Agilent Technologies Simplifies Testing of Digital Components With New Combined Oscilloscope and Communications Analyzer - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, March 6, 2000

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) Wednesday made digital component testing much easier when it introduced a high-speed 50GHz oscilloscope that also functions as a digital communications analyzer (DCA).

The combined oscilloscope/analyzer makes complex compliance measurements in the shortest amount of time possible, eliminating the need for learning cumbersome compliance test procedures. Compliance measurements that once required many steps can now be performed in a single step. This new capability, along with an intuitive interface, allows engineers to perform entire procedures, such as compliance eye analysis, with the touch of a button.

"With the demand for manufacturers to increase their capacity, it has become imperative that engineers become more proficient at compliance testing. The compliance-test learning curve has been entirely eliminated as engineers can become experts now in just a few minutes," said Werner Huettemann, general manager of Agilent's Lightwave Division.

From producing components to systems or networks, digital-transmission test engineers can use the Agilent 86100A Infiniium DCA mainframe to rapidly ensure that their transmitters meet industry standards. The Agilent 86100A has integrated optical and electrical receivers that provide the highest accuracy for measuring and characterizing lightwave communications waveforms. The receivers cover standard rates for SONET/SDH, Gigabit Ethernet and Fibre Channel up to 10Gb/s.

The new digital oscilloscope/communications analyzer has industry-standard filters which allow digital test engineers to switch from compliance testing to wide-bandwidth analysis in seconds. For transmitter compliance testing, engineers can easily configure the 86100A to get the specific bandwidth, filtering and sensitivity they need for standards transmission rates

Backward Compatible The receiver modules used in the 83480A digital communications analyzer and the 54750A oscilloscope are fully compatible with the 86100A. In addition, code used in automated test systems designed around the 83480A and 54750A can be reused in the 86100A with only minor modifications. The 86100A's flexible platform will allow new firmware upgrades and modules to be added in the future by simply plugging them into the mainframe.

U.S. Pricing and Availability Agilent 86100A Infiniium DCA mainframe is available now, starting at $16,500 plus the cost of the modules. Optical and electrical receiver modules range from $9,000 to $24,500 depending on bandwidth, wavelength range and data rates needed.

More information on this product can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com/comms/DCA.> Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) is a diversified technology company, resulting from Hewlett-Packard Company's plan to strategically realign itself into two fully independent companies. With 42,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries, Agilent Technologies is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. The businesses comprising Agilent, a subsidiary of HP, had net revenues of more than $8.3 billion in fiscal year 1999. FMI: www.agilent.com.