The Agilent/Keysight 8924C is an RF communications test set engineered for CDMA mobile station testing and maintenance of cellular and land mobile radio systems. This portable unit combines signal generation and analysis capabilities in a single platform, supporting both laboratory and field deployment. Built on the HP 8920B architecture, it maintains backward compatibility with HP-IB commands while adding modern CDMA functionality alongside legacy analog cellular technologies including AMPS, NAMPS, TACS, NTACS, and JTACS.
Technical Specifications
RF Signal Generation and Analysis
Frequency coverage spans 30 MHz to 1000 MHz in standard configuration, expandable to 800 MHz–960 MHz and 1710 MHz–1999.999999 MHz with Option 601 PCS Interface. Output level range at the RF In/Out connector reaches −127 dBm to −10.5 dBm into 50 Ω (standard) or −130 dBm to −20 dBm (Option 601). The Duplex Out/RF Out Only connector delivers −127 dBm to +3.5 dBm (standard) or −130 dBm to −10 dBm (Option 601). Output level accuracy is ±1.2 dB minimum at the RF In/Out connector (standard) and ±1.8 dB at 25 °C ±10 °C (Option 601). Reverse power handling reaches 3 W continuous (standard) or 10 W continuous (Option 601).
Sourceimpedance matching yields <1.5:1 SWR at the RF In/Out connector (standard) and <1.2:1 (Option 601). Maximum FM deviation for rates exceeding 25 Hz is 100 kHz across 501 MHz to 1000 MHz. FM modulation rates support DC to 25 kHz internal and 20 Hz to 75 kHz external (AC or DC coupled).
CDMA Signal Generation
Base station simulator generates full QPSK signals compliant with TIA IS-95A, supporting AWGN and up to two CDMA sectors. Sector A carries Pilot, Sync, Paging, Traffic, and OCNS channels; Sector B carries Pilot, Traffic, and OCNS. Composite signal output across 1.23 MHz bandwidth reaches −109 dBm/1.23 MHz to −21.5 dBm/1.23 MHz (standard) at the RF In/Out connector.
– Key Features
• Dual-sector CDMA signal generation with independent power control
• Full backward compatibility with HP 8920B test commands
• Analog cellular support across multiple legacy standards
• Selectable RF connector options for duplex and single-output configurations
• Field-portable architecture with laboratory-grade specifications
– Typical Applications
• CDMA mobile station design validation and production test
• Cellular radio system maintenance and troubleshooting
• Receiver sensitivity and selectivity characterization
• Transmitter power and modulation accuracy verification
– Compatibility & Integration
HP-IB command compatibility enables integration into existing test automation frameworks. Option 601 provides PCS band extension for cellular platforms.
