User`s guide

3
1. Introduction
The Agilent Technologies EPM series power meters,
introduced in 1997, are the successors to the 43X
family of power meters.
The power meters in the Agilent EPM series are:
• E4418A/B single channel power meter
• E4419A/B dual channel power meter.
Due to the large installed base of 437B and 438A
power meters, compatibility with these instruments
was a high priority in the design of the EPM series.
With 437B and 438A language compatibility modes,
existing customers can replace their older power
meters with the new EPM series power meter with
minimal software rework effort. However, there are
a few issues that users may encounter. The infor-
mation given in this application note should help
to resolve these issues.
2. Physical Compatibility
A large number of 437B and 438A power meters
are used in Automated Test Equipment (ATE) envi-
ronments. In order to substitute the EPM series
power meters in an ATE system or rack, the EPM
series has been designed to fit into the same rack
space as the 437B and 438A. For this reason, the
EPM series power meters are the same width
(212.6 mm; 8.5 in) and height (88.5 mm; 3.5 in)
as both the 437B and the 438A. Because the 437B
is shorter than the 438A, it was decided that the
depth of the EPM series power meters would be
348.3 mm (13.7 in), this being midway between the
437B and the 438A depth dimensions. Generally,
it is the rack height and width that are the main
constraining factors for instruments, so this com-
promise in the depth dimension should not affect
the majority of ATE users. As with the 437B and
438A, there are rackmount kits available for the
EPM series power meters (Options 908 and 909).
3. Sensor Compatibility
The 437B and 438A power meters operate with
the Agilent 8480 series of power sensors, measur-
ing signals from 100 kHz to 110 GHz. The EPM
series also works with the entire range of 8480
series sensors and with the new Agilent E-series
power sensors. The E-series sensors cannot be
used with 437B or 438A power meters.