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Differences between a E4407B spectrum analyzer and a E7405A EMC analyzer?

Question asked by colby on Mar 27, 2014
Latest reply on Apr 2, 2014 by colby

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Assuming that both can have the same options installed (or is that a bad assumption in itself?), what are the differences in what you can do with a E4407B versus a E7405A? Is the E7405A "crippled" in some way to make it only useful for EMC testing, or can it be used as a general purpose spectrum analyzer? Is one of these devices a superset of the other in terms of functionality, or is there some non-overlap between the two? It wasn't obvious to me by reading the specs.

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MikeM Aug 21, 2014 6:44 PM
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They are basically the same hardware, with the E7405A having a few of the E4407B options as standard (Narrow Resolution Bandwidths, RF Preamplifier, Quasi-Peak Detector, etc..). They also have the same core firmware, but the E7405A has the EMC Analyzer personlity installed instead of the Power Suite measurements. The instrument firmware makes decisions based on the model number saved in memory as to how will them behave.

You can use the E7405A as a basic spectrum analyzer, but you will want to set the resolution bandwidth coupling to SA instead of the default EMI so that they will couple to the span instead of the frequency. Also, with the E7405A you cannot install any of the other optional measurement personalities that you could in the E4407B, nor can you get the EMC Analyzer personality in the E4407B.

We also have the following FAQ:

http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/editorial.jspx?cc=US&lc=eng&ckey=401800&nid=-35261.536880469&id=401800

I hope this helps,
Mike
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- colby @ MikeM on Mar 31, 2014 11:29 AM
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  Thanks for the detailed response. It sounds like the E4407B is the way to go then, along with the right options installed. I assume there is no way to force the installation of the E4407B firmware on the E7405A to turn it into a more general-purpose spectrum analyzer? Also, if I were to get a E4407B w/AYQ to do pre-compliance testing, we still should be able to do this by manually inspecting the spectra (or via a GPIB download of the data and software on a PC) to make sure it is below regulatory levels? Or is it not possible to get right bandwidth / filter window / peak detection functionality on the E4407B to do this correctly?
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  - MikeM @ colby on Aug 21, 2014 6:44 PM
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    While you could "force" the installation of the wrong software into one of these instruments it would not behave properly for either condition since the instrument will make decisions based on the model number, which you are not able to change.
    
    You could certainly use the E4407B with option AYQ and have the same detectors and bandwidths (you will also need option 1DR for the 200 Hz RBW if you need it). There are many that just use the E4407B in spectrum analyzer mode to do all of their scans and then just use the EMI detector on the peaks in zero span to make their measurements.
    
    Mike
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  - dhamilton @ colby on Apr 2, 2014 9:08 AM
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    Colby,
    
    You have the correct analyzer for pre-compliance testing, why would you down grade? The E7405 has all of the standards files built into the unit with the measurement personality. By selecting the standard you have to comply to the unit will configure itself to that standard and even display limit lines for pass/ fail.
    
    Dave
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    - colby @ dhamilton on Apr 2, 2014 11:36 AM
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      We don't have or own either unit at this point. Our budget is somewhat limited, so I was wanting to get one instrument that I could do the maximum number of things with, even if it is a little more difficult to set up for when we are using it for EMC pre-compliance testing. I'm actually having more trouble finding used E7405As than E4470Bs at good prices, so it might be a mute point anyway if I could never obtain one.
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Differences between a E4407B spectrum analyzer and a E7405A EMC analyzer?

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