Keysight says its new PSG XG7-class (SG6311A) analog signal generator combines two fully independent channels, each reaching up to 20 GHz, in one 2U chassis. That can provide two signal sources without adding a second generator chassis to a rack. It does not, by itself, guarantee twice the test throughput: the gain depends on whether both channels can run the conditions your test plan requires, along with your DUT connections, switching, calibration and automation.
What Keysight announced
In a September 29, 2026 announcement, Keysight Technologies described the PSG XG7-class, model SG6311A, as a 20 GHz analog signal generator with two fully independent channels in a 2U chassis. Keysight presents the configuration as a way to expand test capacity without increasing rack space. The channel count and chassis size support that space-saving proposition; the announcement does not report a measured percentage increase in completed tests per hour. Keysight’s announcement
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Two channels are useful when a test requires two generated signals at once, such as a two-tone stimulus. Whether they can serve a specific test concurrently depends on the required frequencies, levels, sequencing and connections. The announcement does not provide channel synchronization details or a complete specification sheet, so those requirements need confirmation for the intended application.
What the published signal figures establish
Keysight’s announcement reports the following manufacturer specifications. These are not independent benchmark results; use the stated conditions when judging whether they match a measurement requirement.
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| Specification | Keysight-reported value | Condition or qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum frequency | 20 GHz | PSG XG7-class instrument, as described by Keysight in 2026 |
| Channels and chassis | Two fully independent channels; 2U | Keysight’s 2026 product announcement |
| Phase noise | −135 dBc/Hz | At 10 GHz with a 10 kHz offset |
| Amplitude modulation noise | −150 dBc/Hz | At 10 GHz with a 10 kHz offset |
| Broadband noise floor | −166 dBc/Hz | At 10 GHz |
| Calibrated output power | Up to +22 dBm | Keysight says this can help maintain required levels through lossy cables and fixtures; the setup must remain within instrument and DUT limits |
All values in the table are from Keysight’s 2026 announcement. The release does not establish performance across every frequency, offset or configuration, nor does it provide independent verification. Compare the conditions in your test specification with the instrument’s full documentation rather than treating a single published point as a universal result.
How to assess whether two channels increase your test capacity
Compare the proposed generator with the actual job of a second source, not just the number of front-panel outputs. A second channel can reduce chassis count if it can meet the stimulus requirements while the other channel is in use. It may not shorten a test sequence that must run serially or that depends on other bottlenecks such as DUT handling, switching or calibration.
- Frequency and quality: Check the maximum frequency and the relevant phase-noise, modulation-noise and broadband-noise requirements at the conditions your measurement uses.
- Simultaneous operation: Confirm that both channels can provide the required frequency and power combinations together. The brief announcement identifies independent channels but does not state synchronization behavior or every operating constraint.
- Level at the DUT: Account for cable, connector, attenuator and fixture losses, then verify that the required DUT input level can be reached without exceeding source or DUT limits.
- Rack fit: Check the 2U height against available space and inspect rear-panel connector locations, cable bends, ventilation and service access in the existing rack.
- Automation: Keysight says the instrument supports SCPI and uses familiar rear-panel connections and settings aligned with previous-generation instruments. Treat that as a possible aid to reuse, not proof of drop-in compatibility: validate commands, drivers, cabling and automation behavior in your rack.
- Measurement setup: Account for calibration, impedance matching, isolation, filtering and termination needs for the specific DUT and measurement.
The announcement does not state price, availability, a competitor comparison or compatibility with every legacy system. Those details should be confirmed with the manufacturer or supplier before a purchase decision.
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Why the signal path matters as much as the generator setting
A generator’s set level is not automatically the level delivered to the device under test. Cables, connectors, attenuators and fixtures contribute loss and mismatch. For accuracy-sensitive work, calibrate or correct for the path as appropriate to the measurement. Keysight specifically cites lossy cables and fixtures when explaining the value of calibrated output power.
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For S-parameter measurements on multiport devices, Mini-Circuits advises calibrating the setup as instructed, using the DUT’s specified characteristic impedance and connecting matched terminations to ports that are not in use. These practices reduce errors caused by reflections and mismatches; the exact procedure depends on the DUT and measurement setup. Mini-Circuits’ S-parameter measurement guidance
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What changes in two-tone and intermodulation tests
Two signals sharing a chassis do not remove the need to control how the sources interact before they reach the DUT. In two-tone work, inadequate isolation or filtering can allow one source to affect the other or let unwanted harmonics and intermodulation products reach the device. The resulting stimulus may differ from the one the test assumes.
Mini-Circuits describes power combiners, matching pads and amplifiers as possible ways to add isolation or preserve impedance matching in two-source setups. Filtering can limit harmonics and unwanted products. Component choices depend on frequency, level, impedance and the measurement objective; there is no universal isolation target or single combiner arrangement for every test. Mini-Circuits’ two-tone measurement note and its guidance on splitter specifications
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Quick Recap
Practical checks before integrating the instrument
- Map the test cases: List the number of signals each test needs, their frequency and level ranges, and whether they must be present simultaneously.
- Verify operating requirements: Compare the full instrument specifications with the required signal quality, power and operating combinations. The announcement’s figures cover selected points, not every condition.
- Budget the path: Document expected cable, connector and fixture loss and mismatch, and decide where calibration or correction is required. Confirm delivered levels remain safe for both source and DUT.
- Design two-source routing: For two-tone work, determine whether the setup needs a combiner, matching pads, isolation or filtering; select these based on the actual frequencies and levels.
- Check rack and control integration: Confirm 2U clearance, rear-panel routing, ventilation and service access. Exercise SCPI commands and existing automation with the exact hardware and software configuration.
- Validate the complete setup: Measure or calibrate at the relevant reference plane, terminate unused ports appropriately, and verify that unwanted products do not compromise the DUT stimulus.
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