or USB) for remote control.

High-Performance Standalone Tunable Sources

Standalone instruments like the 8168F serve dedicated benchtop testing requirements. Operating in the 1450 nm to 1590 nm range, the 8168F incorporates a built-in sidemode filter to maintain single-mode operation across its entire tuning range. It features a tuning resolution of 0.001 nm (125 MHz at 1550 nm) and a typical spectral linewidth of 100 kHz. Weighing 16.5 kg, this unit is built for stable standalone operation in laboratory settings where maximum accuracy is required.

Stable Dual-Wavelength Fabry-Perot Sources

When continuous wavelength sweep capabilities are not required, fixed dual-wavelength sources provide a highly stable alternative for optical fiber testing. The 81654A is a Fabry-Perot (FP) laser source module operating at two discrete center wavelengths: 1310 nm and 1550 nm. Optimized for low-drift power output, it exhibits a short-term power stability of 0.03 dB or less over 15 minutes. It supports internal modulation frequencies at 270 Hz, 350 Hz, 1 kHz, and 2 kHz, making it suitable for standard fiber-attenuation testing and optical layer identification.