What's New in 89600 VSA?

PathWave 89600 VSA 2024 U1, 2024 U2 & 2025

89600 VSA for 2024 (Build 28.01), 2024 Update 1 (Build 28.40), 2024 Update 2(Build 28.60), and 2025 (Build 29.00), are the latest several releases of Keysight’s PathWave Vector Signal Analysis software shipped in 2023 & 2024, a comprehensive set of tools for demodulation and vector signal analysis. Use 89600 VSA software tools to explore every facet of a signal and optimize your designs. Measure a broad range of signals including 6G Research, 5G NR/5G-Advanced, WLAN, IoT/UWB, Satellite Communication, Advanced Radar, Custom Modulation, Custom OFDM and more. Gain greater insight in frequency, time, modulation domains and optional decoding. Compatible with signal analyzers, oscilloscopes, network analyzers, logic analyzers, FieldFox handheld, signal source and many more test instruments. The latest 89600 VSA is released and available for download at K.com. Some key features have the demo videos on RF Test Application playlist under Keysight YouTube channel.

New Signal Analyzer Hardware Supported

Hardware Connectivity - Analyzers Enhancements

89600 VSA adds more analyzers support with the VSA2024, VSA2024 U1, VSA2024 U2, and VSA2025 releases and highlighted below. For more complete information, please refer to the link 89600 VSA compatible hardware.

• E5081A ENA Vector Network Analyzer (VSA2024)
• VDI mixer with UXA N9042B-EXW (VSA2024)
• RF system calibration up to 110 GHz using U9361x Rcal Calibrator (VSA2024)
• M5200A PXIe Digitizer: 4 channels, 2 GHz, 12-bit (VSA2024)
• New Fieldfox N99xxC models (VSA2024)
• Support dual N9032B and N9042B hardware configuration for ccEVM (VSA2024)
• MXR B-Series and EXR oscilliscopes (VSA2024 U1)
• DSOx2k and MSOx2k scope hardware configuration (VSA2024)
• S9110A and S9115A Multi-Band Vector Transceiver, with one or two transceiver (VSA2024 U1)
• MXR B-Series and EXR oscilliscopes (VSA2024 U1)
• PXI VXT M941xE (M941xA+M9471A for frequency extension) (VSA2024 U1)
• N9048B PXE EMI Test Receiver with RF Input 1 Port (VSA2024 U1)
• Support for ‘a’ receiver channel with M938xA Series VNA (VSA2024 U2)
• ORAN Uplink Performance Improvement Application (NEW) (VSA2025)
• InfiniiVision HD3 Series Oscilloscopes (VSA2025)
• Multi-channel configurations of M941xE PXI VXT (BETA) (VSA2025)
• S9110E Multi-Band Vector Transceiver (BETA) (VSA2025)
• N9042B UXA with Option 575, which extends the maximum center frequency to 75 GHz (VSA2025)

New Signal Source Hardware Supported

Hardware Connectivity - Source Control Enhancements

89600 VSA adds more source control support with the VSA2025, VSA2024, VSA2024 U1, and VSA2024 U2 releases and highlighted below. For more complete information, please refer to the link 89600 VSA compatible hardware.

• PXI VXT M941xA (Single channel; VSA2024 U1)
• PXI VXT M941xE (M941xA+M9471A for frequency extension) (Single channel; VSA2024 U1)
• MXG N5186A MXG (Single channel with VSA2024 Update 1.0; Up to 4 channels with VSA2024 U2)
• VXG-C M9484C (Single channel support with VSA2024 Update 1.1; Up to 2 channels with VSA2024 U2)
• S9110A 5G Multi-band Vector Transceiver (Single channel) (VSA2024 U2)
• Control the source with frequency, amplitude, RF On, Modulation settings with separate channel (VSA2024 U2)
• SCPI support for controlling the VSA source functionality (VSA2024 U2)
• Add waveform adjustment to control how waveforms are downloaded to the ARB when length is an integer multiple of the hardware quantum (VSA2024 U2)
  • Extend with Zeros (don't care about exact periodicity)
  • Ensure Periodicity (ARB waveform is repeated)

New Instrument Connection Manager Inside 89600 VSA

Instrument Manager Inside 89600 VSA

With the VSA2024 U2 release, you can easily configure the hardware directly inside the 89600 VSA software without exiting and using the external software of Keysight IO library (also called Keysight Connection Expert). You can choose from different protocols of VXI-11, HiSLIP or Custom LAN when connecting target hardware through IPv4 or IPv6. Custom LAN can support VITA-49 live data streaming over LAN (requires the Direct Data Connection option 89601101C).  You can include the instruments from Keysight Connection Expert or turning it off so it will only discover what is added only with 89600 VSA instrument manager which can speed up the 89600 VSA startup if there are many instruments configured in Keysight Connection Expert.VSA 2024 introduces satellite communication for DVB-S2 and S2X including both modulation analysis and channel decoding in a dedicated measurement extension.

WLAN Modulation 

WLAN Modulation Analysis Support

• With the VSA2025 release, it has removed the restriction on 4096QAM modulation analysis. Now high-order QAM over 1024 is no longer export-controlled (VSA2025)
• Both 89601BHXC and 89601TRVC-TRL (trial license) can enable 4096QAM for 802.11ax/be (VSA2025)
• Added support for Spectral Flatness measurement, including pass/fail results as specified by the standard (VSA2025)
• Enhanced EVM analysis using IQ Noise Correction (IQ-NC) (requires 89601EVMC) (VSA2025)

DVB-S2X Measurement with Modulation Analysis and Decoding

Satellite Communication Measurements for DVB-S2/S2X

VSA 2024 introduces satellite communication for DVB-S2 and S2X including both modulation analysis and channel decoding in a dedicated measurement extension.

• Navigate complex DVB-S2 and DVB-S2X signals with ease using comprehensive demodulation analysis (VSA2024)
• Utilize a wide range of quality metrics for DVB-S2 / S2X signals, including frame-level results, EVM results for individual frame segments (SOF, PLSCODE, Pilot and Data), constellation diagrams, and frequency, symbol clock, magnitude and phase errors etc.(VSA2024)
• Enhance link level system analysis precision with Bit Error Rate (BER) metrics supported by full deframing and channel decoding
• Support multi-carrier configuration (VSA2024)
• Support ccEVM with multiple channels (VSA2024)
• Automatic detection of PLS (PHY Layer Signaling) Code. It detects frame type, modulation and coding rate (MODCOD), and the presence or absence of pilot (VSA2025)
• Support for Dynamic and Static auto-detection modes for both low and high SNR use cases (VSA2025)
• Support for dynamic scheduling, allowing different MODCODs within the multi-frame measurement interval (VSA2025)
• New measurement results added to the Syms/Errs trace for the auto-detected frame type like ModCod, and Pilot (VSA2025)
• Added two phase tracking modes with Interpolate with Pilot featuring two interpolation approaches (1. Average and Nearest; 2. Linear Interpolation) and Moving Average Over All Symbols (VSA2025)

Learn More

89601DVBC Satellite Communication Measurement Application for DVB-S2/S2X

New Instrument Connection Manager Inside 89600 VSA

New File Format and Live Streaming Support

89600 VSA can support a wide range of file formats including *.binf, *.bin, *.csv, *.mat, and *.txt. Vita49 file and streaming support are added in the recent releases.

• VITA 49 is a packet-based protocol to convey digitized signal data and metadata (or context data) pertaining to different reference points within a radio receiver.
• Support Vita49 recording file format (VITA 49, VITA 49A, VITA 49.2) preview and recall in VSA 2023 Update 2 (Jan 2023)
• Support with VITA-49 live streaming over LAN in VSA 2024 (Jun 2023)
• Support VITA-40 live streaming configuration with Instrument Manager directly inside 89600 VSA in VSA 2024 Update 2.0 release (April 2024)

Learn More

89600 VSA Basic Core and Hardware Connectivity

89600 VSA New File Format BINF and VITA49

FieldFox with VITA 49 Streaming over LAN to 89600 VSA

UWB/IoT Modulation

UWB/IoT Modulation Analysis Update 

• Split limit lines for Baseband Pulse Mask and Transmit Mask traces into multiple segments to allow showing margin (Y Delta in Markers window) per segment (VSA 2025)
• Added Y Delta (margin) to the Markers window for Real trace format to support the Baseband Pulse Mask (VSA 2025)

Custom OFDM Modulation

Custom OFDM Modulation Analysis Updates

Keep up to date with the latest Custom OFDM measurement extension enhancements with VSA2025 release.

• Added support for Cyclic Suffix (CS) (VSA2025)
• Added MIMO Info Table trace supporting both Time Domain Pilot and Frequency Domain Pilot, including antenna detection threshold setting (VSA2025)
• Added a new RE Power Heatmap trace (VSA2025)
• Added support for Time Offset result in the OFDM Error Summary table, reporting the time (in seconds) from the beginning of the capture to the start of the analyzed OFDM frame (VSA2025)
• Support for H matrix estimation using preamble instead of pilot (VSA2025)
• Enhanced EVM analysis using IQ Noise Correction (IQ-NC) (requires 89601EVMC) (VSA2025)
• Per-user allocation and per-stream (layer) result reporting have been added within the Burst Info trace (VSA2025)
• Frame Definition tab GUI usability improvements (VSA2025)

89600 VSA Support 3GPP Release 18 Support with 5G-Advanced

Latest 5G NR/5G-Advanced Capabilities

Keep up to date with the latest 5G New Radio (NR) and 5G-Advanced measurement extension enhancements with VSA2024 U2 and VSA2025 release.

5G-Advanced (Rel-18) MIMO Enhancements

• Up to 8 Layers/8x8 MIMO in the UL (was limited to 4 Layers/4x4 in 5G NR)
• Enhanced DMRS with maximum number of DMRS ports for PDSCH/PUSCH to 16 for DMRS Type 1 and 24 for DMRS Type 2 (was limited to 8 and 12 in 5G NR)

Uplink and Downlink

• Updated to 3GPP v18.1.0 (2023-12) specification
• (Rel-18) Up to 24 PDSCH DMRS ports for MU-MIMO measurement
• Allow CRC Pass with All 0 Payload
• Added Configuration3 and Custom RA Configuration settings for PDSCH/PUSCH RAType = Type0 resource allocations
• Speed improvements for concurrent 5GNR measurements
•  
• Speed improvements for SISO and MIMO measurements (VSA2025)
• Improved BLER performance for low SNR signals for O-RAN receiver tests (VSA2025)
• Added support for Block Error Rate (BLER) and Throughput (TPUT) results in the Summary table (VSA2025)
• Added a new RE Power Heatmap trace (VSA2025)
• Added layer-to-channel mapping, allowing each layer or DMRS port to be mapped to different measurement channels (VSA2025)
• Supports applying a user-supplied H matrix to PDSCH/PUSCH per layer data (VSA2025)
• Provided accurate Time Offset measurement result for recorded signals using the newly implemented periodic playback trigger (VSA2025)
• Enhanced EVM analysis using IQ Noise Correction (IQ-NC) (requires 89601EVMC) (VSA2025)

Uplink

• SRS MIMO Info table is added, which can show the TAE/Power/Phase per SRS port per Channel
• SRS MIMO per port EVM in Frame Summary table
• (Rel-18) Up to 8 PUSCH DMRS ports for up to 8x8 SU-MIMO measurement
• (Rel-18) FR1 3 MHz PUSCH measurement
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• Supports uplink performance improvement (ULPI) for O-RAN to enhance uplink massive MIMO (89601ULPC requires 89601BHNC) (VSA2025)
• Enables demodulation of PUSCH without DMRS, which is a ULPI use case for DMRS-beamforming with equalization (DMRS-BF-EQ) (89601ULPC requires 89601BHNC) (VSA2025)

Downlink

• (Rel-18) FR1 3MHz SSB, CORESET0 and PDSCH measurement
• Support for PDCCH MIMO Info table, which can show the TAE/Power/Phase per PDCCH DMRS port per Channel (BETA

Learn More

89601BHNC PathWave VSA 5G NR Modulation Analysis

O-Ran

O-RAN Uplink Performance Improvement Application

In O-RAN systems, the 7-2x functional split is well-suited for configurations with a low number of transmit and receive antennas. However, in uplink massive MIMO (mMIMO) scenarios, it can result in performance degradation and increased fronthaul bandwidth due to the transmission of more streams than layers from the O-RU to the O-DU. O-RAN uplink performance improvement (ULPI) addresses these challenges by enhancing the capabilities of the O-RU.

• Add a new model as 89601ULPC in VSA2025 release Supports uplink performance improvement (ULPI) for O-RAN to enhance uplink massive MIMO (Requires 89601BHNC for 5G NR/5G-Advanced)
• Enables demodulation of PUSCH without DMRS, which is a ULPI use case for DMRS-beamforming with equalization (DMRS-BF-EQ)
• Multiple virtual signals per output channel with M9484C (VXG-C) vector signal generator (VAS2025)