Agilent Keysight 86103A Opt 201 Optical Plug-in Module 20GHz 86100 DCA Scope

Agilent Keysight 86103A Opt 201 Optical/Electrical Plug-In Module for 86100A DCA

The Agilent Keysight 86103A Opt 201 Optical Plug-in Module 20GHz 86100 DCA Scope is a dual-channel plug-in for the 86100A Infiniium DCA mainframe, combining a high-sensitivity multimode optical channel with a 20 GHz electrical channel. Option 201 configures the module with switchable OC-3/STM-1 (155 Mb/s) and OC-12/STM-4 (622 Mb/s) reference filters, making it a fit for engineers running standards-based transmitter compliance testing on multimode SONET/SDH transceivers.

Key Features and Benefits of the Agilent Keysight 86103A Opt 201 Optical Plug-in Module 20GHz 86100 DCA Scope

• Integrated multimode optical channel — 2.85 GHz optical bandwidth (3 GHz typical) covers unfiltered measurements up to OC-48 rates and filtered compliance testing at OC-3 and OC-12.
• Dual switchable reference filters (Option 201) — Front-panel or GPIB switching between OC-3/STM-1 and OC-12/STM-4 filters eliminates the need to disconnect fiber between compliance tests.
• 1000 to 1600 nm wavelength range — Calibrated at both 1310 nm and 1550 nm for the two most common telecom test wavelengths.
• -20 dBm sensitivity for mask test — Handles low-power transmitter outputs and lossy test setups without requiring optical amplification.
• Two selectable electrical bandwidths — 12.4 GHz mode for best oscilloscope noise performance on small signals; 20 GHz mode for high-fidelity display of fast waveforms.
• Integrated average power monitor — Built-in optical power meter reads absolute power directly in optical units, eliminating the need for a separate power meter or coupler.
• 62.5/125 µm multimode fiber input — User-selectable connector interface matches common multimode transceiver test setups.
• Direct 83480A/54750A replacement compatibility — Works with existing scripts and test procedures written for the older Agilent 83480A and 54750A platforms.

Advanced Capabilities

The value of an integrated optical channel is that the entire measurement path — photodiode, amplification, filter switching, and power monitoring — is calibrated as a system. External optical-to-electrical converters plus a discrete power meter and coupler introduce cascaded uncertainties, connector losses, and wavelength-dependent errors that are difficult to characterize. The 86103A's built-in average power monitor with factory-calibrated accuracy of ±5% ±100 nW (±connector uncertainty) at 20°C to 30°C means absolute power readings and extinction ratio measurements come from one instrument with one calibration chain.

Option 201's dual-filter configuration is what makes this variant particularly suited to production compliance testing. Switching a SONET/SDH reference filter into the measurement path is required for eye-diagram mask testing at OC-3 and OC-12 rates, and having both filters available in one module — remotely switchable via GPIB or front panel — eliminates the module swaps that would otherwise be needed between the two rate tests. Combined with the 86100A mainframe's built-in mask library and one-button compliance test workflow, this configuration turns multimode SONET/SDH transceiver qualification into a repeatable, high-throughput process.

Calibration and Quality Assurance

Every Agilent Keysight 86103A Opt 201 is calibrated prior to shipping to OEM specifications. The order includes a Calibration Certificate, Calibration Label, and full Calibration Data. This means the module arrives traceable, audit-ready, and ready to use straight out of the box — no need to schedule a calibration cycle before putting it into service.

Specifications

Specification	Value
Module Type	High-sensitivity multimode optical + electrical plug-in for 86100A DCA
Number of Optical Channels	1
Number of Electrical Channels	1
Optical Channel Unfiltered Bandwidth	2.85 GHz (3 GHz typical)
Optical Wavelength Range	1000 nm to 1600 nm
Calibrated Wavelengths	1310 nm and 1550 nm
Option 201 Reference Filters	OC-3/STM-1 (155 Mb/s), OC-12/STM-4 (622 Mb/s)
Sensitivity (smallest average power for mask test)	-20 dBm
Unfiltered Transition Time (10%–90%)	160 ps or less
Filtered Transition Time (OC-12)	< 750 ps
Filtered Transition Time (OC-3)	< 3 ns
Optical RMS Noise (Option 201, characteristic)	1 µW
Optical RMS Noise (Option 201, maximum)	1.5 µW
Optical Scale Factor	5 µW to 100 µW per division
Average Power Monitor Range	-30 dBm to 0 dBm
Factory Calibrated Power Accuracy	±5% ±100 nW ±connector uncertainty (20°C to 30°C)
User Calibrated Power Accuracy	±2% ±100 nW ±power meter uncertainty (< 5°C change)
Maximum Specified Input Power	0.4 mW (-4 dBm) peak
Maximum Peak Input Power	10 mW (+10 dBm)
Fiber Input	62.5/125 µm multimode, user-selectable connector
Input Return Loss (HMS-10, fully filled fiber)	20 dB
Electrical Channel Bandwidth	12.4 GHz and 20 GHz (selectable)
Electrical Transition Time (10%–90%)	28.2 ps (12.4 GHz); 17.5 ps (20 GHz)
Electrical RMS Noise (characteristic)	0.25 mV (12.4 GHz); 0.5 mV (20 GHz)
Electrical Scale Factor	1 mV to 100 mV per division
Electrical Input Dynamic Range	±400 mV (relative to channel offset)
Maximum Electrical Input	16 dBm, ±2 Vdc
Electrical Nominal Impedance	50 O
Electrical Input Connector	3.5 mm
Available Optical Connector Options	HMS-10 (Opt 011), FC/PC (Opt 012), DIN (Opt 013), ST (Opt 014), SC (Opt 017)
Compatible Mainframe	Agilent 86100A Infiniium DCA (also compatible with 83480A and 54750A)
Module Weight	1.2 kg (2.6 lb)
Operating Temperature	10°C to 40°C
Non-Operating Temperature	-40°C to +70°C
Operating Humidity	Up to 90% RH (non-condensing) at 40°C