Keysight Technologies
Test and measurement maker behind UXA analysers, VXG generators, the 89600 VSA software and UXM network emulators. Proprietary, mostly quoted, and scriptable over SCPI from Python.
| Organisation | Keysight Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, United States |
|---|---|
| Website | www.keysight.com/ |
| Licensing | Proprietary instruments and PathWave software, licensed node-locked, floating, USB-portable or transportable, perpetual or subscription; IO Libraries Suite free with Keysight instruments; PyVISA and PyVISA-py (third party) under MIT |
| Pricing | Mostly quoted; some list prices on keysight.com, for example the E5080B ENA 2-port 9 kHz to 4.5 GHz configuration at USD 50,981 |
| Updated | 15 Nov 2026 |
Products and offerings #
| Name | Kind | Positioning |
|---|---|---|
| N9042B UXA signal analyzer | test-equipment | 2 Hz to 75 GHz preselected sweep, 4 GHz analysis bandwidth, according to Keysight |
| M9384B VXG | test-equipment | Dual-channel vector signal generator, 1 MHz to 44 GHz, 2 GHz RF bandwidth |
| PathWave 89600 VSA | software | Vector signal analysis software covering more than 75 signal standards and modulation types |
| PathWave Signal Generation for 5G NR | software | 3GPP Release 15 to 18 NR waveform creation, on a PC or embedded in VXG and MXG generators |
| E7515B UXM 5G | test-equipment | Network emulator for 5G NR, LTE and Wi-Fi device testing, 3GPP Release 15 and later |
| E5080B ENA | test-equipment | Vector network analyser, 9 kHz to 20 GHz or 100 kHz to 53 GHz by model, 140 dB dynamic range |
| P8822S RuSIM | test-equipment | UE and O-RU emulator over O-RAN fronthaul split 7.2x |
Who they are
This hub is for engineers who measure radios: spectrum, modulation quality, S-parameters and protocol conformance. Keysight Technologies is headquartered in Santa Rosa, California. According to its annual report on Form 10-K, it separated from Agilent on 1 November 2014, and Agilent itself had separated from HP in 1999. That lineage is why older application notes carry Agilent or HP names. Keysight completed its acquisition of Spirent Communications on 15 October 2025, for about GBP 1.16 billion according to Keysight. As a condition of approval, Spirent’s channel emulation line was divested along with two others.
Tooling and APIs
Instruments. For RF work the core trio is an analyser, a generator and a network analyser. According to Keysight, the N9042B UXA sweeps 2 Hz to 75 GHz with 4 GHz of analysis bandwidth. The M9384B VXG is a dual-channel generator from 1 MHz to 44 GHz with 2 GHz RF bandwidth. The E5080B ENA covers 9 kHz to 20 GHz, or 100 kHz to 53 GHz, depending on model. For cellular devices, the E7515B UXM emulates a 5G NR or LTE network. For Open RAN, the P8822S RuSIM emulates UEs and an O-RU over split 7.2x fronthaul. See O-RAN.
Software. The 89600 VSA is PC software that analyses signals from analysers, oscilloscopes and other instruments, including error vector magnitude (EVM), for more than 75 signal standards and modulation types. It can also record and play back signals. It comes in Essentials, Standard and Advanced tiers, with measurement options sold separately and a 30-day trial. PathWave Signal Generation builds 3GPP Release 15 to 18 NR waveforms, on a PC or embedded in VXG and MXG generators.
Licensing and pricing at the time of writing. Keysight’s licence guide lists node-locked, floating, USB-portable and transportable licences, each perpetual or time-limited. Most instruments are quoted. Some pages show list prices. The E5080B ENA, 2 ports, 9 kHz to 4.5 GHz, listed at USD 50,981 on the day we checked.
Automation and OS support. Instruments speak SCPI over LAN, USB or GPIB through VISA. The IO Libraries Suite (2026 Update 1, September 2026) runs on Windows and Linux. Keysight lists no macOS build. On a Mac, use PyVISA with the pure-Python PyVISA-py backend over LAN. Both are third-party projects under the MIT licence. There is no GNU Radio or SoapySDR driver for Keysight instruments. Move data by exporting IQ files or by reading IQ over SCPI into Python.
Pain points. Measurement capability depends on the licences installed, so a second-hand instrument or VSA seat may lack the demodulation you expect. Check the installed licences before you buy or borrow.
Migration notes
- From SDR captures to instrument analysis. Keep the sample rate, centre frequency and gain with every SDR capture. SDRs give unitless counts, while an analyser reports calibrated power, so compare EVM rather than absolute levels unless you have calibrated the SDR. See recording and reading IQ.
- To and from Rohde & Schwarz. SCPI is common syntax, but command trees, waveform file formats and licence options differ. Keep instrument-specific code behind a thin driver layer. See the Rohde & Schwarz hub.
- Clocking. Share a 10 MHz reference between generator, analyser and any SDR in the setup. Without it, frequency offset and drift dominate small EVM numbers. See carrier frequency offset.
Watch for
- Vendor specifications. Analysis bandwidth, dynamic range and noise floor depend on the options fitted and the measurement mode. Read the datasheet line for your configuration.
- Calibration. Accuracy claims assume a current calibration. Note the due date before you trust an absolute power reading.
- Export controls. Ask Keysight or your distributor for an instrument’s export classification before you ship it across a border. We did not find classifications on the product pages.
- Licence portability. Node-locked options stay with one instrument or PC. Floating licences need a licence server on your network.