The Agilent/Keysight 83480A Digital Communications Analyzer is a modular, high-performance instrument for characterization of high-speed digital communication signals up to 50 GHz bandwidth. Its plug-in architecture supports up to two dual-channel modules, enabling simultaneous optical and electrical measurements. The instrument delivers calibrated waveform analysis, jitter characterization, and conformance testing against user-defined and industry-standard masks—making it essential for telecommunications and datacom development, production, and validation.
Technical Specifications
Electrical Channels
• Bandwidth up to 50 GHz
• Calibrated measurement in volts
• Selectable bandwidth settings for sensitivity and fidelity optimization
• TDR and TDT measurement support via dedicated modules
Optical Channels
• Optical bandwidth >2.85 GHz (83486A module)
• Wavelength range 1000 nm to 1600 nm
• Calibrated measurement in optical power units
• Multimode fiber support (maximum 62.5/125 µm)
• Specific optical filters for 155/622 Mb/s SONET/SDH and 1063/1250 Mb/s datacom applications
Mainframe
• Up to two plug-in modules accommodated
• Parallel data acquisition and measurement analysis
• MS-DOS compatible floppy drive for firmware and data storage
• Backward compatible with 54750A High-Bandwidth Digitizing Oscilloscope Mainframe modules
– Key Features
• Automated eye-diagram and pulse-template statistical measurements
• Built-in mask editor for custom mask creation and storage
• Failure logging against defined masks
• Extinction ratio measurements using histogram-based algorithms
• Predefined masks and templates for OC-1, STM4/OC-12, STM16/OC-48, STS-1, DS1, Gigabit Ethernet, OC-24, STM-64/OC-192, PDH E-1, and additional standards
• Support for 155, 622, 1063, 1250, 2488, and 9953 Mbit/s data rates
– Typical Applications
• SDH/SONET transmitter testing
• Fibre Channel signal characterization
• Gigabit Ethernet compliance verification
• Jitter measurement and analysis
• High-speed waveform validation in research and production environments
– Compatibility & Integration
Backward compatible with predecessor modules from the 54750A mainframe family. Jitter transfer and jitter tolerance measurements may require complementary instruments such as the HP 71501B/C or HP 75000 Series 90/95.
