Agilent / Keysight E4438C ESG Vector Signal Generator, 250 kHz to 6 GHz

The Keysight E4438C ESG is a vector signal generator delivering RF signals from 250 kHz to 6 GHz with integrated baseband generation and arbitrary waveform playback. It combines analog and digital modulation capabilities with real-time I/Q symbol generation up to 50 Msym/s, supporting standards including LTE, HSPA+, WiMAX, WLAN, DVB-H, and GPS/GNSS. The instrument accommodates external I/Q inputs for modulation bandwidths to 160 MHz and internal baseband operation to 80 MHz.

With configurable memory up to 64 MSa and optional 6 GB non-volatile storage, the E4438C suits wireless transceiver verification, aerospace and defense signal simulation, and manufacturing test environments.

Technical Specifications

Frequency: 250 kHz to 6 GHz (Option 506); alternative ranges from 250 kHz to 1 GHz (Option 501) through 250 kHz to 4 GHz (Option 504) Output Power: +17 dBm typical at 1 GHz; range +13 dBm to −136 dBm; 50 Ω nominal impedance Phase Noise: < −134 dBc/Hz at 1 GHz and 20 kHz offset typical; enhanced performance available with Option UNJ Modulation Bandwidth: 160 MHz external I/Q inputs; 80 MHz internal baseband generator Baseband Specifications:

• Sample rate: Up to 100 MSa/s


• Playback memory: Up to 64 MSa (1 GSa storage)


• Real-time I/Q generation: Up to 50 Msym/s


• Non-volatile storage: Up to 6 GB (Option 005) Modulation Types: AM, FM, Phase Modulation, Pulse; ASK, FSK, MSK, PSK, QAM, custom I/Q Sweep Capabilities: Step and list sweep for frequency and power

Key Features

• Dual baseband architecture: internal 80 MHz bandwidth generator or external I/Q inputs to 160 MHz


• Supports 3GPP W-CDMA FDD (Option 400), cdma2000/IS-95A (Option 401), TDMA variants (Option 402)


• Signal Studio personalities for protocol-specific signal creation


• Real-time arbitrary waveform generation with 100 MSa/s baseband sample rate


• SCPI and IVI-COM driver support

Interfaces 10BaseT LAN, GPIB, RS-232; optional N5102A Digital I/O module for multi-channel baseband generation

Typical Applications Wireless communication system verification, transceiver design validation, RF signal simulation for aerospace and defense, manufacturing test automation.