PathWave 89600 VSA 2024 & Update 1.0 & Update 2.0

89600 VSA for 2024 (Build 28.01), 2024 Update 1.0 (Build 28.40) and Update 2.0 (Build 28.60) are the latest releases of Keysight’s PathWave Vector Signal Analysis software shipped in 2023 & 2024, a comprehensive set of tools for demodulation and vector signal analysis. Use 89600 VSA software tools to explore every facet of a signal and optimize your designs. Measure a broad range of signals including 6G Research, 5G, WLAN, IoT/UWB, Satellite, Radar and more. Gain greater insight in frequency, time, modulation domains and optional decoding. Compatible with signal analyzers, network analyzers, oscilloscopes and many more test instruments. The latest 89600 VSA  is released and available for download at K.com. It includes feature updates on basic VSA, 5G NR/5G-Advanced, WLAN, IoT/UWB, Custom OFDM, Direct Data Connectivity (VITA-49 live streaming), Radar Pulse, and new hardware connectivity and files support.

Highlights

Request a Free Trial
Download Latest Version
View Brochure

Visit Technical Support

Hardware Connectivity Analyzers Enhancements

New Signal Analyzer Hardware Supported

Hardware Connectivity - Analyzers Enhancements

89600 VSA adds more analyzers support with the VSA2024, VSA2024 U1.0, and VSA2024 U2.0 releases and highlighted below. For more complete information, please refer to the link 89600 VSA compatible hardware.

  • E5081A ENA Vector Network Analyzer (VSA2024)
  • VDI mixer with UXA N9042B-EXW (VSA2024)
  • RF system calibration up to 110 GHz using U9361x Rcal Calibrator (VSA2024)
  • M5200A PXIe Digitizer: 4 channels, 2 GHz, 12-bit (VSA2024)
  • New Fieldfox N99xxC models (VSA2024)
  • Support dual N9032B and N9042B hardware configuration for ccEVM (VSA2024)
  • MXR B-Series and EXR oscilliscopes (VSA2024 U1.0)
  • DSOx2k and MSOx2k scope hardware configuration (VSA2024)
  • S9110A and S9115A Multi-Band Vector Transceiver, with one or two transceiver (VSA2024 U1.0)
  • MXR B-Series and EXR oscilliscopes (VSA2024 U1.0)
  • PXI VXT M941xE (M941xA+M9471A for frequency extension) (VSA2024 U1.0)
  • N9048B PXE EMI Test Receiver with RF Input 1 Port (VSA2024 U1.0)
  • Support for ‘a’ receiver channel with M938xA Series VNA (VSA2024 U2.0)
Hardware Connectivity - Source Control Enhancements

New Signal Source Hardware Supported

Hardware Connectivity - Source Control Enhancements

89600 VSA adds more source control support with the VSA2024, VSA2024 U1.0, and VSA2024 U2.0 releases and highlighted below. For more complete information, please refer to the link 89600 VSA compatible hardware.

  • PXI VXT M941xA (Single channel; VSA2024 U1.0)
  • PXI VXT M941xE (M941xA+M9471A for frequency extension) (Single channel; VSA2024 U1.0)
  • MXG N5186A MXG (Single channel with VSA2024 Update 1.0; Up to 4 channels with VSA2024 U2.0)
  • VXG-C M9484C (Single channel support with VSA2024 Update 1.1; Up to 2 channels with VSA2024 U2.0)
  • S9110A 5G Multi-band Vector Transceiver (Single channel) (VSA2024 U2.0)
  • Control the source with frequency, amplitude, RF On, Modulation settings with separate channel (VSA2024 U2.0)
  • SCPI support for controlling the VSA source functionality (VSA2024 U2.0)
  • Add waveform adjustment to control how waveforms are downloaded to the ARB when length is an integer multiple of the hardware quantum (VSA2024 U2.0)
    • Extend with Zeros (don't care about exact periodicity)
    • Ensure Periodicity (ARB waveform is repeated)

 

Add/Edit New Instrument Address

New Instrument Connection Manager Inside 89600 VSA

Instrument Manager Inside 89600 VSA

With the VSA2024 U2 release, you can easily configure the hardware directly inside the 89600 VSA software without exiting and using the external software of Keysight IO library (also called Keysight Connection Expert). You can choose from different protocols of VXI-11, HiSLIP or Custom LAN when connecting target hardware through IPv4 or IPv6. Custom LAN can support VITA-49 live data streaming over LAN (requires the Direct Data Connection option 89601101C).  You can include the instruments from Keysight Connection Expert or turning it off so it will only discover what is added only with 89600 VSA instrument manager which can speed up the 89600 VSA startup if there are many instruments configured in Keysight Connection Expert.VSA 2024 introduces satellite communication for DVB-S2 and S2X including both modulation analysis and channel decoding in a dedicated measurement extension.

WLAN Modulation Analysis

WLAN 4096QAM Modulation Analysis for 802.11ax/be

WLAN 4096QAM Modulation Analysis Support

With the VSA2024 Update 2.0 release, we introduce the new license 89601BVXC for 802.11n/ac/ax/be which can work together with 89601QAMC to enable the WLAN 4096QAM support for 802.11ax/be.

  • Support the new 30-day trial license 89601TRVC which enables all 89600 VSA applications and features except the export control protected features like 4096QAM support in WLAN 802.11ax and 802.11be (VSA2024 U1.1)
  • Remove the feature of 4096QAM support in 802.11ax and 802.11be from VSA2024 Update 1.1 release (VSA2024 U1.1)
  • Introduce new license 89601BVXC (non-export control) to perform measurements on the WLAN 802.11n/ac/ax/be with modulation up to 1024QAM (only working with VSA2024 U2.0 or above release)
  • Update the existing 89601BHXC (under export control) to perform measurements on the WLAN 802.11n/ac/ax/be with modulation up to 1024QAM (working with VSA all releases)
  • Both 89601BVXC and 89601BHXC can work together with new license 89601QAMC (under export control) to enable the WLAN demodulation analysis with 4096QAM modulation for 802.11ax/be (Only working with VSA2024 U2.0 or above release)

89600 VSA DVB-S2X Measurement with Modulation Analysis and Decoding

DVB-S2X Measurement with Modulation Analysis and Decoding

Satellite Communication Measurements for DVB-S2/S2X

VSA 2024 introduces satellite communication for DVB-S2 and S2X including both modulation analysis and channel decoding in a dedicated measurement extension.

  • Navigate complex DVB-S2 and DVB-S2X signals with ease using comprehensive demodulation analysis
  • Utilize a wide range of quality metrics for DVB-S2 / S2X signals, including frame-level results, EVM results for individual frame segments (SOF, PLSCODE, Pilot and Data), constellation diagrams, and frequency, symbol clock, magnitude and phase errors etc.
  • Enhance link level system analysis precision with Bit Error Rate (BER) metrics supported by full deframing and channel decoding
  • Support multi-carrier configuration
  • Support ccEVM with multiple channels
New File Format and Live Streaming Support

New Instrument Connection Manager Inside 89600 VSA

New File Format and Live Streaming Support

89600 VSA can support a wide range of file formats including *.binf, *.bin, *.csv, *.mat, and *.txt. Vita49 file and streaming support are added in the recent releases.

  • VITA 49 is a packet-based protocol to convey digitized signal data and metadata (or context data) pertaining to different reference points within a radio receiver.
  • Support Vita49 recording file format (VITA 49, VITA 49A, VITA 49.2) preview and recall in VSA 2023 Update 2 (Jan 2023)
  • Support with VITA-49 live streaming over LAN in VSA 2024 (Jun 2023)
  • Support VITA-40 live streaming configuration with Instrument Manager directly inside 89600 VSA in VSA 2024 Update 2.0 release (April 2024)

Learn More

89600 VSA Basic Core and Hardware Connectivity

89600 VSA New File Format BINF and VITA49

FieldFox with VITA 49 Streaming over LAN to 89600 VSA

 

Improved EVM Floor with Cross-Correlated Measurements Enhancements

89600 VSA 2024 release includes the updated ccEVM features as below:

  • MIMO support with 2-ch/4-ch configurations for WLAN 802.11n/ac/ax/be, Custom OFDM, 5G NR (i.e. with MXR for ccEVM + 4-ch MIMO)
  • ccEVM support with the new 89601DVBC DVB-S2/S2X measurement option
  • ccEVM support with EVM based auto-ranging for 5G NR and FlexFrame measurement

Note that for the analog baseband IQ (BBIQ) use case of wideband signals, such as WLAN 802.11be (320MHz BW), the Keysight solution consisting of MXR + VSA + ccEVM measurement would be an ideal solution to archive >50 dB EVM performance with both single-ended and differential IQ inputs.

89600 VSA Improved EVM Floor with Cross-Correlated Measurements Enhancements

Cross-Correlated EVM (ccEVM) Example for WiFi 7

Event-Based User Actions

Advanced triggering of the VSA based on signal analysis metrics.

  • Choose a metric: EVM, frequency error, etc.
  • Choose a condition by which an action should occur
  • Choose what happens when the metric meets that criteria
  • Support for trend line: trend a summary table, trace marker, or data header value over multiple measurements (BETA in 2024 release)
89600 VSA Event-Based Actions

Leverage advanced triggering of 89600 VSA with Event-Based Actions

Latest 5G NR

89600 VSA Support 3GPP Release 18 Support with 5G-Advanced

Latest 5G NR/5G-Advanced Capabilities

Keep up to date with the latest 5G New Radio (NR) measurement extension enhancements with VSA2024 Update 2.0 release.

5G-Advanced (Rel-18) MIMO Enhancements

  • Up to 8 Layers/8x8 MIMO in the UL (was limited to 4 Layers/4x4 in 5G NR)
  • Enhanced DMRS with maximum number of DMRS ports for PDSCH/PUSCH to 16 for DMRS Type 1 and 24 for DMRS Type 2 (was limited to 8 and 12 in 5G NR)

Uplink and Downlink

  • Updated to 3GPP v18.1.0 (2023-12) specification
  • (Rel-18) Up to 24 PDSCH DMRS ports for MU-MIMO measurement
  • Allow CRC Pass with All 0 Payload
  • Added Configuration3 and Custom RA Configuration settings for PDSCH/PUSCH RAType = Type0 resource allocations
  • Speed improvements for concurrent 5GNR measurements

Uplink

  • SRS MIMO Info table is added, which can show the TAE/Power/Phase per SRS port per Channel
  • SRS MIMO per port EVM in Frame Summary table
  • (Rel-18) Up to 8 PUSCH DMRS ports for up to 8x8 SU-MIMO measurement
  • (Rel-18) FR1 3 MHz PUSCH measurement

Downlink

  • (Rel-18) FR1 3MHz SSB, CORESET0 and PDSCH measurement
  • Support for PDCCH MIMO Info table, which can show the TAE/Power/Phase per PDCCH DMRS port per Channel (BETA

Using U9361 RCal with 89600 VSA

Now with the coming  89600 VSA 2024 Patch Release, it could connect with RCal U9361 receiver calibrator and perform the whole receiver system calibration up to the DUT reference plane, and apply the calibration coefficients with all 89600 VSA measurements including Digital Demod, Flex Frame, Custom OFDM, 5G NR, DVB-S2X.

  • Only 89601200C basic core and hardware connectivity valid license is required to connect the U9361 RCal
  • U9361 RCal up to 110 GHz and 5G Hz IF bandwidths
  • The calibration process is intuitive as part of VSA software and can apply Cal data into your VSA measurements
  • Extend the Receiver Calibration to End-to-End Calibration with 89600 VSA for receiver calibration and PWSG AWU for transmitter calibration
89600 VSA using RCal

Using U9361 RCal with 89600 VSA

Videos: 89600 VSA

Software: Signal Generation and Analysis

PathWave Signal Generation

Comprehensive PC-based signal creation software for cellular, wireless connectivity, aerospace/defense, broadcast and general purpose applications.

X-Series Measurement Applications

X-Series Measurement Applications are proven, ready-to-use measurements for signal analysis that let you see and understand the performance of your devices.

See what you may have missed in the 2023 release.

Contact Us