HP / Agilent 37717B Communications Performance Analyzer

The HP/Agilent 37717B Communications Performance Analyzer is a field-portable multi-rate test set engineered for performance evaluation and troubleshooting across PDH/DSn, SONET/SDH, ATM, and POS networks. It delivers bit error rate testing, jitter and wander generation and measurement, protocol analysis, and error analysis compliant with G.821 requirements - making it essential for installation, maintenance, and commissioning of carrier-class communications infrastructure.

Technical Specifications The 37717B operates across a broad range of legacy and modern protocols. PDH support includes 2, 8, 34, and 140 Mb/s rates; DSn coverage spans DS1 and DS3; E-rates include E1 and E3. SONET/SDH capabilities extend from STM-0e (52 Mb/s) through STM-1e (155 Mb/s), STM-1o, and STM-4o (1310 nm). POS testing reaches 2.5 Gb/s. ATM testing operates at both cell layer and services layer. Electrical interfaces employ 75 Ω unbalanced configuration across all data rates, with 120 Ω balanced interfaces available up to 2.048 Mb/s and STM-1e electrical interfaces. Optical interfaces support 1310 nm and 1550 nm wavelengths across STM rates, with PC connector compatibility (Agilent 81000xI Series optical interface connectors sold separately). Optical power measurement is integrated. Signal coding defaults to AMI, HDB3, or CMI depending on selected rate.

Key Features

Jitter measurement at all supported interface rates

Jitter and wander generation with measurement capability

K4 and V5 overhead byte access for SDH/SONET diagnostics

BER testing of section and path overhead bytes

Protection switch time testing (when Structured PDH option installed)

SDH alarm monitoring

Error analysis with protocol analysis of received errors

Typical Applications Installation and commissioning of PDH/SONET/SDH/ATM infrastructure; field maintenance and troubleshooting; performance optimization and network validation.

Compatibility & Integration Optical interfaces require separately purchased Agilent 81000xI Series connectors. Structured PDH option enables protection switching test functionality.