Keysight (Agilent) 81142A Serial Pulse Data Generator, 13.5 GHz

The Keysight 81142A Serial Pulse Data Generator is a precision instrument for characterizing high-speed digital systems and components up to 13.5 GHz. It generates low-jitter signals with full control over data streams, supporting pulse, PRBS, and custom pattern generation across NRZ, R1, and RZ formats. The unit delivers sub-20 ps transition times and operates from 150 MHz to 13.5 GHz, making it essential for physical layer testing of serial buses, stress testing applications, and jitter tolerance measurements in R&D and manufacturing environments.

Technical Specifications

• Frequency range: 150 MHz to 13.5 GHz


• Data formats: NRZ, R1, RZ


• PRBS generation: 2^5-1 to 2^31-1


• Transition times: <20 ps


• Pattern memory: 32 Mbit


• Sequencing, looping, and event triggering supported Jitter and Timing Performance


• Clock mode jitter: <1 ps RMS


• Data mode jitter: 9 ps pp typical


• Jitter modulation bandwidth: DC to 1 GHz


• Clock/data delay range: ±0.75 ns with 100 fs resolution


• Delay modulation range: -100 ps to 100 ps Output Specifications


• Single channel data and clock output (differential or single-ended)


• Data amplitude: 0.1 V to 1.8 V (5 mV resolution)


• Output voltage window: -2 V to 3 V


• Connectors: 2.4 mm female SMA


• 50 Ω termination supported External Interfacing


• External clock input supported


• Trigger and delay control inputs


• Error add input for bit error insertion


• Subrate clock output

Key Features

• Linear delay modulation for jitter tolerance and transfer measurements


• Touchscreen front panel interface


• 32 Mbit memory for extended real-world pattern sequences


• Low-jitter clock mode (<1 ps RMS) and flexible data mode (9 ps pp)

Connectivity & Integration Rear panel interfaces include GPIB, LAN, VGA, 4× USB 2.0, and 1× USB 1.1. Power requirement: 100–240 V AC ±10%, 47–63 Hz. Operating temperature: 5 °C to 40 °C. Dimensions: 424.5 mm W × 221.5 mm H × 580.0 mm D. Weight: 24.5 kg.