Keysight VXG microwave signal generators

Keysight Technologies’ VXG microwave signal generators are designed to address demanding wideband millimetre-wave (mmWave) applications for 5G and satellite communications by decreasing test set-up complexity and reducing path losses introduced in over-the-air (OTA) test environments.

The microwave signal generators deliver an optimised 5G NR test system set-up leveraging dual-channel 44 GHz vector signal generation with up to 2 GHz RF modulation bandwidth, and phase-coherent capability in a single test instrument. They offer low OTA test system path loss, resulting from what is claimed to be the industry’s highest output power versus error vector magnitude (EVM) and adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) performance. They are also said to accelerate product development through integration with Keysight’s PathWave Signal Generation, a software suite with access to a wide range of evolving standards-compliant 3GPP 5G NR signals for testing base stations, mobile terminal transmitters and receivers.

The VXG signal generators offer designers and manufacturers of wireless equipment a wide range of features, including high RF performance that optimises measurement integrity and minimises uncertainty for wide bandwidths at mmWave frequencies; a graphical user interface for 5G NR that delivers a streamlined experience when creating standard-compliant test signals; and a user-centric interface — multitouch and modular — that delivers identical performance while addressing the specific needs of R&D and manufacturing environments.

Keysight’s 5G waveform generation and analysis testbed solution leverages the VXG microwave signal generator’s enhanced capabilities for 5G development teams to efficiently validate designs across both frequency range 1 (FR1) and frequency range 2 (FR2) as defined by 3GPP. The testbed solution addresses the challenges of 5G NR conformance test.