BNC’s Model 866-M frequency synthesizer features a frequency range of 1 MHz to 40 GHz, an output power range of -10 to 25 dBm, and switching time of 85 μs. The SSB phase noise is -145 dBc/Hz when using a 20 kHz offset from a 1 GHz carrier, and -125 dBc/Hz when using a 10 GHz carrier. The resolution is 1 mHz for frequency, 0.1° for phase, and 0.5 dB for power. The frequency accuracy is calibrated to ±30 ppb, and the temperature stability is within ±100 ppb for the operating temperature range of 0°C to 50°C.

The synthesizer is a compact, flange-mountable, well-shielded module that weighs about 1.3 lb [ <0.6 kg ], measures 6.5 x 2.4 x 1 [165 x 60 x 26 mm], and consumes about 20 W of power. It cools itself passively. It has an Ethernet connection connector for connecting to a PC and can be controlled via graphical software or SCPI instructions.

The Model 866-M supports external references at one GHz and one hundred MHz. Multiple units can be coupled to form multi-channel, phase-coherent sources. The main 1 GHz reference frequency can be produced by one device and looped to the others. Phase-coherence over a 5-hour period is around ±0.5 degrees with all channels running at 5 GHz.

A system clock can be made up of just one device. Applications like radar, electronic warfare, beamforming, and quantum computing that call for a controlled phase difference over multiple channels are a good fit for this wideband, quick switching synthesizer.