Frequency Counters
Precision Test Systems
manufacture and supplies many types of frequency counters. These counters cover
the 0 to 40 GHz frequency range.
PTS2600
Microwave Frequency Counter
General
Description
The PTS2600 is a
low cost microwave frequency counter. It will measure frequencies over the 40
Hz to 20 GHz range in four bands with good sensitivity. Operation to 26 GHz and
beyond is possible at reduced sensitivity. Although not having all the features
of the top models, it never the less, gives good performance for under half the
price of competitive models. Options to extend the frequency to 65 GHz will be
available in the future.
12-Digit Display
The PTS2600 has a 12-digit LCD graphic
frequency display. The display shows the frequency measurement result, gate
times (resolution), menu functions as well as the power meter display. All
these displays are shown simultaneously.
Multi-Gate Times
Gate times from 1 ms to 10 s can be
selected, giving frequency resolutions from 0.1 Hz to 10 kHz, even when
measuring a 20 GHz frequency! Also the display update can be changed from 0
seconds to infinite (hold) in four settings. The infinite setting effectively
freezes the display.
Null Function
When the null
button is pressed, the current frequency reading is used as a reference, and all
subsequent readings show the difference between the new frequency measurement
and this stored reference. The stored reference value is also shown on the LCD
display.
Various Timebase Options
including Rubidium Oscillator Timebase
Various timebase options allow the PTS2600
to be configured to your exact requirements. The basic timebase gives ± 2 ppm
accuracy. Option 02, the OXCO timebase gives 0.05 ppm accuracy and Option 03
adds an internal Rubidium oscillator. The Rubidium oscillator has an initial
accuracy of ± 5 x10-11 and a drift rate of
less than 5 x 10-11 per month. Alternatively the PTS2600 has an
external timebase input enabling the PTS2600 to be synchronized to an external
time base such as a caesium oscillator or GPS frequency standard. An example of
an ideal GPS frequency standard is the GPS10R, also available from Precision
Test Systems.
Power Meter Indicator supplied
as standard
The power meter will display the power
input on band three (350 MHz to 20 GHz). Power over the range -5 dBm to -20 dBm
can be measured to ± 10 dB accuracy and 0.1 dB resolution.
High Quality of Construction and
Low Price
Don't be fooled by the price. The PTS2600
is made to the highest standards. All RF circuits are housed in aluminium
encloses which have been milled out of solid pieces of aluminium. These modules
sit on a steel base plate. The PTS2600 is then housed in a purpose built
aluminium case with solid front and rear aluminium panels.
Specifications
|
Specification Parameter
|
Special Condition
|
Specification
|
Comments
|
|
Frequency
|
|
Frequency
Range
|
Band One A
|
40 Hz to 70
MHz
|
Usable from 20
Hz
|
|
|
Band One B
|
70 MHz to 300 MHz
|
|
|
|
Band
Two
|
30 MHz to 350 MHz
|
Usable to > 400
MHz
|
|
|
Band Three
|
350 MHz to 20 GHz
|
Usable to over 26
GHz
|
|
Frequency
Resolution
|
|
0.1 Hz to 10
kHz
|
Settable on front
panel
|
|
Inputs
|
|
Input
Impedance
|
Band One
|
1 M Ω
nominal
|
|
|
|
Band Two and
Three
|
50 Ω nominal
|
|
|
Connectors
|
Band One and
,Two
|
BNC
socket
|
|
|
|
Band
Three
|
N type
socket
|
|
|
Input Sensitivity
|
Band One
|
50 mV rms
|
Typically <30
mV rms
|
|
|
Band
Two
|
-25 dBm ( 12mV
rms)
|
Typically < -30
dBm
|
|
|
Band
Three
|
Better than -18
dBm from 0.35GHz to 20 GHz
|
Typically better
than:
-35 dBm 1-8
GHz
-30 dBm 8-11
GHz
-25 dBm 11-17
GHz
-23 dBm 17-18.6
GHz
|
|
Maximum
Input
|
Band One
|
10 V rms and 50
VDC
|
|
|
|
Band Two
|
+13 dBm and 50 VDC
|
|
|
|
Band
Three
|
+13 dBm and 0
VDC
|
Damage Level 3V
rms
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
Acquisition
Time
|
Band
Three
|
1 to 4
seconds
|
Can be improved to
< 0.3 s using manual acquire mode
|
|
AM
Tolerance
|
Band Three
|
< 85%
|
At a 1 kHz
rate
|
|
FM
Tolerance
|
Band
Four
|
< 1 MHz
p-p
|
At a 1 kHz
rate
|
|
Timebase
Accuracy
|
0 to +40
°C
|
± 2
ppm
|
High Stability
Options available
|
|
External Reference
(10 MHz)
|
Rear Panel BNC
socket
|
0 dBm nominal
|
Settable via front
panel
|
|
Display
|
LCD graphic
display
|
130 mm x 37
mm
|
With back
light
|
|
Frequency
Display
|
|
12 digit
LCD
|
10 mm high
digits
|
|
Display
Time
|
All
bands
|
0.5 sec, 2 sec,
infinite and minimum (0 sec)
|
|
|
Power Meter
|
|
Power Meter
Range
|
Operates on Band
Three only
|
-5 dBm to -20 dBm
|
Can be used as low
as -40 dBm at some frequencies
|
|
Display
|
|
3 digit LCD
display
|
|
|
Resolution
|
|
0.1 dB
|
|
|
Accuracy
|
|
± 10 dB
|
Typically < 7
dB error at most frequencies
|
|
Option 02 OXCO
Timebase
|
|
Accuracy
|
0 to +40
°C
|
± 0.05
ppm
|
|
|
Option 03 Rubidium
Timebase
|
|
Temperature
Coefficient
|
0 to +40
°C
|
± 5 x
10-11
|
|
|
Accuracy at
shipment
|
|
± 5 x
10-11
|
|
|
Aging
|
|
< 5 x
10-11 per month
|
After 30 days
operation
|
|
Option 04, RS232 Interface and Option 05,
65 GHz Frequency Extender
|
|
These options will be available in the
future
|
|
General
|
|
Operating
Temperature
|
|
0 ºC to 40
ºC
|
|
|
AC Power
Input
|
|
115 and 230
VAC
± 10%
|
Settable on rear
panel
|
|
AC Mains
Fuse
|
115
VAC
|
1 A slow blow (2A
opt 03)
|
250 V
type
|
|
|
230
VAC |
500 mA slow blow
(1A opt 03) |
250 V type
|
| Dimensions |
depth x width x
height (mm) |
370 x 300 x 85
|
|
| Weight |
|
8
kg's |
|
|
Accessories
Furnished
|
|
Operating Manual,
Power Cord
|
|
Protek Universal
Counter
This model covers the 0.01 Hz to 3 GHz frequency
range. It can measure frequency, period, time interval, Totalize
etc.
|
