Opto power meters offer top performance, big storage

The two-channel N7747A and four-channel N7748A optical power meters from Agilent Technologies bring the industry-leading sensitivity of the 81634B sensor module to the compact multichannel N77 platform, with updated memory size and data-transfer speed. The meters allow engineers to make parallel multiport measurements and monitor weak signals and small signal changes with high precision, detecting power levels down to –110 dBm. They can also log data at intervals down to 25 µs with up to 1 Mpoints/channel in a data buffer that supports simultaneous measurement and data transfer. 

 
The meters are designed to provide high relative accuracy with extremely low polarization dependence and spectral ripple, as well as specified linearity. Up to eight power-meter channels fit in a single 19-in. rack, and  each channel also has a front-panel BNC connector that outputs an analog voltage proportional to the signal observed. The meters can be used with N77xx viewer software for control and reading, and are programmable with the same set of SPCI commands as the manufacturer's other optical power meters. The latest version of the 816x VXIplug&play driver supports these products, and interfaces are provided for USB 2.0, LAN, and GPIB. (Typical configuration starts at $20,750 — available in May.)