Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/12986-agilent-technologies-announces-first-and-only-signal-analyzer-to-offer-complete-instrument-security-via-cpu-and-hdd-removal

Agilent Technologies Announces First and Only Signal Analyzer to Offer Complete Instrument Security via CPU and HDD Removal

May 8, 2007
SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 1, 2007 -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today introduced enhancements to the world's fastest signal analyzer, the Agilent N9020A MXA signal analyzer, including the ability to create complete instrument security via CPU and hard disk drive (HDD) removal. Also featuring a new phase-noise measurement application, MATLAB drivers, time gating and an enhanced 802.16 OFDMA (Mobile WiMAX) measurement application, the Agilent MXA is the ideal solution for R&D and manufacturing engineers analyzing complex and time-varying signals. Agilent's new MXA enhancements provide an advanced tool set for making flexible signal and spectrum analysis measurements during the design and manufacture of wireless communication devices to current and emerging standards. Requiring no compromise between speed and performance, engineers can quickly and easily troubleshoot new designs, increase throughput of WiMAX products or adhere to secure defense measurement needs. For engineers working on classified programs in secure environments, instrument security is a must. In a secure lab, government mandates dictate that no residual information related to the use of a piece of test equipment can leave that lab. As a result, declassifying the instrument through memory sanitization or removal is often required. Depending on the program's classification level, complete removal of the test equipment's CPU and HDD may be necessary to provide the highest level of compliance to program security procedures. Agilent's new MXA Instrument Security option specifically addresses this requirement via a removable CPU/HDD that allows the instrument to leave secure environments for routine maintenance and servicing. As an added benefit, the Instrument Security option increases the use of a single piece of MXA equipment by allowing it to be shared between multiple secure programs or between secure and non-secure programs. Other key enhancements to the MXA signal analyzer include a new phase noise measurement application and MATLAB drivers that enhance MXA's open Windows XP environment for custom application development. The phase noise measurement application allows engineers to quickly troubleshoot and measure short-term signal stability - a capability fundamental to successful modern digital wireless communication systems. It is the only phase noise application to incorporate two swept measurements and one I/Q acquisition into an intuitive GUI -- including spot frequency and log plot measurements -- utilizing MXA's enhanced 12-marker functionality. Together, the new phase noise measurement application and MATLAB drivers further optimize MXA for use by R&D engineers working on emerging and cellular communication formats as well as many general-purpose RF and microwave measurements. In addition to its security and phase noise measurement capabilities, the Agilent MXA signal analyzer is characterized by a number of enhancements to its 802.16 OFDMA measurement application. These new features, designed to keep engineers on the leading edge of the IEEE 802.16e-2005 wireless standard, include enhanced gated sweep for bursted power measurements and auto UL/DL zone-map detection for faster modulation analysis setup. With easier measurement setups and one-button power measurements requiring gated functionality, manufacturing engineers and managers now have a means of accelerating throughput in manufacturing 802.16 OFDMA or other bursted-signal type devices. The Agilent MXA is the industry's fastest signal analyzer with the highest accuracy of any midrange analyzer. It seamlessly integrates a broad range of standards-based measurements, such as WiMAX, with Agilent's industry-leading 89601A vector signal analysis (VSA) software -- all in a single instrument. The MXA's industry-leading measurement speed enables dramatically improved throughput and yields in manufacturing. With the highest performance in a midrange analyzer, it enables engineers to solve design challenges faster and with fewer iterations. U.S. Pricing and Availability Agilent's new phase noise measurement application and Instrument Security option for the MXA signal analyzer are now available for order with new instrument purchase or as upgrades for existing MXA instruments. Specific pricing is as follows: N9020A/N9020A-503 MXA signal analyzer (3.6 GHz) $25,900 N9068A Phase noise measurement application $4,700 N9075A WiMAX measurement application $10,000 N9020A-CPU Instrument Security option, $4,000 additional CPU/HDD MATLAB drivers no charge Gating functionality no charge For information about the N9020A MXA signal analyzer, go to www.agilent.com/find/mxa. A photo of Agilent's enhanced MXA offering is available at www.agilent.com/find/N9020A_images.