TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies Introduces a Breakthrough Signal Generator With Key Manufacturing Benefits for Wireless Communications Applications

Business Wire, Sept 5, 2006

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- --

Industry's Best ACPR Performance and Fastest Switching Speeds Enable Dramatic Yield and Throughput Increases; Simplified Self-Maintenance Maximizes Uptime

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today announced the availability of the Agilent MXG signal generators, which offer industry-best adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) performance and switching speeds, coupled with simplified self-maintenance to maximize uptime. These new analog and vector signal generators are ideal for manufacturing teams producing components and receivers for communications systems.

The Agilent MXG signal generators feature the industry's best adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) performance at -65 dBc (-69 dBc measured) for a 4-carrier 3GPP W-CDMA signal, and -71 dBc (-76 dBc measured) for a single-carrier signal. This performance allows for greater test margins, ensuring more accurate measurements and improved yield, and also makes the Agilent MXG signal generators ideal for characterizing high dynamic-range components such as multi-carrier power amplifiers (MCPAs).

Agilent MXG signal generators also provide the fastest switching speeds available on the market today, enabling a dramatic increase in throughput. With SCPI programming, the generators can make arbitrary switches in frequency and amplitude at less than or equal to 1.2 ms -- at least two times faster than the nearest competitor. In list mode, simultaneous switching of frequency, amplitude and waveforms takes place at less than or equal to 900 micro-s.

Simplified self-maintenance is another key feature of the Agilent MXG signal generators, making it possible for all users to maintain or repair the instruments in-house and maximize uptime. Typical onsite calibration can be performed in less than one hour and requires only a spectrum analyzer and power meter. With 100-percent internal diagnostic capability and a simple design consisting of five assemblies including the single RF assembly (all are field-replaceable), the average Agilent MXG repair time is just 30 minutes with no calibration required.

"With its exceptional levels of performance and fast switching speeds, we expect the MXG to fully support the needs of engineers working on components for cellular communications and wireless connectivity systems," said Pat Byrne, president of Agilent's Electronic Measurements Group. "In these dynamic and fast-paced markets, the functionality and performance 'firsts' enabled by the MXG provides users with the capabilities they need to stay ahead of the competition. It stands as a testament to our ongoing and continued commitment to developing innovative solutions which will enable a new range of possibilities in wireless communication."

The Agilent MXG analog signal generator provides accurate and repeatable reference signals for applications like LO and clock substitution, CW interferers, and modulated signals for analog communication systems such as AM, FM, and (PHI)M. In comparison, the Agilent MXG vector signal generator provides the vector-modulated signals necessary to produce components for cellular communications and wireless connectivity systems. The Agilent MXG vector signal generator works with Agilent's proven Signal Studio software to simplify standard-based waveform creation. Signal Studio's 3GPP W-CDMA software includes the latest revisions for HSUPA and HSDPA. Its mobile WiMAX software complies with the latest revision to the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard. Other standards-based Signal Studio software supported includes cdma2000/1xEV-DO, GSM/EDGE, TD-SCDMA and 802.11 WLAN. Agilent has a track record of first-to-market Signal Studio applications, keeping customers on the leading edge of communications standards.

Agilent's new MXG signal generators are ideally suited for use in high-volume wireless component manufacturing, as well as in high-performance, base station MCPA (multi-carrier power amplifier) design and low-volume manufacturing. With a cost-effective price point and an option structure that provides scalable performance, the Agilent MXG signal generators are also suitable for design and manufacturing WiMAX and WLAN receivers for the cost-sensitive wireless connectivity industry.

The Agilent MXG signal generators are fully compliant with the LXI class-C specification and are part of the Agilent Open program, which simplifies test-system setup and integration by offering instruments based on open industry standards. Agilent MXG connectivity is possible via 100 based-T LAN, GPIB and two USB 2.0 ports. LXI is the next-generation, LAN-based modular architecture standard for automated test systems.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The Agilent N5181A MXG analog signal generator and N5182A MXG vector signal generator are now available. The N5181A has a starting price of $6,200. The starting price for the N5182A is $16,000.

Information about Agilent's MXG signal generators are available at www.agilent.com/find/mxg. Information about the LXI standard and Agilent Open can be found at www.lxistandard.org and www.agilent.com/find/open, respectively. Photos of the products are available at www.agilent.com/find/MXG_images.>