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• 1. Sensitivity and Frequency Range for Inputs A, B, D, E
• 2. Sensitivity and Frequency Range for RF Input (Input C)
• 3. Voltage
• 4. Reference Oscillators
• 4.1. Acceptance Test
• 5. Resolution Test

1. Sensitivity and Frequency Range for Inputs A, B, D, E

• Recall Defaults
• Select Frequency A.
• Select 50 Ω input impedance, 1x attenuation, Manual Trigger Levels and Absolute Trigger Level A 0V.
• Select Preamp ON
• Connect a signal from a HF generator to a BNC power splitter.
• Connect the power splitter to Input A of your counter and an oscilloscope. Set the input impedance to 50 Ω on the oscilloscope.
• Adjust the amplitude according to the following table. Read the level on the oscilloscope. The timer/counter should display the correct frequency.
• Repeat the measurements and input settings above for Input B, D, and E.

Frequency   MHz	Level		Pass/Fail
	mVrms	dBm
10	15	-23
50	15	-23
100	15	-23
200	15	-23
300	25	-19
400	35	-16

2. Sensitivity and Frequency Range for RF Input (Input C)

To verify the specifications of the different RF prescalers, use the following basic test setup:

• Connect the output of a signal generator covering the specified frequency range to the RF input (C) of the Analyzer.
• Connect the 10 MHz REF OUT from the generator to the EXT REFon the rear panel of the Analyzer. Choose External in Settings → Advanced → Timebase Reference.
• Select Frequency C as Measurement Function.
• Generate a sine wave in accordance with the data in the relevant table (Table 7, Table 8).
• Verify that the Analyzer is counting correctly. (The last digits will be unstable).

Frequency GHz	Amplitude dBm
0.1-0.3	-21
0.3-2.5	-27
2.5-2.7	-21
2.7-3.0	-15

Frequency GHz	Amplitude dBm
0.15-0.3	-15
0.3-0.5	-21
0.5-7.5	-27
7.5-20	-24
20-22	-21
22-24	-15

3. Voltage

• Recall Defaults.
• Select Vpp A
• Select DC coupling and Filter 10 kHz. Do not apply an input signal to Input A yet.
• The display should now indicate (disregard the main parameter Vpp): Vmin= 0 ± 0.015 V and Vmax= 0 ± 0.015 V
• Adjust the current limit of the DC voltage source to <200 mA.
• Connect +2.500 Vdc to Input A, using the external 50 kHz low-pass filter on the input.
• The display should now indicate: Vmin = 2.500 ± 0.040 V and Vmax = 2.500 ± 0.040 V Repeat the measurement with inverted polarity.
• Select Input A and select 10x.

CAUTION: Before the next step, make sure the input impedance is still 1 MΩ. Applying more than 12 V without proper current limiting may cause extensive damage to the main PCB, if the impedance is set to 50 Ω.

• Change the DC level to +50.00 V.
• The display should now indicate: Vmin = 50.00 ± 0.65 V and Vmax = 50.00 ± 0.65 V Repeat the measurement with inverted polarity.
• Disconnect the DC voltage from Input A. Remove the external low-pass filter.
• Select Input A and select 1x.
• Connect the LF generator to Input A, and set an amplitude of 4.000 Vpp and a frequency of 100 kHz. Verify the Amplitude with a good Voltmeter
• The display should now indicate: 4.000 ± 0.150 Vpp.
• Select Input A and select 10x.
• Change the amplitude to 18.00 Vpp.
• The display should now indicate: 18.00 ± 1 Vpp. Disconnect the LF generator from Input A.
• Select Input A and select 1x, 50 ohm, and Filter = OFF.
• Connect the RF generator to Input A and set an amplitude of 4.000 Vpp and a frequency of 100 MHz. Verify the amplitude on an oscilloscope.
• The display should now indicate: 4.000 ± 0.40 Vpp. Select Input A and select 10x.
• Change the amplitude to 18.00 Vpp.
• The display should now indicate: 18.00 ± 2.2 Vpp
• Proceed by repeating the measurements for Input B, D, and E, as described above for Input A.

4. Reference Oscillators

X-tal oscillators are affected by a number of external conditions like ambient temperature and supply voltage. Aging is also an important factor. Therefore, it is hard to give limits for the allowed frequency deviation. The user himself must decide the limits depending on his application and recalibrate the oscillator accordingly.

To check the accuracy of the oscillator you must have a calibrated reference signal that is at least five times more stable than the oscillator that you are testing. See Table 7-6 and the list of test equipment on page 7-2. If you use a non-10 MHz reference, you can use the mathematics in the timer/counter to multiply the reading.

• Recall Defaults.
• Connect the reference to input A
• Check the readout against the accuracy requirements of your application.

4.1. Acceptance Test

Table 7 can serve as an acceptance test and gives a worst case figure after 30 minutes warm-up time. All deviations that can occur in a year are added together.

Oscillator	Frequency Readout	Suitable Reference	P/F
Standard (TCXO)	10.00000000 MHz + 150 Hz	6688
Option 30 (OCXO)	10.00000000 MHz + 1Hz	6689
Option 40 (OCXO)	10.00000000 MHz + 0.25 Hz	6689

5. Resolution Test

• Connect the pulse generator to a power splitter.
• Connect one side of the power splitter to Input A on the Analyzer using a coaxial cable.
• Connect the other side of the power splitter to Input B on the Analyzer.

Settings for the pulse generator:

• Amplitude = 4 V_pp, (high level +4 V and low level 0 V) Period = approx. 1 ms
• Duration = approx. 50 ns
• Rise time = 2 ns

Settings for the Analyzer:

• Recall Defaults,
• Select Time Interval Single A, B,
• Set for Inputs A & B: 50 Ω, DC coupling, Manual Trigger Levels,
• Set Absolute Trigger Level A to +1 V,
• Set Absolute Trigger Level B to +1 V,

The standard deviation (std) should be less than 140 ps, corresponding to a resolution of 7 ps per timestamp.