Compelling Reasons to Migrate from the Agilent 856xE/EC Spectrum Analyzers to the Agilent X-Series Signal Anayzers Building upon a tradition of excellence with leading-edge innovation Save on a new X-Series signal analyzer by trading in your 856x spectrum analyzer To learn more, visit: www.agilent.com/find/tradein Backward compatibility enables easy migration Industry-leading measurement speeds Superior amplitude accuracy Increased sensitivity and dynamic range Improved selectivity and accuracy with all-digital IF Enhanced usability with modern user interfaces Broader offering of measurement applications Simpler and more robust data sanitization for security

If you are facing the need to replace out-of-support or legacy instruments, you may be concerned with the form (physical dimension compatibility), fit (comparability of specifications and applications), and function (backward programming language compatibility) of available replacement instruments. Agilent X-Series The Agilent X-Series is an evolutionary approach to signal analysis that spans instrumentation, measurements and software. To learn more about the X-Series, visit: www.agilent.com/find/x-series The intent of this document is to explain how each of these concerns can be addressed and...

Backward Compatibility For Easy Migration Remote language compatibility Remote language compatibility (RLC) becomes particularly critical when considering replacing an 856xE/EC analyzer in an automated test environment (ATE). A better RLC offering results in less effort spent on re-programming and a smaller reinvestment in the replacement of the instrument. The 856xE/EC employed a very instrument-specific command set for remote programming, whereas the MXA/PXA/EXA X-Series signal analyzers use SCPI commands (standard commands for programming instruments, part of the IEEE-488-2 standard). RLC...

The following figures show the physical dimensions for the 856xE/EC, MXA, and EXA in their respective portable configurations. Figure 2. Physical dimensions of 856xE/EC (above) and the MXA /EXA with optional portable configuration (below). When installed in an instrument rack, the 856xE/EC requires Option 908 (without handle and fringe) or 909 (with handle and fringe) as the rack mount mechanism. With Option 908 or 909, the 856xE/EC occupies a full 5-rack-unit (5-U) in a 19-inch rack system, which is one rack-unit higher than the MXA or EXA with its own rack mount kit, saving 1-U of your valuable...

Comparison of RF and microwave frequency coverage In the RF and microwave range, the X-Series in general has wider frequency coverage than the 856xE/EC (Table 2). The MXA and EXA feature a standard 10 Hz starting frequency, whereas the 856xE/EC starts at 30 Hz (the 8563E/EC, 8564E/EC, and 8565E/ EC start at 9 kHz unless Option 006 is installed). The PXA starts at 3 Hz. The maximum frequency coverage for the MXA is 26.5 GHz. For the EXA it is 44 GHz and for the PXA it is 50 GHz. Table 2. Comparison of RF/microwave frequency coverage. Beyond 50 GHz, the 856xE/EC offers external mixing which works...

Comparison of hardware options and features The following table (Table 3) provides a comparison of the hardware options and features in the 856xE/EC, MXA, PXA, and EXA. Unlike the 856xE/EC, which offers input attenuation at 10 dB/step, the MXA and PXA include a 2 dB/step mechanical attenuator standard (Optional for the EXA). Furthermore, an optional electronic attenuator (Option EA3), which steps at 1 dB, is also available for the MXA, PXA, and EXA. This enables MXA, PXA, and EXA users to optimize the input mixer level to achieve the best possible dynamic range. Additionally, the MXA and PXA...

Industry-Leading Measurement Speed With increasing pressure to be first-to-market and reduce costs, legacy test equipment may face tougher measurement speed challenges than ever before. In a world of highvolume manufacturing, every millisecond counts. Replacing your 856xE/EC with the MXA, PXA, or EXA signal analzyers can help you make the productivity gains necessary to stay competitive. The MXA and PXA are equipped with a dual-core CPU as a standard feature (optional for EXA), making the MXA, PXA, and EXA stand out as the measurement speed benchmarks among in-class signal and spectrum analyzers....

Improved measurement accuracy translates to enhanced productivity. In manufacturing settings, test equipment with better measurement accuracy means production lines and rework stations can have more stringent pass/fail criteria, reduce “falsepositive” results, and yield more products which meet defined specifications. In R&D environments, higher accuracy test equipment provides greater design confidence and therefore maximized productivity. Superior Performance The MXA and PXA signal analyzers offer significantly better amplitude accuracy than the 856xE/EC. Tables 5 and 6 compare frequency response...

Increased sensitivity When searching for very low level signals, such as in signal monitoring use cases, the sensitivity of the signal analyzer becomes more critical. The displayed average noise level (DANL) is the indication of the analyzer’s sensitivity. The X-Series signal analyzers offer excellent DANL performance because of its optional built-in low-noise, highgain preamplifiers. Further, the Agilent-exclusive noise floor extension (NFE), along with the internal preamplifier, enables the high-performance PXA to offer extraordinarily low DANL, allowing users to detect extremely weak signals....

Figure 5a. In a DANL comparison at 1 GHz center frequency, an 8562EC shows -151.2 dBm DANL normalized to RBW of 1 Hz. Figure 5b. At 1 GHz center frequency, an MXA shows -165.38 dBm DANL normalized to RBW of 1 Hz, with the preamplifier on. Wider dynamic range A signal analyzer’s dynamic range determines its ability to measure lower level signals in the presence of higher power signals with negligible distortion. Dynamic range is the most important figure of merit for measurements like spur search. The best dynamic range is achieved with the lowest DANL, combined with the highest third-order intercept...