The Keysight / Agilent / HP 3588A spectrum analyzer provides high-performance spectrum analysis from 10 Hz to 150 MHz, with outstanding frequency and amplitude accuracy. A wide range of frequency spans and resolution bandwidths accommodates many types of measurements. A built-in tracking generator with programmable amplitude allows easy scalar network measurements for passive and active networks.

The 3588A offers two measurement modes - swept spectrum and narrowband zoom. Both modes provide excellent speed and greater resolution than conventional analyzers. Swept-spectrum mode provides the performance and features of traditional swept-tuned analyzers but adds very sharp digital IF filters for improved frequency resolution (-3 dB bandwidths as narrow as 1.1 Hz). Narrowband zoom uses an implementation of the Fast Fourier Transform to provide faster measurements with even greater resolving power.

Built-in auto calibration provides typical amplitude accuracy better than ± 0.2 dB. This amplitude accuracy, combined with the frequency stability and accuracy of a synthesized receiver, provides the high performance needed for the most demanding measurement situations. Maximum signal-to-noise dynamic range is 112 dB. Low-distortion mode measurements are optimized to provide 80 dB of distortion-free dynamic range.

Narrow resolution measurements with conventional swept-tuned analyzers typically require long measurement times, which can increase development time and test costs. In contrast, the 3588A sets new standards in speed with no loss of resolution.

Faster measurements are possible in swept-spectrum mode because the analyzer's digital IF filters have twice the selectivity of analog filters and offer faster measurements while still resolving low-level carrier sidebands. The predictability of digital filters also permits the analyzer to sweep even faster, using a built-in correction algorithm. This improves measurement speed up to four times compared to conventional swept-tuned analyzers, with no additional amplitude error or resolution loss.

Narrowband-zoom mode provides the fastest spectrum measurements (40-400 times faster than swept-tuned analyzers for comparable measurements), with resolution unequalled by traditional technologies. Narrowband zoom can be used for spans of 1 Hz to 40 kHz anywhere in the 150 MHz range of the 3588A.

It is easy to design custom measurements with the 3588A because it supports the HP Instrument BASIC programming language, which also lets you control other instruments through HP-IB. You can use the analyzer's built-in disk drive or non-volatile memory to store and retrieve traces, instrument states, or programs. Other features include autoranging input, limit lines with go/no-go indication, direct plotter or printer output, and HP-IB operation - all of which allow faster setup and documentation of results.

With the 3588A, a broad range of communication equipment can be quickly characterized to meet demanding standards. Direct noise and discrete sideband measurements of signals below 150 MHz are possible with the narrow resolution and low internal phase noise. Narrowband-zoom mode provides power line frequency, voice channel, and audio band modulation sideband analysis at speeds not available in conventional swept-tuned spectrum analyzers.