Racal Instruments 2151 User manual

PUBLICATION NUMBER A1571
ISSUE 2.5.95
AND
20 GHz AND 2.6 GHz
VXI COUNTERS
RACAL INSTRUMENTS LTD.
RACAL INSTRUMENTS LTD.
480 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire SL1 6BE, England.
Telephone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]
RACAL INSTRUMENTS INC.
4Goodyear Street, P.0. Box C-19541, Irvine. CA 92713, USA.
Telephone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]
RACAL SYSTEMS ELECTRONIQUE S.A.
18 Avenue Dutarte, 78150 Le Chesnay, France.
Telephone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]
RACAL SYSTEMS ELETTRONICA srl
Strada 2, Palazzo C4
20090 Miianofiori Assago Milan, Italy.
Telephone: [phone] (auLres.). Fax: [phone]
RACAL ELECTRONIK SYSTEM GmbH
Frankenforster Slrasse 21, 51427 Bergisch Gladbach 1, Germany.
Telephone: [phone]. Fax: [phone] EEX3EB
PUBLICATION DATE: MARCH 1991
Copyright ®1991 by Racai-Dana Instruments Ltd. Printed In England. All rights reserved.
This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publishers.
»

C€
CE CONFORMITY:
EC Directives 73/23/EEC, 89/336/EEC, 92/31/EEC and 93/68/EEC
Units that carry the CE mark are designed to conform to standards, EN 61010-1, EN
50081-1, EN 50082-1, when used in accordance with these instructions.
SAFETY
Always operate the product in accordance with the instructions in this manual.
EMC
To ensure that EMC integrity is retained always follow good EMC practice. In
particular:
(1) Use good quality coaxial connections for signal input and output leads
(2) Use good quality screened data or control cables and connectors.
(3) Ensure that cable screens are properly terminated within the connectors. Do
not use cables if the terminations are loose or frayed.
(4) Ensure that the screening is continuous through to the chassis of the
equipment.
(5) Ensure that filler panels are fitted to all unused slots in the VXI mainframe.
(6) Note it may be necessary to fit EMI suppression ferrites to one or more of the
connecting leads to ensure compliance of the complete system with EMC regulations.
(7) Ensure that any associated equipment is CE^marked or is of good EMC design
and performance.
(2151)
RACAL Instruments Ltd.

GGSCIB
[A1571 |Microwave Counter :2151

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Paragraph Title Page
SECTION 1TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION... 1-1
SECTION 2GENERAL DESCRIPTION 2-1
1INTRODUCTION 2-1
3MEASUREMENT FUNCTIONS 2-1
3Frequency AFunction 2-1
4Frequency BFunction 2-1
5Frequency CFunction (2151 only) 2-1
6Ratio C/B Function (2151 only) 2-1
7Ratio C/A Function (2151 only) 2-1
8Ratio B/A Function 2-1
9CHECK FUNCTION 2-2
10 SIGNAL INPUT CHANNELS 2-2
13 ADDITIONAL FREQ CACQUISITION MODES (2151 ONLY) .2-3
14 MATHS FUNCTIONS 2-3
15 SPECIAL FUNCTIONS 2-3
16 STORE/RECALL FUNCTIONS 2-3
17 SAMPLE RATE 2-3
18 ERROR INDICATION ’I2-4
19 HOLD FEATURE 2-4
20 RESOLUTION AND GATE TIME 2-4
21 EXTERNAL FREQUENCY STANDARD INPUT 2-4
22 INITIALIZATION 2-4
23 VXI INTERFACE 2-5
SECTION 3
1
3
5
6
7
9
10
PREPARATION FOR USE
UNPACKING
SETTING THE LOGICAL ADDRESS AND INTERRUPT
PRIORITY SWITCHES
INSTALLATION
Connection to the VXI
FREQUENCY STANDARD ...
FUNCTIONAL CHECK
VXI Check
13 CHECK Message Check
14 Data Output Check *
15 SRQ and Status Byte Check ...
16 Input Channel Function Checks
3-1
3-1
3-1
3-1
3-1
3-1
3-5
3-5
3-5
3-6
3-6
3-7
SECTION 4
1
2
3
OPERATION VIA THE VXI
INTRODUCTION
DESCRIPTION OF FRONTPANEL CONNECTORS
AND INDICATORS
DESCRIPTION OF SIDE PANEL SETTING CONTROLS
4-1
4-1
4-1
4-2
2151 OPS Contents 1
A1571/DA

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Contd)
Paragraph
4
5
6
7
7
8
9
11
13
15
17
18
19
20
21
22
24
25
26
27
28
29
31
33
35
36
38
40
41
42
43
47
49
50
52
54
55
61
63
66
68
71
72
76
Contents 2
Title Page
INITIAL SWITCH-ON 4.3
FREQUENCY MEASUREMENT -INPUTA4-3
FREQUENCY MEASUREMENT -INPUT B4-4
FREQUENCY MEASUREMENT -INPUT C(2151 ONLY) 4-4
Normal Automatic Mode ... 4-4
Manual Mode 4.5
Further Functions in FREQ C
(Automatic Mode Only) 4_5
Set LOW FM (FREQ C) 14.5
Set TRACK (FREQ C) 4-6
RATIO MEASUREMENTS C/B (2151 ONLY),
C/A (2151 ONLY) AND B/A 4-6
MEASUREMENT SAMPLE RATE 4-7
Setting and Using the Sample Rate 4-7
Interrogating the Sample Rate 4-7
MULTFUNCTION 4.7
Setting the Multiplier 4.7
Enabling the Multiplier 4-7
Interrogating the Multiplier 4-7
OFFSET FUNCTION 4.3
Setting the Offset 4-8
Enabling the Offset 4-8
Interrogating the Offset 4-8
SMOOTH FUNCTION "* 4.3
CLK10 FREQUENCY STANDARD 4-8
GATE TIME 4.9
SPECIAL FUNCTIONS 4-10
Setting the Special Function Register 4-11
Enabling and Disabling the Special Functions .4-1
1
ERROR CODES ~4_ 12
Clearing the Error Codes 4-12
VXI OPERATING MODES I4-13
READING OUT DATA 4-13
CONTROLLING THE INSTRUMENT 4-13
DATA OUTPUT FORMAT -NORMAL 4-14
DATA OUTPUT FORMAT-.DUMP MODES 4-14
REQUESTING SERVICE 4_18
STATUS BYTE 4.I 8
SETTING THE ENABLE REGISTERS ,4-22
MESSAGE PROTOCOL AND SYNTAX 4-22
System Message Traffic 4-22
Program Messages 4-22
Response Messages 4-23
White Space Character 4-23
OVERLAPPED/SEQUENTIAL COMMANDS 4-23
COMMANDS 4-24
2151 OPS
A1571/DA

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Contd)
LIST OFTABLES
Table Title Page
3.1
3.2
3.3
4.1a
4.1b
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.10
4.11
4.12
4.13a
4.13b
4.13c
4.13d
4.14a
4.14b
4.14c
4.14d
4.14e
4.14F
4.14g
4.14b
4.141
4.14j
4.14k
4.141
4.15
4.16
4.17
4.18
4.19
Decimal to Hexadecimal Conversion
Pi VXI Connector Pin Assignment
P2 VXI Connector Pin Assignment
Gate Times for FREQUENCIES Aand B
Gate Times for FREQUENCY C
Major Special Functions
Minor Special Functions
Error Messages
Output Message Format
Function Letters ...
Frequency CDump
Frequency Aand BDump
Associated Registers
Status Byte and Service Request Enable Registers ...
Standard Event Status and Enable Registers
Device Defined Event Status and Enable Registers ...
Common Commands
Common Commands (Continued)
Common Commands (Continued)
Common Commands (Continued)
Device Dependent Commands
Device Dependent Commands (Continued)
Device Dependent Commands (Continued)
Device Dependent Commands (Continued)
Device Dependent Commands (Continued)
Device Dependent Commands (Continued)
Device Dependent Commands (Continued)
Device Dependent Commands (Continued)
Device Dependent Commands (Continued)
Device Dependent Commands (Continued)
Device Dependent Commands (Continued)
Device Dependent Commands (Continued)
Permitted Terminators
Numerical Input Format
Special Function Request (SF?) Response Format ...
Alphabetic List of Required Command Codes
Alphabetic List of Optional Command Codes
3-2
3-3
3-
4
4-
9
4-9
4-10
4-10
4-12
4-15
4-16
4-17
4-17
4-18
4-19
4-20
4-21
4-24
4-25
4-26
4-27
4-28
4-29
4-30
4-31
4-32
4-33
4-34
4-35
4-36
4-37
4-38
4-39
4-40
4-40
4-41
4-41
4-42
2151 OPS Contents 3
A1571/DA
ALOl/Iss.0 1/03.94

SECTION 1TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
Model 2151
Technical Specifications
INPUTS
Input A:
Range 10Hz to 100MHz
Sensitivity 20mV rms 10Hz to 80MHz
30mV 80MHz to 100MHz
Input Impedance 1M ohm/35p F
Maximum Input 260V (DC +AC rms) to 2ltHzp
decreasing to 10V rms at 50kHz
and above
Input Attenuation xl and x20, selectable
Filter 50kHz low pass filter selectable
Input B:
Range 40MHz to 1.3 GHz
Sensitivity lOmV (to 1GHz)
75mV (at 1.3GHz)
Input Impedance 50 ohm nominal
Operating Range lOmV to 5V rms
Damage Overload 7V rms (protected by fuse)
VSWR 2.0 :1typical (to 1GHz)
AM Tolerance ^90% (for trough > minimum
pk-pk sensitivity)
Input C:
Range 500MHz to 20GHz
Sensitivity -32dBm (to 12.4GHz)
-27dBm (to 20GHz)
Maximum
Operating Level +7dBm
Damage Level 25dBmpeak
+33dBm with Option 11 high
power limiter
Input Connector PC 3.5 female
Input VSWR <2:1 to 10GHz
<3 :1to 20GHz
AM Tolerance >90% (for trough > minimum
pk-pk sensitivity)
2151 OPS
A1571/DA
ALGl/Iss.01/03.94
FMTolerance
Mode Modulation Rate FMTolerance
Max. Deviation
Automatic
Normal
Low FM
Track
1kHz -10MHz
45Hz -10MHz
300kHz -10MHz
20MHzpk-pk
20MHz pk-pk
20MHz pk-pk
Manual 1kHz -10MHz 60MHz pk-pk
Aquisition Time
Mode Aquisition Time
Automatic
Normal <125mSec
Low FM <1.255mSec
Track <60mSec
Manual <20raSec
Tracking Speed
Mode Tracking Speed
Normal IMHz/Sec
Low FM 80kHz/Sec
Track 1GHz/Sec
Amplitude
Discrimination
(typical) 6dB for signals within 500MHz
20dB for signals at any frequency
Spillback ^-50dBm
(-70dBm if Input Aor Bselected,
or sleep mode)
Input CModes of Operation:
Normal Counter acquires and measures
frequency of the highest level
signal within the sensitivity range
(subject to amplitude
discrimination specifications).
Optimum internal local oscillator
frequency and harmonic number
are determined automatically.
1-1

Low FM For low modulation rates, Low FM
Mode selects an extended
acquisition time
Track For faster measurement and data
output rates, Track Mode selects
the fastest possible acquisition
cycle and tracks the movement of
fast moving input frequencies
Manual For fastest measurement and data
output rates, Manual Mode
suspends automatic operation and
microprocessor calculates
optimum internal local oscillator
frequency and harmonic number
from auser-entered centre
frequency
NB user enters centre frequency
to within +20MHz of input
frequency (±3MHz below 1GHz)
and for full FM tolerance frequency
mustbe entered with ±1 MHz
IF OUTPUT
Available when measurements are made using Input C
in Manual Mode. Available intermittently during
gate time in Auto Mode (due to acquisition cycle).
Frequency Range
Automatic Mode
and Manual Mode 41MHz to 112MHz
Output Level -lOdBm nominal
Output Impedance 50 ohms nominal
Reverse Damage
Level 50V (DC +AC rms) to 210 KHz,
decreasing to 3V rms at
3.5 MHz and above.
MEASUREMENT MODES
Frequency Aand B:
Range Frequency A10Hz to 100MHz
Range Frequency B40MHz to 1.3 GHz
Digits Displayed
(Resolution) 3tolO digits
LSD Displayed (Hz) Fx10 °
(F =frequency rounded up to
next decade, D=no. of digits)
Frequency C:
Range 500MHz to 20GHz
LSD Displayed
(Resolution) 0.1Hz to 1MHz (selectable)
Ratio B/A:
Available as both software and hardware ratio
Range 40MHz to 1.3 GHz
10Hz to 100MHz
LSD Software (Ratio xF0xlO"$D=B))
D=No. of digits, F0=Input B
frequency rounded to next decade
LSD Hardware 6-9 digits 640 xRatio
Fa xGate Time
3-5 digits As above or Ratio x
10(4'D| whichever is
the greater (D =No.
of digits)
Resolution +LSD +1.4 xATrig Error x Ratio
LGate Time _l
Trigger Error =[E. 2+E2]m
.I... IL—
Slew rate at Trigger Point
Ej =Input noise in 100MHz BW
En=Input amplifier noise
Accuracy +Resolution
Ratio C/A, C/B:
Available as software ratio only
Range C/A 500MHz to 20GHz
lOHzto 100MHz
Range C/B 500MHz to 20GHz
Resolution
(Ratio xFcx10' tD+B))
D=No. of digits selected
Fc=Frequency into input C
rounded to next decade
0.1Hz to 1MHz (selectable)
Accuracy (C/A) ±(accuracy of Fc)±accuracy ofF4
^Fa
Accuracy(C/B) ±(accuracy of Fc)±accuracy of FR
F~ F„
1-2 2151 OPS
A1571/DA
ALOl/Iss.0 1/03.94

Math: Standard Output:
Multiply
Offset
Smooth
Used to multiply readings by the
factor held in the Multipiy store Frequency
(user defined number)
Level
Used to automatically offset
readings by the factor held in the
offset store. The factor may be the
current reading or auser defined impedance
number.
10MHz
TTL compatible giving approxi-
mately IV p-p into 50 ohms
90 ohms nominal
Selects arunning average function Maximum reverse
resolution e] et^to^the °S“ aPP'ied l”P“t*15V with n°PeImanent
of the input signal
T1MEBASE SPECIFICATIONS GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Internal Standard:
(TCXO) Gate Times
Frequency 10MHz Range
Adjusiment
Range
Aging
±5ppm min.(multiple turn
trimmer)
lppm7year Sample Rate
Temp. Stability ±lppm max. with respect to
frequency at 25DCfrom 0DCto 40DCFront Panel:
External Standard Input: Indicators
Frequency 10MHz
Signal Range
Damage Level
lOOmV rms (sine)tolOVrms (sine)
10V rms (sine) Input/Output
Connectors
Input Impedance lkohm nominal
for signals <IV pk-pk
500 ohm nominal
for signals >10V pk-pk
Coupling AC coupled
VXlbus "CLK10"
Standard A10 MHz system clock is sourced
from the VXlbus slot 0controller,
distributed on connector P2,
differential ECL
Rear Panel
Components
Reference Clock If an external 10MHz reference is
connected via front panel input, it
will automatically override the
internal TCXO reference. This is
the ’’counter reference"
Side Panel
Components
Interface commands enable
selection of reference from
"counter reference" or from
"CLK10" input available on
VXlbus backplane
Check 10MHz displayed
Automatically determined
depending on resolution selected
lmSec to 20Sec (lOSec max. for
channel C)
Rate selectable and the value
displayed
Fail :Red
Active :Amber
Gate ;Green
Power :Green
Achannel input (BNC female)
Bchannel input (BNC female)
Cchannel input precision
connector, PC 3.5 female)
External standard input (BNC
female)
10MHz standard output (BNC
female)
IF output for Channel C(BNC
female)
VXlbus interface sockets Pi and
P2 (96-pin DIN pattern)
Logical address selection switches
interrupt level selection switch
2151 OPS
A1571/DA
AL01/Iss.01/03.94