Jackson Labs PHASE STATION 53100A User manual

TM
53100A Phase Noise Test Set
User’s Manual
Revision 1.04
April 25, 2022

PhaseStation 53100A User’s Manual V1.04 25-Apr-2022 ii
Rev 1.00 (1-Oct-19) Initial
Rev 1.01 (29-Apr-20) Added reference to TSERVE remote access server
Rev 1.02 (30-Jan-21) Updated for TimeLab beta 1.53
Rev 1.03 (3-Mar-21) Updated for TimeLab beta 1.54
Rev 1.04 (25-Apr-22) Updated for TimeLab beta 1.6
Manual and software copyright © 2022 Miles Design LLC and Jackson Labs Technologies, Inc. . All rights reserved.
All product names, trademarks and registered trademarks used in this document are property of their respective owners.

PhaseStation 53100A User’s Manual V1.04 25-Apr-2022 iii
Table of Contents
Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 15
Specifications ........................................................................................................................................ 17
Getting Started...................................................................................................................................... 19
What’s in the box?............................................................................................................................. 19
USB driver and software installation.................................................................................................. 19
Support ............................................................................................................................................. 19
Installing TimeLab™ ........................................................................................................................... 21
Performance notes ............................................................................................................................ 22
Front panel features .......................................................................................................................... 23
Rear panel features ........................................................................................................................... 25
Guidelines for input signal connections.............................................................................................. 26
Choosing reference sources............................................................................................................... 26
Working with dual reference sources................................................................................................. 28
Making your first measurements ....................................................................................................... 31
Tips for new users.............................................................................................................................. 34
Next steps ......................................................................................................................................... 35
Block diagram.................................................................................................................................... 37
A brief architectural note................................................................................................................... 39
Making Measurements.......................................................................................................................... 41
“What’s all this ADEV stuff, anyhow?” ............................................................................................... 43
Allan Deviation (a) .........................................................................................................................................................44
Modified Allan Deviation (m) .........................................................................................................................................45
Hadamard Deviation (h).................................................................................................................................................45
Time Deviation (t)..........................................................................................................................................................46
Maximum Time Interval Error (M) ..................................................................................................................................46
Examining changes in stability over time ........................................................................................................................47
Common artifacts in ADEV and related measurements ...................................................................................................48
Hints for xDEV measurements........................................................................................................................................53
Working with phase- and frequency-difference traces....................................................................... 55
Phase difference (Original) (w).......................................................................................................................................55

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Phase difference (Unwrapped) (p)..................................................................................................................................55
Frequency difference (f).................................................................................................................................................56
How does TimeLab measure frequency? ........................................................................................................................57
Phase/frequency measurements with the 53100A..........................................................................................................57
Examining traces in detail ..............................................................................................................................................58
Navigating zoomed graphs.............................................................................................................................................59
Hints for phase/frequency stability measurements.........................................................................................................61
Phase noise, AM noise, and jitter....................................................................................................... 63
Integrated noise and jitter measurement .......................................................................................................................65
The spur table................................................................................................................................................................66
Show or hide known spurs .............................................................................................................................................66
Spur measurement options............................................................................................................................................67
Is it a spur, or isn’t it?.....................................................................................................................................................68
Understanding instrument spurs....................................................................................................................................69
Manual spur removal.....................................................................................................................................................70
Using noise markers.......................................................................................................................................................71
Hints for noise measurements........................................................................................................................................72
TimeLab Command Reference............................................................................................................... 73
File menu........................................................................................................................................... 75
Load .TIM file (l).............................................................................................................................................................75
Save image or .TIM file (s)..............................................................................................................................................75
Copy image to clipboard (Ctrl-c) .....................................................................................................................................76
Import .RES or .PNP phase noise data (N) .......................................................................................................................76
Import ASCII phase or frequency data (L)........................................................................................................................76
Export ASCII phase data (x) ............................................................................................................................................77
Export ASCII frequency data (X)......................................................................................................................................77
Export binary phase data ...............................................................................................................................................78
Export phase data to Stable32 (Ctrl-x) ............................................................................................................................78
Export ASCII xDEV trace .................................................................................................................................................79
Export ASCII AM/PM noise trace ....................................................................................................................................79
Export AM/PM spur table ..............................................................................................................................................79
Exported ASCII files include headers for Microsemi TimeMonitor....................................................................................80
Print image....................................................................................................................................................................80
Scale file dialogs by window size ....................................................................................................................................80
Confirmation prompts default to Yes..............................................................................................................................80
Limit MTIE processing to 10K points...............................................................................................................................80

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Warn before exiting with unsaved plots .........................................................................................................................80
Warn before retriggering measurement in progress .......................................................................................................80
Reset all parameters, options, and settings at next startup .............................................................................................81
Close selected plot (Del).................................................................................................................................................81
Close all visible plots (Home)..........................................................................................................................................81
Delete selected plot’s .TIM file (Ctrl-Del) ........................................................................................................................81
Quit (q or Esc)................................................................................................................................................................81
Edit Menu.......................................................................................................................................... 83
Trace properties (e) .......................................................................................................................................................83
Flatten selected noise region (Ctrl-F8) ............................................................................................................................85
Restore flattened noise regions (Ctrl-F9) ........................................................................................................................86
Flatten selected or zoomed phase data (Ctrl-f) ...............................................................................................................86
Remove selected or zoomed phase data (F4)..................................................................................................................87
Subtract global linear phase trend (frequency offset) (Ctrl-o) ..........................................................................................88
Subtract global linear frequency trend (drift line) (Ctrl-l).................................................................................................88
Subtract quadratic linear frequency trend (drift curve) (Ctrl-q)........................................................................................88
Apply notch filter to phase data (Ctrl-n)..........................................................................................................................89
Undo last flatten or subtract operation (Ctrl-z) ...............................................................................................................90
Trace Menu ....................................................................................................................................... 91
Phase/frequency traces begin at zero (z) ........................................................................................................................91
Show linear phase/frequency residual (r) .......................................................................................................................91
Show linear phase/frequency trend (Ctrl-t).....................................................................................................................93
Phase/frequency Y axis unlocked in zoom mode (y) ........................................................................................................93
Averaging window for phase/frequency traces (g) ..........................................................................................................94
Increase averaging window (Ctrl +).................................................................................................................................94
Decrease averaging window (Ctrl -) ................................................................................................................................94
Draw xDEV traces with spline interpolation (i) ................................................................................................................95
Show xDEV error bars (Ctrl-e).........................................................................................................................................96
Clip xDEV traces by noise bandwidth (Ctrl-b) ..................................................................................................................96
Clip xDEV traces by confidence (Ctrl-v) ...........................................................................................................................96
Show separated xDEV variances (N-cornered hat) when available (Ctrl-h) .......................................................................97
Show cross ADEV traces when available (Ctrl-j)...............................................................................................................98
Show original traces in computed xDEV displays (F6) ......................................................................................................98
Show correlation gain for selected noise trace (Ctrl-g) ....................................................................................................98
Show FFT segment filter slopes (Ctrl-i)............................................................................................................................99
Show imaginary part of cross spectrum (Ctrl-F3)...........................................................................................................100

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Show estimated instrument noise (F2) .........................................................................................................................100
Mark spurs in noise traces (Ctrl-m)...............................................................................................................................101
Suppress spurs in noise traces (Ctrl-s)...........................................................................................................................101
Smooth noise traces (Ctrl-w)........................................................................................................................................101
Show raw noise trace(s) (Ctrl-r) ....................................................................................................................................101
Show AM noise in PN view (F8) ....................................................................................................................................102
Tick marks (k) ..............................................................................................................................................................103
Toggle trace thickness for current measurement (T) .....................................................................................................103
Display Menu .................................................................................................................................. 105
Edit colors ...................................................................................................................................................................105
Edit selected trace color (E)..........................................................................................................................................105
Restore default colors..................................................................................................................................................105
Restore selected trace color.........................................................................................................................................105
High contrast (C)..........................................................................................................................................................106
Set spot cursor positions (j)..........................................................................................................................................106
Show numeric tables (Ctrl-n)........................................................................................................................................106
Clear noise markers (Ctrl-F4) ........................................................................................................................................107
Show cursor time (Ss) ..................................................................................................................................................107
Show cursor time (Hh:Mm:Ss)......................................................................................................................................107
Show cursor time/datestamp.......................................................................................................................................107
Do not show cursor values ...........................................................................................................................................107
Phase/frequency X axis labels in Ss format ...................................................................................................................107
Phase/frequency X axis labels in Hh:Mm:Ss format.......................................................................................................107
Phase/frequency X axis labels in Hh:Mm format ...........................................................................................................107
Phase/frequency X axis labels in Hh format ..................................................................................................................107
Tau labels in scientific notation ....................................................................................................................................108
Browse plots one at a time (b)......................................................................................................................................108
Overlay all loaded plots (o)...........................................................................................................................................108
Toggle visibility of selected plot (v)...............................................................................................................................108
Select next plot in chart (+ or down arrow)...................................................................................................................108
Select previous plot in chart (- or up arrow)..................................................................................................................108
Move selected plot up (Ctrl-up arrow)..........................................................................................................................108
Move selected plot down (Ctrl-down arrow) ................................................................................................................108
X zoom in ( ] ) ..............................................................................................................................................................109
X zoom out ( [ ) ............................................................................................................................................................109
Y zoom in ( } )...............................................................................................................................................................109

PhaseStation 53100A User’s Manual V1.04 25-Apr-2022 vii
Y zoom out ( { ) ............................................................................................................................................................109
Decrease font size ( ( or Ctrl-mouse wheel )..................................................................................................................109
Increase font size ( ) or Ctrl-mouse wheel )...................................................................................................................109
Refresh ( F5 ) ...............................................................................................................................................................109
Legend Menu................................................................................................................................... 110
Measurement Menu ........................................................................................................................ 115
Masks Menu.................................................................................................................................... 117
Clear mask selection ....................................................................................................................................................117
User-defined mask entries ...........................................................................................................................................118
Edit mask definitions . . . ..............................................................................................................................................118
Scripts Menu ................................................................................................................................... 119
Creating a new test script.............................................................................................................................................119
Examples .....................................................................................................................................................................119
Run script ….................................................................................................................................................................120
Edit script ….................................................................................................................................................................120
Delete script ….............................................................................................................................................................120
Run last-executed script (Shift-Space)...........................................................................................................................120
Toggle script console for selected plot (F11) .................................................................................................................121
Stop all running scripts (F12)........................................................................................................................................121
Acquire Menu.................................................................................................................................. 123
Jackson Labs PhaseStation / Microchip 53100A ............................................................................................................123
Miles Design TimePod..................................................................................................................................................123
Acquire from counter in Talk-Only mode......................................................................................................................123
Acquire from live ASCII file...........................................................................................................................................124
HP 53131A/53132A/53181A and 53220A/53230A .......................................................................................................124
HP 5335A and 5370A/B................................................................................................................................................124
HP 5371A/5372A .........................................................................................................................................................124
Philips/Fluke PM6680 ..................................................................................................................................................124
Picotest/Array U6200A series.......................................................................................................................................124
Stanford Research SR620 .............................................................................................................................................124
Wavecrest DTS-2050/2070 series.................................................................................................................................124
Symmetricom 5115A / 5120A / 5125A (Frequency stability)..........................................................................................125
Symmetricom 5115A / 5120A / 5125A (Phase noise).....................................................................................................125
Stop/repeat acquisition (Space) ...................................................................................................................................125
Abort and retrigger selected acquisition (Ctrl-a) ...........................................................................................................126
Keep and retrigger selected acquisition (Ctrl-k).............................................................................................................126

PhaseStation 53100A User’s Manual V1.04 25-Apr-2022 viii
Acquisition options (Ctrl-F7).........................................................................................................................................127
Enable deferred acquisition (Ctrl-d)..............................................................................................................................128
Trigger deferred acquisition(s) (Enter)..........................................................................................................................128
Help Menu....................................................................................................................................... 129
User guide (F1) ............................................................................................................................................................129
About TimeLab ............................................................................................................................................................129
Debug mode................................................................................................................................................................129
Check for updates (Ctrl-u) ............................................................................................................................................129
PhaseStation 53100A Measurement Roles........................................................................................... 131
Measure single DUT with single external reference.......................................................................................................131
Measure single DUT with dual internal references........................................................................................................132
Measure single DUT with dual external references .......................................................................................................132
Measure two DUTs with single external reference........................................................................................................133
Measure three DUTs with single external reference......................................................................................................133
Measure three independent DUTs (three-cornered hat) ...............................................................................................135
Measure single DUT with cross ADEV statistics .............................................................................................................136
Manual configuration ..................................................................................................................................................139
Two-Port Residual Measurements....................................................................................................... 141
JavaScript API Function Reference ....................................................................................................... 145
AcqChannel([Number user_value, ] Number channel)...................................................................................................145
AcqCheckOptions(String option_name [{, String option_name}]) ..................................................................................145
AcqClearParams() ........................................................................................................................................................146
AcqGetAMSpurTable(Array offset_array, Array amplitude_array) .................................................................................146
AcqGetPMSpurTable(Array offset_array, Array amplitude_array) .................................................................................146
AcqGetXDEVBins(String selection, Array tau_array, Array sigma_array).........................................................................146
AcqGetXDEVChart(Array tau_array, Array sigma_array)................................................................................................146
AcqNumAcquiredPoints().............................................................................................................................................146
AcqNumChannels() ......................................................................................................................................................147
AcqParam(String key)...................................................................................................................................................147
AcqStrParam(String key) ..............................................................................................................................................147
AcqNumParam(String key) ...........................................................................................................................................147
AcqReadAMNoiseTrace(Number offset_Hz) .................................................................................................................147
AcqReadPMNoiseTrace(Number offset_Hz)..................................................................................................................147
AcqSetParam(String key, String value) ..........................................................................................................................148
AcqStartAcquisition(String menu_entry, Boolean skip_dialog [, Number user_value]) ...................................................148
AcqStopAcquisition() ...................................................................................................................................................149

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AcqSetupEnd().............................................................................................................................................................149
DisplayFontSize([Number points])................................................................................................................................149
DisplayOverlayMode([Boolean overlay_mode])............................................................................................................149
DisplayShowNumTab([Boolean status])........................................................................................................................149
DisplayRefresh([Number mask])...................................................................................................................................150
DisplaySpotTau(Number secs)......................................................................................................................................150
DisplaySpotTime(Number secs)....................................................................................................................................150
DisplaySpotOffset(Number Hz).....................................................................................................................................150
DisplaySpotLowerOffset(Number Hz) ...........................................................................................................................150
DisplaySpotUpperOffset(Number Hz) ...........................................................................................................................150
EventAcqDone([success][,user]) ...................................................................................................................................150
EventAcqSetup([user]) .................................................................................................................................................151
EventAcqTriggered([user]) ...........................................................................................................................................151
EventRunScript()..........................................................................................................................................................151
EventTimer()................................................................................................................................................................152
FileCloseAllChannels()..................................................................................................................................................152
FileCloseAllPlots() ........................................................................................................................................................152
FileClosePlot([Number selection]) ................................................................................................................................152
FileExecute[Wait](String path_to_file [, String params])................................................................................................153
FileExecute()................................................................................................................................................................153
FileExitApplication([code]) ...........................................................................................................................................153
FileExists(String path, [String subdir,] String filename) ..................................................................................................153
FileImageURI() .............................................................................................................................................................154
FileLoad(String path, [String subdir,] String filename)....................................................................................................154
FileNumLoadedPlots()..................................................................................................................................................154
FileNumUnsavedPlots()................................................................................................................................................154
FileSave(String path, [String subdir,] String filename)....................................................................................................154
FileSaveText(String path, [String subdir,] String filename, String contents) ....................................................................155
LegendSelect([String field_name] [,] [Boolean status])..................................................................................................155
MaskResultMargin([Number mask_num]) ....................................................................................................................155
MaskResultValid([Number mask_num]) .......................................................................................................................156
MaskSelect([String mask_name [, Number mask_num]) ...............................................................................................156
MeasurementSelectView(String hotkey).......................................................................................................................157
MeasurementDeferSelectView(String hotkey) ..............................................................................................................157
MeasurementView()....................................................................................................................................................157
Print(…) .......................................................................................................................................................................157
ScriptBindToPlot(Number selection).............................................................................................................................157

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ScriptBoundToPlot().....................................................................................................................................................158
ScriptEnd()...................................................................................................................................................................158
ScriptFilename(Boolean full_path) ...............................................................................................................................158
ScriptGetString(String heading, String message, Object user_text, String b1_text [, String b2_text [, String b3_txt]]) ......159
ScriptHostFilename([bool full_path])............................................................................................................................159
ScriptLastStatusMessage() ...........................................................................................................................................160
ScriptMessageBox(String heading, String message, String b1_text [, String b2_text [, String b3_txt]]) ............................160
ScriptMinsToHMS(Number minutes) ............................................................................................................................160
ScriptNumParam(Number n ).......................................................................................................................................161
ScriptNumVal(String format_string, Number value) ......................................................................................................161
ScriptParamCount() .....................................................................................................................................................161
ScriptPlaySound(String filename) .................................................................................................................................161
ScriptSetTTYHeader(Number linenum [, String text]) ....................................................................................................162
ScriptShowTTY([Boolean show])...................................................................................................................................162
ScriptStrParam(Number n ) ..........................................................................................................................................162
ScriptUnbind() .............................................................................................................................................................162
SetupDetectedAmpldBfs..............................................................................................................................................162
SetupDetectedValid.....................................................................................................................................................162
SetupDetectedFreqHz..................................................................................................................................................163
SetupDetectSignals......................................................................................................................................................163
SetupMeasuredAmpldBm ............................................................................................................................................163
SetupMeasuredFreqHz ................................................................................................................................................163
SetupMeasureSignals...................................................................................................................................................163
SetupNumQuery..........................................................................................................................................................163
SetupSetDefaultAttenuation ........................................................................................................................................163
SetupStrQuery.............................................................................................................................................................163
TimeHoursSinceTrigger()..............................................................................................................................................163
TimeMinsSinceTrigger() ...............................................................................................................................................163
TimeSecsSinceTrigger() ................................................................................................................................................163
TimeSetTimer(Number msec [, Boolean persist]) ..........................................................................................................163
TraceAvgWindow([Number seconds]) ..........................................................................................................................164
TraceFreqZero([Boolean status]) ..................................................................................................................................164
TraceMarkSpurs([Boolean status]) ...............................................................................................................................164
TraceNCorneredHat([Boolean status])..........................................................................................................................164
TraceOverlayAMPM([Boolean status])..........................................................................................................................164
TracePhaseFreqAutoY([Boolean status]).......................................................................................................................164
TracePhaseFreqResid([Boolean status])........................................................................................................................165

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TracePhaseFreqTrend([Boolean status]) .......................................................................................................................165
TracePhaseFreqZero([Boolean status]) .........................................................................................................................165
TracePhaseZero([Boolean status])................................................................................................................................165
TraceShowCorrGain([Boolean status])..........................................................................................................................165
TraceShowCrossStatistics([Boolean status])..................................................................................................................165
TraceShowHatStatistics([Boolean status]).....................................................................................................................166
TraceShowImag([Boolean status]) ................................................................................................................................166
TraceShowNoiseFloor([Boolean status]) .......................................................................................................................166
TraceShowOriginal([Boolean status])............................................................................................................................166
TraceShowRaw([Boolean status]).................................................................................................................................166
TraceShowSlopes([Boolean status])..............................................................................................................................166
TraceSmoothNoise([Boolean status]) ...........................................................................................................................166
TraceSuppressSpurs([Boolean status])..........................................................................................................................167
TraceThickness([Number status]) .................................................................................................................................167
TraceTickMarks([Boolean status]) ................................................................................................................................167
TraceXDEVBars([Boolean status]) .................................................................................................................................167
TraceXDEVClipBW([Boolean status]).............................................................................................................................167
TraceXDEVClipConfidence([Boolean status]).................................................................................................................167
TraceXDEVSpline([Boolean status]) ..............................................................................................................................167
Accessing the PhaseStation and TimePod Remotely ............................................................................ 169
Introduction to STREAM .................................................................................................................. 169
Launching STREAM .......................................................................................................................... 169
Using STREAM ................................................................................................................................. 171
/serial:<sernum> .........................................................................................................................................................171
/file:<filename>...........................................................................................................................................................171
/logfile:<filename> ......................................................................................................................................................172
/port:<portnum> .........................................................................................................................................................172
/msglvl:<0-5>...............................................................................................................................................................173
/format:<P, F, TSC>......................................................................................................................................................173
/window:<samples>.....................................................................................................................................................174
/rate:<1, 10, 100, 1000>...............................................................................................................................................176
/timestamp:<s, MJD>...................................................................................................................................................176
/sep:<character> .........................................................................................................................................................176
/ref:<Hz> .....................................................................................................................................................................177
/input:<Hz> .................................................................................................................................................................177
/autoupdate ................................................................................................................................................................178

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/noexit ........................................................................................................................................................................179
/notcp .........................................................................................................................................................................179
/nowarnings ................................................................................................................................................................179
Introduction to TSERVE.................................................................................................................... 180
Launching TSERVE............................................................................................................................ 180
TSERVE command line options and defaults .................................................................................... 181
/am:<true | false> .......................................................................................................................................................182
/ch:<chanexpr>............................................................................................................................................................182
/chart:<secs>...............................................................................................................................................................183
/cmd_port:<port #>.....................................................................................................................................................183
/data_port:<port #>.....................................................................................................................................................183
/dateformat:<1,2,3> ....................................................................................................................................................184
/duration:<seconds>....................................................................................................................................................184
/file:<filename>...........................................................................................................................................................184
/format:<P, F, TSC>......................................................................................................................................................185
/inputfreq:<MHz>........................................................................................................................................................185
/logfile:<filename> ......................................................................................................................................................186
/model:<name>...........................................................................................................................................................186
/msglvl:<0-7>...............................................................................................................................................................186
/noprompt ..................................................................................................................................................................186
/notify.........................................................................................................................................................................186
/overlap ......................................................................................................................................................................187
/phasedec ...................................................................................................................................................................187
/phaserate...................................................................................................................................................................187
/referencefreq:<MHz> .................................................................................................................................................188
/roundfreq:<MHz>.......................................................................................................................................................188
/ sep:<character>.........................................................................................................................................................189
/ timestamp:<s, MJD, UNIX> ........................................................................................................................................189
/serial:<sernum> .........................................................................................................................................................190
/smooth:<0,1,2>..........................................................................................................................................................190
/spur_dB:<dB>.............................................................................................................................................................191
/spur_Hz:<Hz> .............................................................................................................................................................191
/start...........................................................................................................................................................................191
/timeformat:<12,24> ...................................................................................................................................................191
/timestamp:<s, MJD, UNIX> .........................................................................................................................................191
/title:<string> ..............................................................................................................................................................191

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/update.......................................................................................................................................................................192
/wait ...........................................................................................................................................................................192
/warn ..........................................................................................................................................................................193
TSERVE remote commands.............................................................................................................. 194
beep............................................................................................................................................................................195
close............................................................................................................................................................................195
exit..............................................................................................................................................................................196
help [<command>].......................................................................................................................................................196
history.........................................................................................................................................................................196
logout..........................................................................................................................................................................196
measurelinear .............................................................................................................................................................196
open <filename>..........................................................................................................................................................196
pause <chart>..............................................................................................................................................................197
prompt <on|off> .........................................................................................................................................................197
quit .............................................................................................................................................................................197
removelinear <on|off> ................................................................................................................................................197
reset............................................................................................................................................................................197
resume <chart> ...........................................................................................................................................................197
selftest ........................................................................................................................................................................198
set <. . .>......................................................................................................................................................................199
show <. . .> ..................................................................................................................................................................200
shutdown....................................................................................................................................................................208
start ............................................................................................................................................................................208
Compatibility notes ......................................................................................................................... 209
Measurement example: Phase data streaming ................................................................................ 210
Measurement example: Phase noise plot acquisition....................................................................... 212
Appendix: Legal and regulatory notices ............................................................................................... 215
Federal Communications Commission Statement ............................................................................ 216
EC Declaration of Conformity........................................................................................................... 216
Performance Certification and Validation ........................................................................................ 217
Warranty ......................................................................................................................................... 217
Limitation of Warranty .................................................................................................................... 217
Exclusive Remedies.......................................................................................................................... 217
Software License: TimeLab .............................................................................................................. 218
Software License: FFTSS................................................................................................................... 218

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Software License: FIDLIB.................................................................................................................. 220
Software License: V8 JavaScript Engine............................................................................................ 225

PhaseStation 53100A User’s Manual V1.04 25-Apr-2022 15
Introduction
The 53100A Phase Noise Test Set measures the amplitude, phase and frequency stability of high-
performance RF sources and two-port devices. Carrier frequencies from 1 MHz to 200 MHz are
supported with direct front-panel access to all four measurement channels. The 53100A tells you
everything you need to know about the stability characteristics of your devices, at timescales ranging
from femtoseconds to days.
Measurements made by the 53100A include the following:
-Real-time ‘strip charts’ of phase and frequency differences at subpicosecond precision
-Absolute frequency counts at 13+ digits per second, 17 digits maximum
-Allan deviation (ADEV) typically less than 5E-15 at t=1s
-Modified Allan deviation (MDEV), Hadamard deviation (HDEV), and time deviation (TDEV)
-Fast realtime computation of Maximum Time Interval Error (MTIE)
-Phase noise and AM noise at offsets from 0.001 Hz to 1 MHz and levels below -175 dBc/Hz
-RMS-integrated time jitter with less than 50 fs residual jitter from 0.1 Hz to 1 MHz
-RMS-integrated phase noise, residual FM, and SSB carrier/noise ratio
Using high performance host-based DSP techniques on a Windows® PC, all of these measurements can
be made simultaneously. Results appear as you watch – and you can save, view, compare, export, or
print them at any time. Accuracy and stability are inherited from a user-supplied external reference
which can run at any frequency within the supported range, with no calibration required by the
instrument itself.

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PhaseStation 53100A User’s Manual V1.04 25-Apr-2022 17
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
Note: Due to the use of cross correlation to cancel instrument noise, performance depends strongly on measurement time and
available signal levels. Specifications are based on measurements at +15 dBm after a two-hour warmup in a temperature-
stable environment, with trace smoothing and overlapped acquisition enabled. Under these conditions, 5-10 MHz signals are
typically measurable to better than -175 dBc/Hz at offsets > 10 kHz after less than 5 minutes. Lower-amplitude signals, signals
near the frequency-coverage limits, and measurements of very low close-in noise may require more time to converge.

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Getting Started
What’s in the box?
Please check the contents of your package carefully upon arrival. Each PhaseStation 53100A unit from
Jackson Labs Technologies should be accompanied by the following items:
•(1) USB 2.0 cable, A Male / B Male
•(1) Power supply
•(2) N-M / BNC-F coax adapters
•(5) 1” (25.4 mm) SMA-M / SMA-M coax jumpers (preinstalled)
Additionally, each PhaseStation 53100A delivered to North American customers includes a standard
IEC320 / NEMA 5-15P power cord for 120V service. For operation in other countries, the 53100A’s
power supply accepts 50/60 Hz AC power at all standard line voltages from 100V to 240V, and is
compatible with IEC320-C14 power cords available locally.
USB driver and software installation
The current TimeLab release may be downloaded from http://www.miles.io/timelab/readme.htm.
Please install the most recent version of TimeLab before using your new 53100A!
The 53100A user manual also serves as the primary software documentation for TimeLab. The latest
version of the 53100A user manual is available at
http://www.miles.io/PhaseStation_53100A_user_manual.pdf.
Support
For prompt assistance with software issues, contact Miles Design LLC at [e-mail] .
For hardware and warranty-support issues, please contact Jackson Labs Technologies, Inc. at
http://www.jackson-labs.com/index.php/support, or the distributor from whom you purchased the
instrument.

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