Agilent/Keysight 8990B

The Keysight 8990B Peak Power Analyzer measures and characterizes RF and microwave pulsed signals with high precision across radar, wireless communications, and electronic warfare applications. This instrument delivers 15 automatic pulse parameter measurements - including rise time, fall time, pulse width, duty cycle, PRI, PRF, peak power, average power, and peak-to-average ratio - with 0.2 dB overall accuracy. A 160 MHz video bandwidth enables analysis of wideband signals such as 802.11ac, while dual sampling modes (100 MSa/s real-time and 1 GSa/s ETS) support both standard and equivalent-time measurements.

System rise and fall times reach 5 ns with wideband power sensors. The 15-inch XGA touchscreen displays up to four channels simultaneously, with intuitive controls including Autoscale, dual-window zoom, automated delay and pulse droop analysis, and selectable pulse isolation for targeted characterization. Power-Added Efficiency (PAE) measurement is supported through RF power, voltage, and current monitoring with appropriate probes and sensors.

Minimum pulse width resolution is 10 ns, with dynamic range from −32 dBm to +20 dBm.

Technical Specifications

• Frequency Range: 50 MHz to 40 GHz (sensor dependent)


• Dynamic Range: −32 dBm to +20 dBm


• Video Bandwidth: 160 MHz (at +10 dBm)


• Sampling Rate: 100 MSa/s (real-time), 1 GSa/s (ETS mode)


• System Rise/Fall Time: 5 ns (with N1923A/N1924A sensors)


• Minimum Pulse Width: 10 ns


• Measurement Accuracy: 0.2 dB


• Display: 15-inch XGA color touchscreen, four-channel simultaneous view

Key Features

• 15 automatic pulse parameter measurements (rise time, fall time, pulse width, duty cycle, PRI, PRF, peak power, average power, peak-to-average ratio, CCDF, automated pulse droop, automated delay between pulses, pulse spacing)


• Multi-pulse analysis with optional configurations


• Power-Added Efficiency (PAE) measurement capability


• Amplitude and time markers for precise positioning


• Dual-window zoom for detailed waveform analysis


• Internal and external triggering with three-step setup


• Autoscale function via single-touch interface

Typical Applications

• Radar system characterization


• Wireless communication signal analysis


• Electronic warfare signal measurement


• Pulsed RF amplifier verification


• Wideband modulation analysis

Compatibility & Integration

• Compatible with N1923A wideband power sensor (50 MHz to 18 GHz)


• Compatible with N1924A wideband power sensor (50 MHz to 40 GHz)


• Supports multi-pulse configurations including 8990B-1FP and N6903A


• Integrates with external probe and current sensor solutions for PAE calculations