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Arbitrary Waveform Generators 

www.tektronix.com/signal_sources

2

Arbitrary Waveform Generators

AWG520

Characteristics 

Operating Modes 

Continuous – 

Waveform is iteratively output. If a

sequence is defined, the sequence order and repeat
functions are applied.

Triggered – 

Waveform is output only once when 

an external, internal GPIB/Ethernet or manual trig-
ger is received.

Gated – 

Waveform begins output when gate is true

and resets to beginning when false.

Enhanced – 

Waveform is output as defined by 

the sequence.

Arbitrary Waveforms 

Waveform Length – 

256 to 4,194,048 points in

multiples of four.

Sequence Length – 

1 to 8,000 steps. Both CH1

and CH2 operate from the same sequence.

Sequence Repeat Counter – 

1 to 65,536 or 

infinite.

Function Generator
Waveforms 

Operation Mode – 

Continuous mode only.

Waveform Shape – 

Sine, Triangle, Square, Ramp,

Pulse, or DC.

Frequency – 

1.000 Hz to 100.0 MHz.

Amplitude –  

Range: 0.020 V

p-p

to 2 V

p-p

into 50 

.

Resolution: 1 mV.

Offset –  

Range: –1.000 V to +1.000 V into 50 

.

Resolution: 1 mV.

DC Level –  

DC waveform only.

Range: –1.000 V to +1.000 V into 50 

.

Resolution: 1 mV.

Phase –  

Range: –360º to +360º.
Resolution:

1.000 Hz to 100.0 kHz: 0.036º step.
100.01 kHz to 1.000 MHz: 0.36º step.
1.001 MHz to 5.000 MHz: 1.8º step.
5.001 MHz to 10.00 MHz: 3.6º step.
10.001 MHz to 20.00 MHz: 7.2º step.
20.001 MHz to 25.00 MHz: 9º step.
25.001 MHz to 40.00 MHz: 14.4º step.
40.001 MHz to 50.00 MHz: 18º step.
50.001 MHz to 100.0 MHz: 36º step.

Polarity – 

Normal, Invert.

Duty Cycle –  

Range: 0.1% to 99.9%, Pulse waveform only.
Resolution:

1.000 Hz to 1.000 MHz: 0.1% step.
1.001 MHz to 5.000 MHz: 0.5% step.
5.001 MHz to 10.00 MHz: 1% step.
10.01 MHz to 20.00 MHz: 2% step.
20.01 MHz to 25.00 MHz: 2.5% step.
25.001 MHz to 40.00 MHz: 4% step.
40.01 MHz to 50.00 MHz: 5% step.
50.01 MHz to 100.00 MHz: 10% step.

Marker Out –  

Marker1 Pulse Width: Hi/Lo: 20%/80% of Period.
Marker2 Pulse Width:

Hi/Lo: 50%/50% of Period, except 5.001 MHz
to 8.000 MHz.
Hi/Lo: 52%/48% of Period, at 5.001 MHz to
8.000 MHz.

Marker Level:

Hi Level: 2 V into 50 

.

Lo Level: 0 V into 50 

.

Clock Generator 

Sampling Frequency – 

50.000000 kHz to

1.0000000 GHz.

Resolution – 

8 digits.

Internal Clock – 

Accuracy: ±1 ppm.
Phase Noise:

At 1 GHz, 10 kHz offset: –80 dBc/Hz.
At 1 GHz, 100 kHz offset: –100 dBc/Hz.

Internal Trigger Generator 

Internal Trigger Rate – 

Range: 1.0 µs to 10.0 s.
Resolution: 3 digits, 0.1 µs minimum.
Accuracy: ±0.1%.

Main Output 

Output Signal – 

Single-ended; CH1 and CH2.

DA Converter – 

Resolution: 10-Bit.
Differential Non-linearity: ±1 LSB.
Integral Non-linearity: ±1 LSB.

Normal Out – 

Pulse Response (–1 and 1 waveform data,
0 V offset, Through filter):

Rise time (10 to 90%): Amplitude >1.0 V,

2.5 ns; Amplitude 

1.0 V,

1.5 ns.

Fall time (10 to 90%): Amplitude >1.0 V,

2.5 ns; Amplitude 

1.0 V,

1.7 ns.

Aberrations (at 500 MHz): Amplitude >1.0 V,
±10%; Amplitude 

1.0 V, ±7%.

Flatness (after 50 ns from rise/fall edge): ±3%.
Small signal bandwidth (–3 dB, Amplitude
0.5 V): 300 MHz.

Sinewave Characteristics (1 GS/s clock, 32 waveform
points, 31.25 MHz signal frequency, 1.0 V amplitude,
0 V offset, Through filter):

Harmonics:

–50 dBc, DC to 400 MHz.

Noise:

–53 dBc, DC to 400 MHz.

Phase Noise:

–90 dbc/Hz at 10 kHz offset.

Filter:

Type: 10, 20, 50, 100 MHz Bessel low-pass.
Rise time (10 to 90%): 10 MHz, 35 ns; 20 MHz,
17 ns; 50 MHz, 7.0 ns; 100 MHz, 3.5 ns.
Delay from trigger: 10 MHz, 77 ns +1 clock;
20 MHz, 57 ns +1 clock; 50 MHz, 45 ns +1
clock; 100 MHz, 42 ns +1 clock; Through,
37 ns +1 clock.

Direct DA Out – 

Output Voltage: 0.5 V

p-p

(with –0.27 V offset) 

into 50

.

Amplitude Accuracy: 0.5 V

p-p

±10%.

DC Offset Accuracy: –0.27 V ±10% 
(waveform data = 0).
Pulse Response (–1 and 1 waveform data):

Rise time (10 to 90%):

700 ps.

Fall time (10 to 90%):

700 ps.

Output Impedance – 

50

.

Connector – 

Front panel BNC.

Channel Output Summary 

Output Type

AWG520 

Analog

Complement

N/A 

Marker

CH1: M1, M2
CH2: M1, M2 

Digital (Opt. 03)

2 Analog 

(CH2 Analog = D0 to D9,

CH1 and CH2 Analog 

independent),

D0 to D9, 4 Markers 

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