Keysight Technologies' FieldFox Handheld Analyzer now includes Noise Figure (NF) Measurements

1. Introduction
2. Describe the customer problem and or market opportunity
3. How does Keysight solution solve this problem
4. Key Features and Business Benefits
5. Additional Information
6. Related Information

Keysight’s FieldFox is the world’s most integrated handheld RF and microwave analyzer and now it includes Noise Figure (NF) measurements. The FieldFox family of handheld microwave analyzers with noise figure (NF) mode provides portable one-button noise figure and gain measurements to help design engineers characterize devices including low noise amplifiers (LNAs), frequency converters, and receivers using the industry proven Y-factor technique.  FieldFox noise figure measurements can be used to quantify the degradation in signal-to-noise ratio caused by components in communications systems

Communication system capacity is limited by internally generated noise. This noise will impact link budget, increase investment on the transmitter design, or will increase antenna cost at the receiver. One of the key performance indicators for a receiver is its sensitivity, which is the ability to reliably discern small signals that are close to the noise floor.

The performance of a communication system is also based on signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR). While vector network analyzer S-parameter measurements, spectrum analyzer channel power, and adjacent channel power measurements may be used to evaluate the signal behavior, additional evaluation of internally generated noise is necessary to have a full picture of the total system performance.  As such, noise figure measurements can be used to quantify the degradation in SNR caused by components in the link.

Transforming the Keysight FieldFox handheld microwave analyzer into noise figure (NF) mode provides portable one-button noise figure and gain measurements to help characterize devices including low noise amplifiers (LNAs), frequency converters, and receivers using the industry proven Y-factor technique.  FieldFox can also provide real-time feedback on measurement integrity with built-in uncertainty bars that can be displayed on the measurement data.  By combining noise figure measurements with full 2-port vector network analysis, spectrum analysis, and power sensor integration, FieldFox can now provide complete characterization of amplifiers and converters in the field or repair depots.

• Portable Y-factor noise figure measurements for characterization of amplifiers and frequency converters
• One-button measurements for noise figure, noise factor, gain, noise temperature, Y-factor
• Auto integration mode optimizes gain to avoid compression and measurement time to achieve jitter goal
• User definable loss compensation for loss (dB) before and after DUT to provide higher accuracy
• Real-time feedback on measurement integrity with built-in uncertainty bars on display

The FieldFox family provides a choice of 22 combination (combo) and spectrum analyzer models with frequency coverage from DC to 50 GHz and users can configure combo models to include spectrum analyzer, VNA, CAT, Noise Figure (NF), RTSA, and more. All models offer benchtop precision and are MIL-Class 2 rugged.

FieldFox noise figure (NF) mode software option is available on FieldFox combo and spectrum analyzer models and is priced at $7,000. Users can upgrade the analyzer with the use of a software license key

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) is a leading technology company that helps enterprises, service providers, and governments accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world.  Keysight's solutions optimize networks and bring electronic products to market faster and at a lower cost with offerings from design simulation, to prototype validation, to manufacturing test, to optimization in networks and cloud environments. Customers span the worldwide communications ecosystem, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics end markets. Keysight generated revenues of $3.2B in fiscal year 2017. In April 2017, Keysight acquired Ixia, a leader in network test, visibility, and security. More information is available at www.keysight.com.