HP 8970A NOISE FIGURE METER

 The Agilent/HP 8970A Noise Figure Meter takes the mystery out of noise figure measurements. A microprocessor is used to make the myriad calculations and corrections necessary for truly accurate, convenient and flexible noise figure measurements. RF and microwave (with external local oscillator, sold separately) measurements from 10MHz to at least 26.5GHz are equally simple; any IF between 10 and 1500MHz may be used. Displays both noise figure and gain, calibrated display on oscilloscope or recorder, and powerful special function enhancements. The ENR calibration table of the noise source may be stored in the 8970A, and a properly interpolated value is automatically used at each frequency.

Features

• Frequency range: 10 MHz - 1500 MHz direct/26.5 GHz with external local oscillator.
• Accurate and simple, swept or CW measurements.
• Automatic operation, 10 MHz - 26.5 GHz.
• Second stage correction.
• Display of both noise figure and gain.
• Calibrated display on oscilloscope or recorder.
• Powerful special function enhancements.

  In telecommunications, the noise figure (NF) is the ratio of the output noise power of a device to the portion thereof attributable to thermal noise in the input termination at standard noise temperature (usually 290 K). The noise figure is thus the ratio of actual output noise to that which would remain if the device itself did not introduce noise. In heterodyne systems, output noise power includes spurious contributions from image-frequency transformation, but the portion attributable to thermal noise in the input termination at standard noise temperature includes only that which appears in the output via the principal frequency transformation of the system, and excludes that which appears via the image frequency transformation.

 Noise figure is a widely used figure of merit for the noise performance of devices, subassemblies, and complete systems. As performance requirements have increased, it has become increasingly important to be able to measure noise figure accurately and conveniently. A 0.34-db difference in the noise figure of low-noise amplifiers for satellite earth stations can translate into a fivefold difference in price. The new HP model 8970A Noise Figure Meter makes outstanding contributions to this field in accuracy, convenience, and flexibility. The use of a microprocessor enables it to correct several of the errors that have been accepted as part of the measurement uncertainty in the past.