Noise meters
Noise meters assess the electrical or thermal noise level of a device, amplifier or measurement chain. They are used to determine the noise spectral density, the noise figure (NF) and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) - three essential parameters for qualifying the performance of sensitive electronic and RF systems. In research and development, they are used to characterise low-noise components: low-noise amplifiers (LNA), photodiodes, oscillators or frequency converters. In metrology, they are used to check generators, sensors or reception systems in ISO 17025-accredited laboratories. High-performance laboratory models measure levels down to -170 dBm/Hz, with narrow-band filters and reference stability adapted to very low-energy measurements. Some include real-time FFT analysis to visualise the frequency distribution of noise. LAN, GPIB or USB interfaces enable synchronisation with automated test benches and traceability of tests in critical environments.
It is an essential precision instrument for analysing the spectral purity and stability of electronic signals.
8970B
KEYSIGHT / AGILENT / HP
The Keysight 8970B makes noise figure measurements easy, accurate and repeatable.
N9068EM0E-SERIES-X
KEYSIGHT / AGILENT / HP
Accurately measure phase noise up to 26.5 GHz.
8971B
KEYSIGHT / AGILENT / HP
10MHz to 18GHz frequency converter for the 8970B noise analyser.
346B/001
KEYSIGHT / AGILENT / HP
Noise source with 10 MHz to 18 GHz bandwidth and 15 dB ENR.
346C/001
KEYSIGHT / AGILENT / HP
Noise source covering 10 MHz to 26.5 GHz with low standing wave ratio.
11848A/201
KEYSIGHT / AGILENT / HP
Interface for phase noise analysis from 5MHz to 18 GHz.
346A/001
KEYSIGHT / AGILENT / HP
Noise source covering 10 MHz to 18 GHz with an ENR of 6 dB.
E5052A
KEYSIGHT / AGILENT / HP
High-performance signal analyser and phase noise meter.
E5052B
KEYSIGHT / AGILENT / HP
Signal analyser and phase noise meter for advanced applications.
N4002A
KEYSIGHT / AGILENT / HP
10 MHz to 26.5 GHz noise source with APC-3.5 connector.
concrete questions about noise meters
01
What is the purpose of a noise meter?A noise meter quantifies the electrical noise present in a circuit, component or system. It is used to assess the level of background noise, random fluctuations, broadband noise, impulse noise or parasitic contributions likely to degrade the performance of a device.
02
What's the difference with a spectrum analyser?A spectrum analyser displays the frequency distribution of the signal, including noise.
03
What are the typical uses in electronics and RF?Characterisation of low-noise amplifiers (LNA), evaluation of sensitive sensors, noise measurement on power supplies, analysis of voltage references, validation of RF devices, stability tests and performance tests on analogue or digital systems subjected to disturbances.
04
What criteria should I look for when choosing a noise meter?Minimum sensitivity, bandwidth, type of filtering, internal noise factor (NF), stability, RMS accuracy, weighting capabilities, measurement dynamics, RF/low frequency compatibility and quality of shielded inputs.
05
Why is the internal contribution of the instrument critical?All electronics generate their own noise. If the noise meter does not have a very low, well-characterised internal contribution, it will mask the real noise of the device under test. A low internal contribution guarantees a representative measurement and a better ability to distinguish critical levels.
