The Agilent E5406A (now under Keysight Technologies, as Agilent’s test equipment division rebranded to Keysight in 2014) is a high-performance logic analyzer probe from the Pro Series. It’s designed as a single-ended soft touch connectorless probe for debugging digital systems, particularly in environments requiring minimal intrusion on the target PCB. This probe connects to logic analyzers via a 90-pin cable interface and uses micro spring-pin technology for reliable, low-impact signal acquisition without soldering or requiring a dedicated connector on the board.

It supports up-front PCB design integration, where a specific “soft touch” footprint is etched onto the board for probing. The top-side retention module allows attachment without accessing the board’s underside, making it ideal for dense or multi-layer boards.

Key Specifications

Feature Details

Channels 34 total: 32 single-ended data channels, 2 single-ended (or differential) clock channels

Maximum Data Rate Up to 4 Gb/s

Minimum Signal Amplitude 250 mV peak-to-peak (p-p)

Input Capacitance < 0.7 pF (equivalent load capacitance)

Connectivity 90-pin cable interface; compatible with Keysight 16800 Series and other logic analyzers with 90-pin connectors

Probe Type Single-ended, soft touch connectorless (micro spring-pin contacts for uneven/contaminated surfaces)

Retention Top-side module (no back-side access needed); compatible with E5403A retention module kits for thick boards

Other Features High input impedance, noise immunity, rugged design for long-term use; supports industry-standard smaller probing interfaces

Applications

* Digital signal debugging in high-speed electronics (e.g., FPGAs, ASICs, microprocessors).

* Environments where connector space is limited or board modifications are undesirable.

* Compatible with Keysight logic analyzers for capturing multi-channel data at speeds up to 4 Gb/s with low signal distortion.