I asked the same question of this list a number of years back, took a few different routes and ended up with precisely what has been suggested here:
HP 5370B Prologix GPIB-USB And an HP 3325B function generator to round it all out nicely. Also, if ever asked by the financial controller *why* you bought such a 5370B, a cool demo is to demonstrate the "speed of electricity" along a metre or two of cable. Jim Palfreyman On 16 December 2010 16:54, Dave M <[email protected]> wrote: > I've seen several posts that mention the 5370 counter. Certainly looks > like a capable instrument. I'll be on the lookout for one that is in > reasonably good condition and WORKS. I downloaded the NIST pub that you > mentioned, and with the cold days and colder nights, I'll have lots of time > to ponder it. > Re: Don Latham's response - I've never seen Robot BASIC, but I'll look it > up. I assume that it's a GPIB controller application?? > Re Stan, W1LE's response - Thanks for the Prologix recommendation. I'll > look into it. > And thanks to all the other responders... I really appreciate your taking > time to offer your advice. > > Dave M > > > Hi Dave, >> >> On 12/15/2010 08:55 PM, Dave M wrote: >> >>> I'm a retired electronics tech and computer programmer. I have a >>> pretty decently equipped shop for almost all of my projects and >>> experiments. However, my time and frequency equipment is a bit long >>> in the tooth. I have a couple old HP 5328A counters (commercial >>> version; not the military version), one with a 10544, the other with >>> a 10811 oscillator. >>> I have an HP Z3801A that has been operating well for several years, >>> and recently acquired a TBolt to keep the counters in tune. I also >>> have a good distribution amp and couple of old Montronics (Fluke) >>> frequency comparators. >>> What I'm looking for now, is a recommendation for a good low-cost >>> (<$400) counter that will get me on the way to performing some of >>> the "down in the grass" noise, jitter and deviation tests that the >>> more learned members of the group discuss. I know that new >>> equipment is far out of my budget, but I'm also aware that some of >>> the older, now obsolete (also cheaper) equipment is quite capable of >>> doing what I want to do. I prefer HP equipment since manuals are >>> much easier to find than most other brands. >>> I'd also like recommendation for a good low-cost GPIB controller >>> that allows me to write software to control some of my instruments. >>> I have experience writing software in BASIC on a Fluke 1722A >>> controller. I've seen these controllers on the Bay and other online >>> vendors, but I've not located the BASIC discs for them. Any advice? >>> I realize that a counter is not the only piece that I need, but it's >>> first on my list. Other, more applicable equipment is on my want >>> list, but will have to wait for a bit. >>> >> >> A HP5370A/B and a Prologix USB-GPIB interface seems like a popular >> solution, and it should fit inside your budget more or less. There is >> already software available (from John Miles for instance) that works >> with that solution, but it should also allow yourself some programming >> exercises. >> >> This will certainly get you started. There are several decades to go >> down into the noise for the really good sources and reducing >> measurement noise. It will be a fairly good solution for many decent >> sources. >> >> Grab a copy of the NIST SP 1065 and ponder over it. >> >> Cheers, >> Magnus >> >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
