Keysight's New RF and Microwave Instruments: Fast, Compact, and Powerful

In the ever-evolving world of radio frequency (RF) and microwave engineering, having the right tools is crucial for staying ahead of the curve. Keysight Technologies, a leading provider of electronic design and test solutions, has recently expanded its portfolio with new fast and compact test instruments. These innovative solutions are designed to meet the demands of today's RF engineers, offering improved performance, smaller size, and better cost-effectiveness.

The new Keysight compact portfolio includes six new analog signal generators, two vector signal generators, eight RF synthesizers, and three signal source analyzers. These instruments are capable of component and device characterization at frequencies up to 54 GHz, making them ideal for a wide range of applications, such as radar and defense electronics, wireless communication systems, consumer electronics, and more.

One of the standout features of the new Keysight instruments is their fast switching speed. With switching speeds as low as 3 µs, these instruments can accelerate testing and mimic fast-moving signals, such as those found in radar applications. This capability is particularly useful for engineers working on cutting-edge technologies that require rapid signal generation and switching.

Another key advantage of the new Keysight compact portfolio is its multi-channel capabilities. The instruments offer single-channel options and multi-channel options with phase coherency, allowing engineers to link multiple instruments together for multi-instrument phase coherency. This scalability enables more complex and efficient testing scenarios, ultimately improving throughput and accelerating the testing process.



The new Keysight compact portfolio also boasts low phase noise, which is crucial for accurate component and device characterization. With oven-controlled crystal oscillator stabilized signals, these instruments provide pure signals with excellent spectral purity. This low phase noise ensures that the signals used for testing are free from unwanted artifacts, leading to more accurate measurements and characterization of devices under test.

In addition to their impressive performance, the new Keysight instruments are designed with portability and cost-effectiveness in mind. The compact size, lower weight, and power consumption of these instruments make them easy to transport and efficient to use in labs. Furthermore, the targeted feature sets and reduced size of the RF synthesizers make them an attractive option for system integrators and manufacturers looking for cost-effective solutions.



In conclusion, Keysight's new RF and microwave instruments offer a compelling combination of technical performance, compact form factors, and cost-effectiveness. With their fast switching speed, multi-channel capabilities, low phase noise, and scalable channel count, these instruments are well-suited for the demands of today's RF engineers. Whether you're working on cutting-edge technologies or need to test components and devices in a lab setting, Keysight's new compact portfolio has the tools you need to succeed.

As an RF engineer, I am excited about the value that these new platforms will bring to my work. The combination of excellent signal purity, fast switching, multi-channel phase coherency, and more makes these instruments an attractive option for engineers working in various applications, such as aerospace/defense, wireless communications, quantum computing, consumer electronics, education, and other industries. I look forward to seeing how these new instruments will help shape the future of RF and microwave engineering.