Improves Sensitivity Where It Matters: With the preamplifier engaged, the UTS7013A/UTS7026A models achieve typical DANL of -162 to -167 dBm/Hz across the 1 MHz to 13.6 GHz range. Without it, you're working at -138 to -153 dBm/Hz at the upper end of the band. That 15+ dB improvement is the practical difference between detecting a spurious emission at -145 dBm (clearly visible with preamp) versus staring at noise (invisible without it).
EMC Pre-Compliance Testing: CISPR radiated emissions testing requires measuring signals down to regulatory limits that often approach -80 to -100 dBm at the antenna connector after cable and antenna correction factors are applied. Without a preamplifier, your measurement uncertainty increases dramatically as signal levels approach the analyzer's native noise floor. The P13 preamplifier provides comfortable measurement margin, reducing uncertainty and giving you confidence that a marginal pass really is a pass—before you spend $15,000+ at an accredited test lab.
Receiver Sensitivity Measurements: Characterizing the minimum detectable signal of a receiver front-end requires the test equipment noise floor to be well below the device under test. The P13 preamplifier ensures the analyzer doesn't become the limiting factor in your measurement chain, enabling accurate sensitivity measurements of LNAs, receiver front-ends, and antenna subsystems through 13.6 GHz.
Low-Level Spurious and Harmonic Hunting: When your PA design needs to meet -60 dBc spurious specifications, you need an analyzer that can actually see signals 60 dB below your carrier with margin. The preamplifier extends your effective dynamic range for low-level signal detection, making it possible to find and characterize spurious products that would otherwise be buried in the analyzer noise.