I'm going to say something that might sound like heresy in some engineering circles: The brand of your test equipment is less important than how it fits your workflow. And an Anritsu site master, specifically the S332E or a signal generator like the MG3692B, ruined my test setup for a year because I was trying to force it to be a Cisco or Keysight solution.
Let me explain.
I've been handling RF and microwave testing for about 7 years, mostly for mobile operators and smaller network integrators. I've personally made and documented no fewer than 3 significant equipment ordering mistakes, totaling roughly $14,000 in wasted budget (mostly from re-certification delays my company had to absorb). I now maintain our team's checklist to prevent people from repeating my most embarrassing errors.
In my first year (2017), I was tasked with qualifying a new batch of microwave backhaul links. The spec called for full S-Parameter analysis on the antenna feed lines. I ordered the Anritsu S332E because it was a 'Site Master' and had good reviews for cable & antenna analysis.
What most people don't realize is that the S332E is a 1-port (S11) and vector voltmeter (option 3310) capable instrument. It's excellent for return loss, VSWR, distance-to-fault, and basic insertion loss (using the VVM). But it's not a 2-port VNA. I said "I need a VNA for S11 and S21," and I heard "The S332E is the best-selling cable & antenna analyzer, it should do the job." Result: a $3,200 order that couldn't measure S21 properly on a duplexed system. We caught the error when the RF engineer couldn't validate the insertion loss spec. That test delay cost us a 2-week project delay and re-certification fees. That's when I learned: match the instrument's specific configuration to the absolute test requirement, not just the product family name.
That same year, I saw a note about the MG3692B signal generator. I thought "It's a generator, it's probably just a basic signal source." I wish I'd tracked my understanding more carefully from the start. What I can say anecdotally is that the MG3692B is a high-performance RF/microwave signal generator with excellent phase noise and wide modulation bandwidth. It's not a cheap CW source; it's a piece of precision equipment for complex modulation schemes.
Here's the real core of my argument. A lot of engineers I talk to, especially those coming from the IT networking world (like troubleshooting Cisco routing), try to apply a similar framework to test equipment. They think: "If Cisco is the gold standard for routers, then sure, Keysight or Anritsu is the gold standard for RF test."
But that's wrong. Networks vs Cisco is about protocols, throughput, and reliability. RF test equipment like the S332E or MG3692B is about measurement physics, dynamic range, and calibration accuracy. The comparison is a category error.
For instance, the Anritsu 3310 option for the S332E enables vector voltmeter functionality. That's a highly specific tool for measuring phase and group delay. It's not about "bandwidth" in the networking sense; it's about phase measurement precision. You don't compare a network switch's port density to a VVM's phase accuracy. It's apples and oranges.
Another thing vendors won't tell you: the 'standard' test set often includes options you don't need, driving up the cost. I once ordered an S332E with every available software option because I thought "more is better." I paid for a TDR option we never used. The base S332E, plus the 3310 VVM module, would have been perfect for 80% of my tasks. The extra $1,800 in software was a sunk cost. I wish I'd asked: "What is the exact list of measurements we will be performing for the next 12 months?" then matched that to the instrument options, rather than buying the full suite.
So why do I still choose Anritsu equipment, specifically the S332E and MG3692B, even after those costly mistakes? Because they excel at what they are designed to do, which is field-portable, high-accuracy RF testing.
Here are three honest reasons, based on my experience:
1. The workmanship and reliability. These are built like tanks. They survive drops from the back of a van. In Q3 2024, we had a unit fall off a tower platform (about 6 feet). It landed on a muddy patch, screen-side down. Not a single crack, calibration fine. I don't have hard data on industry-wide MTBF rates, but based on my 7 years of orders, my sense is that Anritsu's field reliability is a genuine differentiator.
2. The software ecosystem is genuinely useful. The Line Sweep Tools software for managing and analyzing data from the S332E is a huge time-saver. It allows for standardized reports without exporting into a separate spreadsheet. The MG3692B's GPIB and LAN interface for automated testing is robust and works with most test automation software. That consistency is worth a lot.
3. The calibration stability. For the MG3692B, the phase noise performance at 10 GHz is outstanding. I've seen it hold calibration specs much longer than some competitor units I've used (Rohde & Schwarz). This means fewer forced re-calibrations, which saves money and downtime. For the S332E, the dynamic range and stability for return loss measurements is fantastic. The raw data is clean without heavy digital smoothing.
I know someone is going to say, "But Keysight's VNAs are far more accurate than the S332E." You're right. At the top end of metrology, Keysight wins. But for field work, commissioning, and 95% of factory alignment tasks? The Anritsu equipment is accurate enough. Let me put it this way: The cost of a Keysight PNA often pays for itself in a lab where you need that last 0.01 dB of uncertainty. For a field technician installing a 5G node or testing a microwave dish, the S332E's uncertainty is well within spec.
The MG3692B is also a strong performer against competitors like the Rohde & Schwarz SMW200A. The SMW200A is more flexible, but it's also double the price and a rack-mount unit. For a bench-top or portable setup, the MG3692B offers 80-90% of the capability for 60% of the cost. That's a trade-off I'm comfortable making.
So, bottom line: Don't compare test equipment to network switches. Don't buy the 'full suite' option unless you've documented a specific need. And don't be fooled into thinking the most expensive or the highest-spec lab instrument is the right tool for your field or production job. Anritsu's S332E with the 3310 option and the MG3692B are not 'second best' to some theoretical perfect solution. They are the right tools for a specific, highly demanding, and very common job.