Agilent/Keysight N1077A

The Keysight N1077A is an optical and electrical clock recovery module that extracts stable clock signals from high-speed data and clock streams via an integrated phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit. The recovered clock is a precise timing reference for oscilloscopes and bit error rate testers, enabling standards compliance testing, characterization of clock-less devices, and clock-to-data delay compensation. The module supports both NRZ and PAM4 signal types across data rates from 50 MBd to 32 GBd.

Technical Specifications

• Data rate range: 50 MBd to 32 GBd (continuous)


• Recovered clock output: 50 MHz to 16 GHz


• Recovered clock amplitude: ≥ 320 mVpp at 5 GHz


• Random jitter (recovered clock): 220 fs maximum at ≥ 2 Gbd


• Auxiliary clock output: 4 GHz to 8 GHz with 550 mVpp characteristic amplitude and < 50 fs RMS jitter


• Intrinsic jitter: Low


• PLL adjustable loop bandwidth and selectable peaking Input/Output Interfaces


• Electrical data input: Single-ended and differential, 2.92 mm (f) connector, AC coupled 50 Ω


• Optical data input: Single-mode and multimode fiber, FC/PC connector


• Electrical data output: 2.92 mm (f) connector (optical-to-electrical conversion)


• Auxiliary clock output: 2.92 mm (f) connector, DC coupled 50 Ω, single-ended


• Recovered clock output: Connects to oscilloscope clock or trigger input Configuration Options


• Option SMS: Integrated 70-30 multimode and 50-50 single-mode splitters with bulk optics coupler; optical data output available


• Option SXT: No integrated splitter


• Jitter Spectrum Analysis (JSA): Optional capability for jitter distribution analysis


• FlexPLL Application Software (N1010300A): Supports compliant PLL bandwidth and peaking measurements


• PCI Express PLL Test Application (N1081PLCA): Available for PCI Express PLL testing

Key Features

• Supports NRZ and PAM4 modulation formats


• Low intrinsic jitter with 220 fs maximum random jitter at high data rates


• Tunable PLL parameters for application-specific optimization


• Optional jitter spectrum analysis for detailed troubleshooting


• Dual clock outputs (primary recovered clock and auxiliary clock)

Typical Applications

• Standards compliance testing


• High-speed digital interface characterization


• Component testing for clock-less devices


• Timing recovery and synchronization


• Jitter analysis and measurement

Compatibility & Integration The N1077A integrates with Keysight DCA-X, N1090A, and N1092/N1094-series DCA-M oscilloscopes for seamless timing reference integration in automated test environments.