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The Keysight 33500B and 33600A Series Trueform Function / Arbitrary Waveform Generators are bench-grade signal sources built on Keysight's Trueform digital sampling architecture, which the datasheet positions as an alternative to traditional Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS). The family spans four bandwidth tiers — 20 MHz and 30 MHz models in the 33500B Series, and 80 MHz and 120 MHz models in the 33600A Series — each available as a one-channel or two-channel instrument. Every model in both series provides the 17 built-in standard and arbitrary waveforms, the full modulation suite (AM, FM, PM, FSK, BPSK, PWM, Sum), continuous, sweep, and burst operating modes, and a 4.3-inch color TFT graphical display for simultaneous parameter setup, signal viewing, and editing.

Per the datasheet, these generators are used to produce the stimulus signals required for design verification, characterization, and automated test of electronic circuits and systems. Specific capabilities called out include generating low-jitter clock and timing references for triggering other instruments, streaming PRBS patterns (PN3 through PN32) for digital serial bus testing, creating dual-tone and noise-plus-signal composites using the Sum modulation type on a single channel, generating differential or tracking signals via two-channel coupling, and producing baseband I/Q signals using the IQ Baseband Signal Player on two-channel arbitrary models. The datasheet also identifies low-voltage device stimulus — down to 1 mVpp into 50 Ω — as a use case for testing pacemakers, hearing aids, and remote sensors.

Brand Heritage

Keysight Technologies was spun off from Agilent Technologies in 2014 and traces its lineage to the original Hewlett-Packard test and measurement business that became Agilent in 1999. The 33500B and 33600A Series continue the bench-instrument heritage carried forward through that ownership history.

Compare Other Models in This Series

The 33500B and 33600A Series together form a four-tier Trueform waveform generator family — 20 MHz, 30 MHz, 80 MHz, and 120 MHz — with one-channel and two-channel variants at each tier and arbitrary-capable variants throughout the 33600A Series and at the 'B' suffix of every 33500B Series pair. Trueform architecture is shared across every model in both series: the same digital sampling technique, the same anti-aliased point-by-point waveform reconstruction, the same selectable Normal/Step/Off filters, and the same modulation, sweep, and burst operating modes.

Choosing between models is primarily a matter of three decisions documented in the datasheet's configuration guide: required output bandwidth (sine, pulse, and noise frequency ranges scale with the tier), required channel count (one or two), and whether arbitrary waveform capability is needed now or can be added later via the 335ARB1U/2U upgrade. Memory depth, OCXO timebase, security, and (on 33600A) GPIB are additional axes that can be ordered up front or added in the field.

Each pre-owned unit in the comparison below is its own dedicated product page with condition-matched pricing. Specifications, options, accessory expectations, and warranty terms vary between conditions — use the per-page detail to confirm fit for your bench or production environment.

The four bandwidth tiers correspond to four sine output ranges and four arbitrary sample rate maxima documented in the datasheet. The 20 MHz models (33509B, 33510B, 33511B, 33512B) and 30 MHz models (33519B, 33520B, 33521B, 33522B) ship with 160 MSa/s and 250 MSa/s arbitrary sample rates respectively and 1 MSa/channel standard arbitrary memory on the 'B' suffix arbitrary-capable variants. The 80 MHz models (33611A, 33612A) and 120 MHz models (33621A, 33622A) ship with 660 MSa/s and 1 GSa/s arbitrary sample rates respectively and 4 MSa/channel standard arbitrary memory, expandable to 64 MSa with Option MEM.

The 33600A Series adds several capabilities the 33500B Series does not have at the same tier: lower edge jitter (<1 ps versus <40 ps on square/pulse), independently variable edge times down to 2.9 ns, faster trigger jitter (<320 ps rms versus <2.5 ns rms), longer waveform memory, FM and Sweep modulation on arbitrary carriers (not available on 33500B Series arbs), and a customer-installable GPIB option (GPIB is standard on the 33500B Series). Two-channel A-suffix models (33612A, 33622A) and B-suffix models (33512B, 33522B) include the IQ player as a standard capability. Use the comparison table that follows for line-by-line specification differences between the specific models being considered.

Additional differences in specifications beyond the few shown above are not listed here — see each model's full specifications below.

Product Core & Specifications