W9069A Datasheet, PDF (2/21 Pages) Keysight Technologies – Noise Figure X-Series

02 | Keysight | N9069A & W9069A Noise Figure X-Series Measurement Application - Technical Overview
Noise Figure Measurement Application
Noise figure is one of the fundamental parameters that differentiates one system, ampli-
fier, or transistor from another. To minimize the problems resulting from noise generated
in receiver systems, engineers can either make a weak signal stronger, or reduce the
noise of that system or its individual components. Keysight’s N/W9069A noise figure
measurement application offers development engineers a simple tool to make accurate
and repeatable noise figure measurements. Pair this measurement application with an
Keysight X-Series signal analyzer for fully specified results up to 26.5 GHz on the CXA,
CXA-m MXA and MXE, up to 44 GHz on the EXA, and up to 50 GHz on the PXA. The
speed of this application also allows manufacturing engineers to rapidly measure any
one of the following in their test racks:
–– Noise figure/factor
–– Gain
–– Effective temperature
–– Y-factor
–– Hot/cold power density
The noise figure application utilizes the Y-factor method for calculating noise figure. By
using a noise source, X-Series signal analyzers or the MXE EMI receiver can quickly de-
termine the noise of the device under test. This method is very simple, as it utilizes a ratio
of two noise power levels: one measured with the noise source ON and the other with the
noise source OFF.
The U7227A/C/F USB preamps are available to reduce the uncertainty of Y-factor noise
figure measurements to 44 GHz. With these preamps and an X-Series signal analyzer,
you can obtain better noise figure measurements than with a dedicated noise figure
analyzer such as the N8973/ 4/5A.
When using this application on an X-Series signal analyzer or MXE EMI receiver, en-
gineers will also benefit from full RF signal analysis capabilities in one instrument. In
addition, the noise figure measurement application is code-compatible with previous
Keysight noise figure solutions where hardware and measurements are the same. The
application can be configured for remote programming via USB, LAN, or GPIB—all of
which are standard for X-Series.