The HP 3577A Network Analyzer provides cost-effective, high performance network measurements from 5 Hz to 200 MHz for higher productivity in design and production. The companion HP 35677A/B S-Parameter Test Sets and full line of accessories ensure a complete measurement solution. Innovative analog and digital design are combined for superb accuracy, resolution and operational simplicity.

Convenient soft-key selection of measurement functions allows you to quickly measure transfer functions, magnitude/phase, insertion loss/gain, attenuation, electrical length and gain compression. In addition, measurement of phase distortion parameters such as group delay and deviation from linear phase can be made with high resolution. With the HP 3577A's flexible receiver input impedances, you can measure in either 50-Ωor high impedance (1 MΩ) environments. Use the HP 35677B S-Parameter Test Sets with the HP 3577A to make reflection measurements such as return loss, reflection coefficient and impedance in 50-Ω or 75-Ω systems, while simultaneously displaying transmission parameters.

With the addition of an HP 9000 Series 200 Computer and appropriate system software, the HP 3577A becomes the hub of powerful network measurement solution, the HP 3577S Network Analyzer System.

The HP 3577A Network Analyzer is designed to offer unprecedented measurement performance at audio, baseband, and IF frequencies below 200 MHz. Resolution specifications of .001 dB, .005 degree, 1 ps and .001 Hz make the HP 3577A ideally suited for production systems. Very fast measurement speeds are made possible by state-of-the-art digital signal processing technology. Moreover, each input has its own precision analog receiver, thus eliminating the need for multiplexed signals.

User-defined Vector Math functions operate on measured data, constants and functions to present measurement results in the form you need. Multiple Display Formats with electronic graticules provide accurate display in rectangular, polar or Smith chart coordinates. Frequency Sweep (Logarithmic, Linear or Alternate) and Amplitude Sweep capabilities meet measurement needs in a wide range of applications. Accessories such as S-Parameter Test Sets, Power Splitters, Minimum Loss Pad, Cables, Calibration Kits, Transistor Fixtures, Adapters, and Current and Voltage Probes ensure a complete solution to your measurement needs.

The built-in autoscale functions put the measurement on the screen quickly with a full scale display. Digital Display Markers with Marker Min or Max and Marker Offset capabilities provide accurate, high resolution readout of data points on a fully annotated dual trace display. Direct Digital Plot (using an HP graphics plotter without a computer) of displayed traces, graticule, annotation and marker data provides quick, cost-effective hard copy of measurement results. Non-volatile Save/Recall Memory of five front panel instrument states is convenient for making rapid and repeatable measurements.

Similarly, trace data can be stored in magnitude and phase format in any one of four data registers. Since data is stored with full accuracy and resolution, it can be rescaled as needed.

Magnitude, phase, polar, real, imaginary, and delay modes are directly accessible from the soft key display menu. Input data, stored data and user-defined constants can then be combined using built-in vector math functions (+,-, *, /) to create arbitrary measurement display modes. As an example, a feedback amplifier can be mathematically analyzed by measuring its open loop gain, storing the data, and then adjusting a complex variable which represents the amount of feedback in the closed-loop gain equation.

The HP 3577A measures group delay directly by dividing the measured phase changes across a selected frequency aperture by the aperture value. The frequency aperture can be set from 0.5% to 16% of span with annotation directly in Hertz, thus allowing the user to change span and still retain the same effective smoothing.

Cables and transmission lines can be tested for maximally flat delay with a resolution of up to 1 psec.

Noise reduction in the HP 3577A is accomplished by Vector Noise Averaging and/or selectable Resolution Bandwidth filters.With the proper use of these two noise reduction methods, greater than 130 dB dynamic range can typically be achieved.

Three-term Vector Error Correction in the HP 3577A is used to remove the effects of directivity, frequency response, and source mismatch from one-port measurements. Similarly, vector normalization enhances the accuracy of two-port measurements at the push of a button. These powerful accuracy enhancement routines can be used to cancel the repeatable error introduced by cable and test fixtures. Moreover, the HP 3577A can be easily upgraded to an HP 3577S Network Analyzer System with full twelve-term Vector Error Correction, as the need for uncompromising measurement accuracy arises.

The HP 3577A is fully programmable over the Hewlett-Packard Interface Bus. Simple programming codes minimize the time it takes to develop control software for automatic measurements. Quickly access a single point or an entire 401-point trace in either fast binary or ASCII modes.Customize the built-in vector display via the HP-IB to draw test limit lines, operator instructions or connection diagrams.