Agilent / Keysight 8590A Portable RF Spectrum Analyzer, 10 kHz – 1.5 GHz

The Agilent/Keysight 8590A is a portable RF spectrum analyzer delivering signal analysis across 10 kHz to 1.5 GHz in field and laboratory environments. This compact, rugged instrument combines wide frequency coverage with precise amplitude measurement and low noise performance, making it essential for RF troubleshooting, signal characterization, and field verification tasks.

– Technical Specifications

Frequency Performance
• Frequency range: 10 kHz to 1.5 GHz (expandable to 1.8 GHz with Option H18)
• Frequency span: Zero and 50 kHz to 1.5 GHz with 4-digit resolution
• Frequency accuracy: ±(5 MHz + 1% of span) with 50-ohm termination on 1st LO Out
• Frequency stability: <50 kHz/5 min after 2-hour warmup; <5 min after center frequency adjustment
• Noise sidebands: <-65 dBc at 30 kHz offset (1 kHz RBW, 30 Hz VBW)

Amplitude Characteristics
• Dynamic range: -115 dBm to +30 dBm (50-ohm calibration)
• Displayed average noise level: <-115 dBm (1 MHz to 1.3 GHz, 0 dB attenuation, 1 kHz RBW, 30 Hz VBW)
• Amplitude accuracy: ±1.5 dB absolute variation; ±1.0 dB peak flatness
• Maximum input power: +30 dBm (1 W) continuous; 0 V dc
• Gain compression: <1 dB for -10 dBm total power at input mixer
• Spurious rejection: Second harmonic <-70 dBc; third-order intermodulation <-70 dBc
• Residual responses: <-95 dBm (0 dB attenuation, 50-ohm termination)

Measurement Bandwidth
• Resolution bandwidth: 1 kHz to 3 MHz in 1, 3, 10 sequence (Gaussian shape)
• Video bandwidth: 30 Hz to 3 MHz in 1, 3 sequence
• Sweep time: 20 ms to 100 s; zero-span sweeps as fast as 2 microseconds per division

Calibration Options
• 50-ohm standard: -115 dBm to +30 dBm
• 75-ohm option (Opt. 001): -60 dBmV to +72 dBmV with <-60 dBmV displayed average noise level

– Key Features

• Signal Track compensates for frequency drift by holding signals at display center
• Log and linear amplitude scaling with selectable 1–20 dB/div resolution
• Multiple amplitude units: dBm, dBmV, dBuV, volt, watt
• Compact, portable architecture for mobile RF measurement

– Typical Applications

Field signal verification, transmitter troubleshooting, interference detection, spectrum occupancy analysis, and laboratory RF characterization.