•Improve performance and speed
•Save space
•Enjoy backward compatibility
Updated Aug, 2013
Migrate from the 856x-Series to the X-Series
Agenda
• 856x product life cycle and migration paths
• Key migration questions and answers
• Form factor
• Hardware functionality
• Hardware performance
• Backward code compatibility and application coverage
• Additional features and cost of ownership
• Trade-in offer
• Customer success story
• Additional information
2
Product Life Cycle
Product Frequency range Introduction date Discontinued date End of support date Recommended replacement
8560EC 2.9 GHz 12-2-1999 Sept-1-2009 Aug-31-2014 N9020A-503 (MXA 3.6 GHz)
8561EC 6.5 GHz 12-2-1999 May-1-2004 Apr-30-2009 N9020A-508 (MXA, 8.4 GHz)
8562EC 13.2 GHz 12-2-1999 Sept-1-2009 Aug-31-2014 N9020A-513 (MXA, 13.6 GHz)
8563EC 26.5 GHz 12-2-1999 Sept-1-2009 Aug-31-2014 N9020A-526 (MXA, 26.5 GHz)
8564EC 40 GHz 12-2-1999 June-1-2012 May-31-2017 N9010A-544 (EXA, 44 GHz)
8565EC 50 GHz 12-2-1999 June-1-2012 May-31-2017 N9030A-550 (PXA, 50 GHz)
RF/uW 856xEC are quickly approaching the end of support their life
mmW 856xEC has been discontinued
It is time to migrate from the 856x to the X-Series signal analyzers
Stay ready, stay in sync and arrive ahead—with the Agilent X-Series
Migrate to the X-Series The next generation of signal analysis
N9010A EXA
N9020A MXA
N9030A PXA 856xE/EC Including previous 856x models
Key Migration Questions
1. Form factor
– Physical size?
– Class 3 MIL Rugged?
2. Hardware functionality
– Do you use the tracking generator (TG)?
– Do you use external mixing?
– Do you use the VIDEO output (standard)?
– Do you use the second IF output (Opt 001)?
– Do you used the SWEEP output (standard)? Why?
3. Hardware performance
– Is phase noise performance a major concern?
– Other?
4. Backward code compatibility and applications coverage
– Is the 856x in an automated environment?
– Were you using the phase noise utility (85671A)?
– Were you using the spurious measurements utility (85672A)?
5. Additional features and cost of ownership
– Security clearing procedures?
– Calibration cycle and cost of ownership?
Form Factor Physical size
Standalone
Rack mounted
NOTE: 1U rack height = 1.75 inches, or 44.5mm
Dimensions 856x MXA/EXA PXA
Width (W) 337 mm 427 mm 426 mm
Height (H) 187 mm 173 mm 177 mm
Depth (D) 461 mm 369 mm 556 mm
Dimensions 856x MXA/EXA PXA
Height (H) 5U (223 mm) 4U (178 mm) 4U (178 mm)
Depth (D) See above See above See above
Form Factor Physical size
5U
4U
856x w/rack-amounted panel X-Series
Using an X-Series analyzer saves valuable rack space
Form Factor Class 3 MIL rugged
The PXA, MXA, and EXA X-Series signal analyzers are built according to a similar
testing methodology at the factory so that they are just as rugged and robust as the
856x-Series
Portable configuration for
MXA/EXA (Opt PRC)
The environmental and military test methods used for the X-Series are aligned with IEC
60068-2. Levels are similar to MIL-PRE-28800F Class 3.
Equally robust!!!
856x family
Hardware Functionality
856xEC N9020A MXA N9010A EXA N9030A PXA
Mechanical
attenuator
Standard
70 dB (10 dB/step)-RF/uW
60 dB (10 dB/step)- mmW
Standard
70 dB (std. 2 dB/step)
Standard
60 dB (std. 10 dB step/opt’l 2
dB/step)
Standard
70 dB (std. 2 dB/step)
Electronic
attenuator
Nor available Opt: 24 dB (1 dB/step) Opt: 24 dB (1 dB/step) Opt: 24 dB (1 dB/step)
Internal
preamplifier
Not available Optional-
3.6/8.4/13.6/26.5 GHz
Optional-
3.6/7/13.6/26.5/32/44 GHz
Optional-
3.6/8.4/13.6/26.5/43/44/50 GHz
PowerSuite 1 standard msmt 10 standard msmts 10 standard msmts 10 standard msmts
Precision freq ref Standard Opt PFR Opt PFR Standard
Analog video
output
Standard Opt YAS Opt YAS Opt YAS
Programmable IF
out
Not available Opt CRP Opt CRP Opt CRP
Second IF output Option 001 Opt CR3 Opt CR3 Opt CR3
Sweep out Standard Not available Not available Not available
Tracking
generator
Opt 002, or 85640 external
TG
Not available, consider
Opt ESC
Not available, consider Opt
ESC
Not available, consider Opt
ESC
External mixing Standard In future Option EXM on 532/544 Opt EXM
Security option Secure erase procedures Opt SSD Opt SSD Opt SSD
Remote
connectivity
GPIB only GPIB/LAN/USB GPIB/LAN/USB GPIB/LAN/USB
Hardware Performance Key specifications
856xEC N9020A MXA N9010A EXA N9030A PXA
Frequency range 30 Hz to
2.9/6.5/13.2/26.5/40/50 GHz
10 Hz to
3.6/7/13.6/26.5/32/44 GHz
10 Hz to
3.6/8.4/13.6/26.5 GHz
10 Hz to
3.6/8.4/13.6/26.5/43/44/50 GHz
RBW range 1 Hz to 2 MHz 1 Hz to 8 MHz 1 Hz to 8 MHz 1 Hz to 8 MHz
Temperature
stability ±1 x10-8 ±1.5 x10-8 (w/ Opt PFR) ±1.5 x10-8 (w/ Opt PFR) ±1.5 x10-8 (w/ Opt PFR)
TOI @ 2 GHz +11 dBm +14 dBm +16 dBm +20 dBm
DANL (Displayed
average noise
level) @ 2 GHz
-149 dBm/Hz -148 dBm/Hz -151 dBm/Hz -153 dBm/Hz
DANL @ 2 GHz
(preamp on) N/A -160 dBm/Hz -163 dBm/Hz -165 dBm/Hz
TOI @ 18 GHz +7.5 dBm +12 dBm +15 dBm +15 dBm
DANL @ 18 GHz -140 dBm -137 dBm/Hz -143 dBm/Hz -151 dBm/Hz (w/LNP)
Noise @ 10kHz
offset (1 GHz
carrier)
-113 dBc/Hz -103 dBc/Hz -113 dBc/Hz -129 dBc/Hz
Abs amp accuracy
(95%) +/-1.0 dB +/-0.27 dB +/- 0.23 dB +/- 0.19 dB
Analysis
measurement BW
N/A
(No digital Demod) 25 MHz std, 40 MHz opt’l
25 MHz std,
40/85/125/160 MHz opt’l
10 MHz std,
25/40/85//160 MHz opt’l
Measurement rate
(Local) 7/sec
90/sec std,
250/sec with Opt PC4 250/sec 250/sec
856x-Series Set the Industry Standard
When the 856x-Series signal analyzers where
introduced they set the industry standard with:
• < -113 dBc/Hz phase noise at 10 kHz offset
• ±1.0 dB absolute amplitude accuracy
• -149 dBm/Hz DANL
• Portable, MIL-PRF-28800, Class 3 rugged
Today, both the MXA and the PXA offer better overall performance
than 856x-Series analyzers.
MXA & PXA Exceed 856x Phase Noise Performance
12
MXA
856x (RF/uM: Out of
support starting
Sept 1, 2014)
MXA 856x
PXA
Sensitivity (DANL) Comparison
13
MXA
856x (RF/uM: Out of
support starting
Sept 1, 2014)
MXA
preamp off
856x
EXA preamp off
EXA preamp on
MXA
preamp on
• X-Series analyzers offer a built-in preamplifier. Below 20 GHz, with preamp off, MXA DANL
is better than the 856x. With preamp on, MXA & EXA DANL ≥10 dB better than 856x.
• With noise floor extension (NFE) on the PXA, DANL is as low as -172 dBm/Hz
The MXA Far Exceeds 856xEC TOI
14
MXA
856x (RF/uM: Out of
support starting
Sept 1, 2014)
• MXA TOI exceeds the 856xEC with a significant margin at
most frequencies, resulting in wider 3rd-order dynamic range
The MXA Offers Better 3rd-order Dynamic Range
15
856x @
~ 5
GH
z
MX
A @
~ 5
GH
z
856x @
~ 2
0 G
Hz M
XA
@ ~
20 G
Hz
• TOI determines how high input
signals can be without generating
internal distortions
• MXA has better overall TOI than
856x
• DANL determines how low input
signals can be without being buried
by the analyzer’s internal noise floor
• MXA DANL (preamp off) is better
than 856x up to 20 GHz; above 20
GHz, due to better TOI, MXA
dynamic range is significantly better
Lengths of the dotted arrow lines are proportional to the 3rd-order dynamic range
Backward Code Compatibility
N9061A – Remote language compatibility (RLC)
• Emulates the 856xE/EC remote programming language
• Supports the most frequently used 856xE/EC commands
• Free when ordered with new PXA/MXA/EXA X-Series signal analyzer
• Command error logging
Find the Technical Overview and demo guide at
http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5989-6539EN.pdf
Backward Code Compatibility Easy switch
MODE 856x
Switch to
856x
emulation
mode
N9061A is free if ordered with
a new analyzer.
Nominal charge (~$200) if
ordered stand-alone.
Remote
Language
Compatibility
Applications Coverage X-Series measurement applications 856x
Cellular
GSM/EDGE/EVO Not available
W-CDMA/HSPA+ 8563E-E35 (ACPR only)
HSDPA/UPA Not available
cdma2000/cdmaOne Not available
TD-SCDMA HSDPA/8PSK Not available
iDEN/WiDEN/MotoTalk Not available
1xEV-DO Not available
MSR Not available
LTE (FDD/TDD) Not available
Wireless
connectivity
Mobile/fixed WiMAX™ Not available
WLAN Not available
Bluetooth Not available
Digital video CMMB, digital cable TV, DTMB (CTTB), DVB-
T/H/T2, ISDB-T/Tmm
Not available
General purpose
VXA vector signal analysis Not available
MATLAB Not available
EMC Not available
Pulse Not available
Remote & SCPI language compatibility Not available
Phase noise 85671A
Spurious measurement 85672A
Noise figure Not available
AM/FM demodulation and metrics Tune and Listen ONLY
NO Metrics
89600 VSA software Not available
Modulation analysis Not available
Flexible digital demod Not available
X-Series Measurement Applications
19
Over 25 measurement apps
• General-purpose, communications, wireless connectivity, phase noise, noise figure, analog demod, LTE, WLAN, Digital
TV…and more
Trial licenses
• Need to test that GSM PA of yours in an LTE environment? Download a 30-day trial and start making measurements
today
• Have an instrument going out for calibration or repair? Cover your downtime by simply installing a trial license on
another instrument to cover your application test needs
Transportable licenses
• Transportable applications mean you are able to manage X-Series applications like you manage HW, with the ability to
move applications from an EXA to MXA to PXA across lab or around the globe
Additional Features Security clearing procedures
Go to www.agilent.com/find/security and enter the model number of your instrument.
856x:
•Complex procedure for secure memory erase
– http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/08560-90174.pdf for details
X-Series:
•Additional removable solid-state drive (Option -SSD)
– much simpler and more robust
856x X-Series
Data secure Operational
procedure
Additional
removable SSD
Price Standard $1.5k
Notes Complex Simple, durable,
more robust
Comparison
Non-volatile data
OS + Instrument SW
Alignment files
Analyzer states, setups,
limit lines, amp cor files
Measurement results,
traces, screen shots, etc.
Sensitive
user data
Secured area
Classified removable
SDD
(Always kept in secured
area!)
Non-volatile data
OS + Instrument SW
Alignment files
Non-Secured Area
Non-classified
removable SDD
Removing X-Series from a secured area
Returning X-Series to a secured area
(For use in non-secured area)
X-Series’ Removable SSD
PXA SECURITY Secure Memory Clearing X-Series removable SSD
X-Series’ upgradable CPU
Additional Features Calibration cycle & cost of ownership
26.5 GHz analyzer, prices quoted in Aug 2013
Z540 and ISO 17025 calibration also available at additional charge
Agilent TME calibration software is available at: http://www.calsw.tm.agilent.com/
856x MXA/EXA PXA Calibration cycle 2 years 2 years 1 year
Agilent calibration cost
(Per incident, Return to Agilent) ~$975 ~$886 ~$886
Repair cost
(Per incident, Return to Agilent) ~$7,663
~$5,884 (MXA)
~$5,556 (EXA) ~$6,758
Agilent TME software Available? No Yes Yes
Answers to Key Migration Questions
1. Form factor – Physical size? MXA, EXA, & PXA take up less rack space than the 856x
– Class 3 MIL Rugged? MXA, EXA, PXA and 856x are EUQALLY robust
2. Hardware functionality – Do you use the Tracking Generator (TG)? Consider the X-Series external source control option for
stimulus-response measurements
– Do you use external mixing? Consider mmW EXA, which has optional eternal mixing
– Do you use the VIDEO output (standard)? MXA, EXA, & PXA have equivalent video out
– Do you use the second IF output (Opt 001)? MXA, EXA, & PXA have equivalent IF out (Opt CR3)
– Do you used the SWEEP output (standard)? Contact Agilent for alternatives for your applications
3. Hardware performance – Is the phase noise performance a major concern? MXA, EXA, & PXA have better overall PN than 856x
– Other? MXA, EXA, & PXA have better sensitivity, TOI, and dynamic range
4. Backward code compatibility and applications coverage – Is the 856x in an automated environment? N9061A offers 856x emulation for code compatibility
– Were you using the phase noise utility (85671A)? N9068A PN app offers much better usability
– Were you using the spurious measurements utility (85672A)? Included in X-Series PowerSuite
5. Additional features and cost of ownership – Security clearing procedures? X-Series’ removable SSD provides much simpler & robust security
– Calibration cycle and cost of ownership? MXA, EXA, & PXA cal/repair costs are significantly lower than
856x
Trade-In Offers
Agilent offers a variety of trade-in programs that provide a discount or credit toward the purchase of a new PXA, MXA, or EXA X-Series signal analyzer.
856x-Series trade-in offers
For more information visit
www.agilent.com/find/tradein
Trade-in
deal #
Trade-in model Trade-to model Credit Expire date
T-WW-12-
016 (Link)
8561 / 8562 / 8563 / 8564 / 8565 (A,
B, C, E, EC, EL)
N9020A MXA 25% July 31, 2014
T-WW-12-
003 (Link)
8560A, 8560E, 8560EL, 8560EC
8561A, 8561B, 8561E, 8561EC
8562A, 8562B, 8562E, 8562EL
8562EC, 8563A, 8563E, 8563EC
8564E, 8564EC, 8565E, 8565EC
N9030A PXA $10,000 Feb 28, 2014
T-WW-12-
012 (Link)
856xE/EC FieldFox handheld
analyzers
25% Feb 28, 2014
Customer Success Story
Market CATV / Telecommunications
Device Cable head end transport system
Test Manufacturing (GP spectrum analysis)
Existing Method 8560
New Method MXA
Headline
“We were able to reduce our test time by 60% on two separate production lines at our facility”
Additional Information
Migration information
www.agilent.com/find/856x_to_X-Series
X-Series signal analyzers
www.agilent.com/find/X-Series
www.agilent.com/find/mxa
www.agilent.com/find/exa
www.agilent.com/find/pxa
Please contact us with any of your migration
questions. We look forward to working with you. www.agilent.com/find/contactus
Thank you!