The PhaseStation 53100A is a high-performance RF test set designed for measuring the amplitude, phase, and frequency stability of RF sources and two-port devices. It supports carrier frequencies ranging from 1 MHz to 200 MHz, with direct front-panel access to all four measurement channels. The device is capable of providing comprehensive stability characteristics from femtoseconds to days.
Function Description
The 53100A performs a variety of measurements simultaneously, leveraging host-based DSP techniques on a Windows PC. These measurements include:
- Real-time 'strip charts': Displays phase and frequency differences with subpicosecond precision.
- Absolute frequency counts: Achieves 13+ digits per second, with a maximum of 17 digits.
- Allan Deviation (ADEV): Typically less than 5E-15 at t=1s (cross ADEV) and 5E-14 (standard).
- Modified Allan Deviation (MDEV), Hadamard Deviation (HDEV), and Time Deviation (TDEV): Provides various statistical measures of frequency stability.
- Maximum Time Interval Error (MTIE): Computes this metric in real-time.
- Phase noise and AM noise: Measures at offsets from 0.001 Hz to 1 MHz, with levels below -175 dBc/Hz.
- RMS-integrated time jitter: Less than 50 fs residual jitter from 0.1 Hz to 1 MHz.
- RMS-integrated phase noise, residual FM, and SSB carrier/noise ratio.
The accuracy and stability of measurements are derived from a user-supplied external reference, eliminating the need for instrument calibration.
Important Technical Specifications
- Input Frequency and Level (RF): 1 MHz – 200 MHz, 0 dBm - +15 dBm, 50 ohm N-F.
- Reference Frequency and Level: 1 MHz – 200 MHz, 0 dBm - +15 dBm, 50 ohm N-F.
- Input/Reference VSWR (<= 100 MHz): 1.5:1 or better.
- Input/Reference Port Isolation (10 MHz): 130 dB or better.
- Maximum DC Voltage at Any Input: +/- 24V.
- Allan Deviation (1 MHz-200 MHz, t=1s): 7E-15 specified, 5E-15 typical (cross ADEV); 7E-14 specified, 5E-14 typical (standard).
- Allan Deviation (1 MHz-200 MHz, t=1000s): 2E-16 specified, 1E-16 typical (cross ADEV); 5E-16 specified, 2E-16 typical (standard).
- Phase Stability (5 MHz): Less than 10 ps/hour after 2-hour warmup, typically below 2 ps/hour.
- Residual Phase Noise Floor (5 MHz, 1 Hz): -140 dBc/Hz specified, < -142 dBc/Hz typical.
- Residual Phase Noise Floor (100 MHz, 1 Hz): -120 dBc/Hz specified, < -122 dBc/Hz typical.
- Residual Phase Noise Floor (5 MHz, 10 kHz): -175 dBc/Hz specified, < -177 dBc/Hz typical.
- Residual Phase Noise Floor (100 MHz, 10 kHz): -170 dBc/Hz specified, < -172 dBc/Hz typical.
- Residual AM Noise Floor (5 MHz, 10 kHz): -160 dBc/Hz specified, < -165 dBc/Hz typical.
- Spurious Responses (5 MHz-100 MHz): Less than -100 dBc (phase noise) or -90 dBc (AM noise), typically below -120 dBc.
- Physical Dimensions: 380 mm x 230 mm x 100 mm, 3.2 kg (15” x 9” x 4”, 7 pounds).
- Power Requirements: 90-264 VAC, 47-63 Hz, < 40W, 3-pole AC inlet IEC320-C14.
- Ambient Temperature: 15C to 35C operating, -20C to +50C storage (60F to 95F operating, 0F to 125F storage).
Performance depends on measurement time and signal levels, with specifications based on +15 dBm measurements after a two-hour warmup in a temperature-stable environment, with trace smoothing and overlapped acquisition enabled.
Usage Features
The 53100A is controlled via the TimeLab™ Windows application, which offers a comprehensive interface for configuration, measurement, and data analysis.
- Front Panel: Features two N-F input jacks for REFERENCE and DUT signals, connected to internal power splitters with SMA-F output jacks. Four AC- or DC-coupled SMA-F input jacks drive individual ADC channels. Units with dual internal reference options have two SMA-F output jacks for 100 MHz sinewave reference signals (+12 dBm typical).
- Status Indicator: A high-brightness RGB LED indicates instrument status:
- Blue: Internal clock oscillator warming up.
- White: Ready to acquire data (30-minute warmup recommended for optimal stability).
- Green: Measurement pending or in progress, no fatal errors.
- Flashing Purple: Excessive power at inputs, causing signal clipping.
- Flashing Red: USB data overrun (fatal error), often due to insufficient CPU power.
- Rear Panel: Includes a 2.1-mm DC input jack for the 15V external power supply, two SMA-F input jacks for internal clock synthesizer/ADC clock inputs (reserved for future use), one SMA-F input jack for synchronization/calibration (dual internal reference option), and a USB Series ‘B’ receptacle for PC connectivity.
- Input Signal Connections: Double-shielded cables (e.g., RG223, RG400) are recommended for low-level measurements. Input signals should be >0 dBm, with +5 to +15 dBm recommended. Logic-level clocks can be measured with suitable matching networks and bandpass filtering.
- Reference Sources: Measurements require one or two reference signals. The "best" reference depends on measurement goals; standalone low-noise OCXOs are often preferred for phase/AM noise. The 53100A works with any reference frequency within 1-200 MHz, referring readings to the INPUT jack frequency. Dual independent references improve noise measurement by cross-spectrum averaging and multichannel stability measurements (e.g., three-cornered hat).
- TimeLab Software: A Windows application for phase/frequency stability and noise measurement. It supports simultaneous measurements, with results displayed in real-time. Data can be saved, viewed, compared, exported, or printed.
- Measurement Roles: Predefined configurations for various measurement scenarios, including single DUT with single external reference, single DUT with dual internal/external references, two/three DUTs with single external reference, and single DUT with cross ADEV statistics. Manual configuration allows flexible channel assignment and frequency specification.
- Data Analysis: TimeLab provides "strip chart" views of raw phase-difference data (wrapped and unwrapped) and frequency-difference data. It can emulate a frequency counter with impressive precision. Editing features allow removal of glitches, outliers, and trends from phase records.
- Phase Noise Analysis: Displays phase noise, AM noise, and jitter. Integrated noise and jitter can be measured between arbitrary offsets using spot cursors.
- Spur Detection: Automatically detects and lists coherent amplitude- or phase-modulated spectral components in a spur table. Spurs can be marked or suppressed in noise traces. FFT window types and spur thresholds can be adjusted for improved detection.
- Remote Access: STREAM.EXE (deprecated) and TSERVE.EXE (newer) console applications allow remote access to measurement data via TCP/IP or shared files. TSERVE supports remote control commands for configuring, starting, stopping, and monitoring measurements.
Maintenance Features
- Software Updates: TimeLab automatically checks for and notifies users of available updates, which are free of charge.
- Troubleshooting: The STATUS indicator provides immediate visual feedback on instrument status, aiding in quick diagnosis of issues like signal clipping or USB data overruns.
- Configuration Reset: The File→Reset all parameters, options, and settings at next startup command allows users to restore TimeLab to its default configuration, which can be useful for resolving software-related issues.
- Self-Test: TSERVE includes a
selftest command to execute a built-in self-test (BIST) routine, returning a hexadecimal number indicating any detected faults. This helps diagnose hardware issues.
- Environmental Considerations: Users are advised to operate the 53100A in environments with good ambient temperature control and avoid placing it near heat sources or HVAC vents to ensure sensitive measurements are not affected. Mechanical disturbances and cable movements should be avoided during acquisition.
- Cabling: Use high-quality double-shielded cables (e.g., RG400) and coaxial interconnects to minimize crosstalk and environmental interference, which can cause artifacts in stability and noise plots.
- Technical Support: Miles Design LLC handles software issues, while Jackson Labs Technologies, Inc. handles hardware and warranty support. Attaching .TIM files (zipped if large) is recommended for software support.
Need help?
To Next Page
General