Keysight adds PAM-4 analysis to 86100D DCA-X Series oscilloscopes

Test and measurement systems vendor Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) says that engineers can now characterize PAM-4 (pulse amplitude modulation with four amplitude levels) signals using the Keysight 86100D DCA-X wide-bandwidth oscilloscope platform. The Keysight 86100D-9FP PAM-N analysis software enables analysis of both optical and electrical PAM-4 signals.

Interest in PAM-4 has increased as data rates approach 50 Gbps for data center applications. The multilevel modulation format is under discussion within the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) for the upcoming CEI-56G specification. The IEEE 802.3bs 400 Gigabit Ethernet Task Force also is considering PAM-4 to support 50-Gbps lanes (see "400 Gigabit Ethernet Task Force ready to get to work").

"The switch from NRZ to PAM-4 signaling presents many new design and measurement challenges for our customers," said Dave Cipriani, vice president and general manager of Keysight's Oscilloscope and Protocol Division. "Keysight's analysis software helps engineers address these challenges and quickly get their designs to market."

Keysight says the 86100D-9FP PAM-N analysis software will support measurements of eye width, eye height, and eye skew; level amplitude, level noise, and level skew; and amplitude level linearity. Technicians can pair the software with other DCA-X software options to apply to other requirements:

• PAM-4 equalizers (LFE, CTLE, DFE) using 86100D Option 201
• embedding/de-embedding of PAM-4 channels using 86100D Option SIM InfiniiSim-DCA
• jitter and amplitude analysis on IEEE JP03 patterns using 86100D Option 200/300.
  

All 86100D DCA-X plug-in modules support the new capabilities. These include the 86108B precision waveform analyzer module for analysis of electrical signals to 32 Gbaud and the 86105D-281 for analysis of high-speed optical signals. Engineers can perform offline analysis on saved or simulated PAM signals using N1010A Option 9TP PAM analysis software installed on a PC.

The 86100D-9FP option is available for order at a price of $7,500.

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