Which Keysight instruments cover the highest single‑lane serial data rates?

Within the models listed here, the N4960A chassis is optioned to support up to 32.0 Gb/s (Option 32). The N4901B is specified up to 13.5 Gb/s, and the N4903B J‑BERT is option dependent with documented upper optioned rates as high as 14.2 Gb/s.

When should I use an integrated BERT versus a modular BERT system?

Use an integrated BERT (for example, the N4901B) when a self‑contained mainframe with on‑instrument control and display is convenient. Choose a modular controller plus remote heads architecture (for example, the N4960A) when you need to locate high‑speed generator/detector heads near the DUT or require flexible head placement and lower cable runs.

Which instruments are intended for field use and legacy transport testing?

Rugged, portable TIMS and transport units are the right class for field work: 4934A and 4935A TIMS for wideband audio/line testing (20 Hz to 110 kHz), E4480A as a portable SONET maintenance test set with STS‑1 capability, 37724A for field STM‑4 PDH/SDH testing, and 4952A for portable low‑rate protocol analysis.

Keysight Technologies (Agilent HP) Telecom and Datacom Instruments

16 models with full specifications in Telecom, Datacom.

This page describes how Keysight (formerly Agilent / HP) structures its telecom and datacom test equipment and which instruments address common lab, bench, and field tasks. It is written for engineers and technical buyers evaluating bit error ratio testers (BERTs), jitter and tolerance analyzers, time-domain reflectometry/transmission (TDR/TDT) modules, pulse/pattern generators, and portable transport test sets.

The range includes compact, modular serial BERT systems for multi‑10‑Gb/s characterization, integrated BERT/J‑BERT instruments for receiver validation, high‑bandwidth TDR/TDT sampling modules for mainframe-based analysis, and rugged TIMS/transport field units for voice and line testing. Below are descriptions of the families, what distinguishes them, and practical criteria to choose between them.

Modular serial BERT (example): N4960A — up to 32.0 Gb/s (Option 32)
Integrated serial BERT (example): N4901B — up to 13.5 Gb/s
TDR/TDT sampling module: 54754A — electrical bandwidth up to 18 GHz
TIMS wideband audio test: 4934A / 4935A — 20 Hz to 110 kHz

All models

Model	Type	Display	Interfaces	Operating Temperature
N4903B	BERT, Error Analyzers	Integrated color touchscreen LCD	GPIB (IEEE 488.2), LAN (10/100/1000Base-T), USB 2.0	5 to 40
4934A	TIMS	Dual 4-digit LED displays	WECO 310 jacks, Dial/Talk Binding Posts	0 to 50
54754A	TDR, Cable Testers	None (utilizes host mainframe display)	Internal mainframe plug-in interface	10 °C to 40 °C
8110A	Pulse Pattern Generators	Graphical LCD display with backlighting	GPIB (IEEE-488.2)	—
86130A	BERT, Error Analyzers	—	—	—
4952A	Protocol Analyzers	—	—	—
E4480A (156MTS)	SONET/SDH/PDH/ATM Test Sets	—	—	—
E4832A/E4835A/E4838A	BERT, Error Analyzers	—	SMA (front panel I/O), VXIbus (backplane)	10 °C to 40 °C
3764A	Digital Transmission Analyzers	Dual red LED numeric displays (5-digit for Results, 4-digit for Time) and discrete LED status indicators	HP-IB (GPIB)	0 to +55 °C
37724A	SONET/SDH/PDH/ATM Test Sets	—	—	—
37732A	*misc	Backlit monochrome graphics LCD screen	V.24 (RS-232), V.35, V.11/X.21-leased, BNC, 3-pin Siemens, HP-IB (GPIB), RS-232-C remote control port	0 to 50 °C
N4960A	BERT, Error Analyzers	None (controlled via external PC with N4960A software)	USB 2.0, LAN	10 to 40 °C
37721A	Digital Transmission Analyzers	Large graphics CRT display showing text and results	HP-IB (GPIB) / RS-232 (option dependent)	—
3784A	Digital Transmission Analyzers	CRT display	—	0 to 55 °C
4935A	TIMS	Dual 4-digit LED displays	—	0 to 50 °C
N4901B	BERT, Error Analyzers	8.4-inch color LCD touch screen	GPIB, LAN, USB, VGA	5 °C to 40 °C

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How the Keysight telecom/datacom range is organized

Keysight’s instruments in this category fall into a few functional families: high‑speed serial BERTs and J‑BERTs for physical‑layer characterization; time‑domain sampling modules for impedance and signal‑integrity work in mainframes; pulse and pattern generators for stimulus; and portable transport/TIMS field test sets for voice and legacy digital links.

Architectures vary. Some high‑speed BERT offerings are integrated mainframes with front‑panel displays and built‑in pattern generation and error detection. Others use a controller chassis with remote generator and detector heads to place high‑speed I/O close to the DUT while keeping control and analysis in a separate unit. Field instruments are engineered for portability and line‑level interfaces rather than multi‑10‑Gb/s lab characterization.

High‑speed serial test: picking a BERT or J‑BERT

For serial physical‑layer characterization, choose by required data rate, jitter capability, and architecture. Examples from the Keysight line illustrate tradeoffs:

N4960A: a compact serial BERT system with a controller mainframe and remote heads; optioned for data rates from 1.5 Gb/s up to 17.0 Gb/s (Option 17) or up to 32.0 Gb/s (Option 32). It is intended where a modular front end is desirable and where pattern memory and head placement matter.
N4901B: an integrated Serial BERT with an on‑instrument display and controls and output rates from 150 Mb/s to 13.5 Gb/s. Its listed output intrinsic jitter is < 1 ps RMS (typical) and it offers differential and single‑ended amplitude ranges useful for device I/O levels.
N4903B: a J‑BERT and jitter‑tolerance analyzer sized for receiver characterization; its operating data rate range is option dependent (from 150 Mb/s up to optioned limits as high as 14.2 Gb/s) and it includes jitter injection sources and an integrated CDR (option dependent).
86130A: a more limited‑rate BitAlyzer operating up to 3.6 Gb/s for lower‑rate serial link work.

If the priority is the highest specified single‑lane data rate, the modular N4960A with Option 32 covers the upper range in this set. If an integrated instrument with front-panel control and typical lab use is preferred, the N4901B is an example in the 13.5 Gb/s class. If receiver tolerance and jitter injection are the objective, an instrument described as a J‑BERT (N4903B) is positioned for that role.

TDR/TDT and lab mainframe modules

Time‑domain measurements and very wide electrical bandwidth are handled by sampling modules intended for digitizer mainframes. The 54754A is a two‑channel differential TDR/TDT sampling module specified with user‑selectable bandwidths (18 GHz or 12.4 GHz), calculated rise times, and built‑in TDR pulser channels. These modules plug into Agilent/Keysight Infiniium DCA and legacy DCA‑J mainframes and provide the high bandwidth and low noise needed for impedance and transmission‑line analysis that standalone instruments for bit‑error testing do not supply.

Field and transport test sets

For installation, commissioning, and line testing, Keysight’s portfolio includes rugged TIMS and transport analyzers with line interfaces and voice/data measurement sets:

4934A / 4935A TIMS units provide transmitter and receiver characterization across 20 Hz to 110 kHz and include noise‑weighting filters and impulse‑noise counters suited to wideband voice/data line testing.
E4480A (156MTS) is presented as a portable SONET maintenance test set where the base unit provides STS‑1 transmit/receive and supports DS3 payload drop/insert; higher OC rates are configuration dependent.
37724A is described as a field‑portable SDH/PDH transmission analyzer for STM‑4 (622 Mb/s) testing in the field.
4952A is a portable protocol analyzer supporting lower data‑rate datacom work (up to 64 kb/s for synchronous data).

Choose these products when you need field‑facing line interfaces, portable form factors, or SONET/SDH/PDH service testing rather than lab‑grade multi‑10‑Gb/s signal characterization.