Hi The 53132 is indeed a fine counter. It's got another flaw though - right at 10 MHz the resolution takes a dive. If you are doing time nut stuff, that may be a significant issue.
Bob On Mar 16, 2013, at 8:32 PM, Brooke Clarke <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Volker: > > The HP HP53132A can measure frequency at the rate of 12 digits per second, > that's way better than ordinary counters, but when measuring time interval > it's the same as any other counter. > The big disadvantage of the HP53132A in my opinion is it's user hostile menu > system. > http://www.prc68.com/I/TandFTE.shtml#HP51132 > If you're going to be measuring frequency then this counter may make more > sense than the SRS unit. > > The SR620 was designed to be a time interval counter, and that's what gets > measured when working with precision frequency or time signals. It's great > for this because it has a large number of digits. > In addition there's a way to make 1,000 measurements and average them to > increase the precision compared to a one shot measurement. The front panel > is much much easier to use than the HP. > http://www.prc68.com/I/TandFTE.shtml#SR620 > > Have Fun, > > Brooke Clarke, N6GCE > http://www.PRC68.com > http://www.end2partygovernment.com/2012Issues.html > > Volker Esper wrote: >> >> What "small error" are we speaking about? The statement that SRS users have >> to tolerates a small error while HP users don't seems a little to general to >> me. IMHO we might be a bit more precise. Anyone who's already done an error >> analysis for - say - a 10MHz count and a comparison of the counters? >> >> In real life every type of equipment has it's domain, where it has it's >> specific advantage. Could it be, that's the case for these counters, too? >> >> Cheers >> >> Volker >> >> >> Am 16.03.2013 19:57, schrieb Rick Karlquist: >>>>> 1) I paid quite a bit of money and I had it "calibrated" and fixed by >>>>> SRS, >>>>> and it still exhibits a significant frequency offset with a "perfect" >>>>> reference and "perfect" DUT!!! >>>>> SRS says a small frequency error is "normal", well that prevents me from >>>>> using the unit as a frequency counter, for me it's only useful as a >>>>> relative >>>>> display frequency counter. HP doesn't have such a frequency error, so no >>>>> worries there. >>> I worked with the guy who designed the HP53132A. He would >>> never tolerate as "normal" a so-called small error. The term >>> "frequency counter" brings to mind something that digitally counts >>> zero crossings and should never have an error. First of all, even >>> if that is all you do, it is still possible to screw it up. >>> Secondly, "counters" have relied on analog interpolation even going >>> back to the HP524 circa 1950. There is no theoretical basis of having zero >>> error in this case, but the idea is that you display the number of >>> digits that are commensurate with the worst case accuracy of your >>> interpolator. Again, my colleague who designed the interpolator >>> did very high quality work. I am pleased to learn that our stuff >>> is better than the stuff from the company up the road. >>> >>> Rick Karlquist N6RK >>> HP Santa Clara Division 1979-1998 >>> (still working for Agilent!) >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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. >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > 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.
