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Can ADEV of a frequency source be correctly determined using a continuous time-stamping frequency counter?

LM
Lewis Masters
Wed, Nov 10, 2021 6:36 PM

Hi,

Anders Wallin has details of a commercially available time stamping counter
that will do a proper ADEV measurement.  He also includes links to other
interesting sources.

Search for:

CONT vs RCON mode on the 53230A frequency counter
<http://www.anderswallin.net/2015/06/cont-vs-rcon-mode-on-the-53230a-frequen
cy-counter/> - anderswallin.net

1604.05076.pdf (arxiv.org) https://arxiv.org/pdf/1604.05076.pdf

Lew

Hi, Anders Wallin has details of a commercially available time stamping counter that will do a proper ADEV measurement. He also includes links to other interesting sources. Search for: CONT vs RCON mode on the 53230A frequency counter <http://www.anderswallin.net/2015/06/cont-vs-rcon-mode-on-the-53230a-frequen cy-counter/> - anderswallin.net 1604.05076.pdf (arxiv.org) <https://arxiv.org/pdf/1604.05076.pdf> Lew
EK
Erik Kaashoek
Thu, Nov 11, 2021 3:02 PM

Lewis
The interesting source you referred to contained a slide deck which
turned out to be a gold mine for a novice like me.
http://rubiola.org/pdf-slides/2012T-IFCS-Counters.pdf
This should be on leapsecond
Many thanks!!!!
Erik.

On 10-11-2021 19:36, Lewis Masters wrote:

Hi,

Anders Wallin has details of a commercially available time stamping counter
that will do a proper ADEV measurement.  He also includes links to other
interesting sources.

Search for:

CONT vs RCON mode on the 53230A frequency counter
<http://www.anderswallin.net/2015/06/cont-vs-rcon-mode-on-the-53230a-frequen
cy-counter/> - anderswallin.net

1604.05076.pdf (arxiv.org) https://arxiv.org/pdf/1604.05076.pdf

Lew


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Lewis The interesting source you referred to contained a slide deck which turned out to be a gold mine for a novice like me. http://rubiola.org/pdf-slides/2012T-IFCS-Counters.pdf This should be on leapsecond Many thanks!!!! Erik. On 10-11-2021 19:36, Lewis Masters wrote: > Hi, > > > > Anders Wallin has details of a commercially available time stamping counter > that will do a proper ADEV measurement. He also includes links to other > interesting sources. > > > > Search for: > > CONT vs RCON mode on the 53230A frequency counter > <http://www.anderswallin.net/2015/06/cont-vs-rcon-mode-on-the-53230a-frequen > cy-counter/> - anderswallin.net > > 1604.05076.pdf (arxiv.org) <https://arxiv.org/pdf/1604.05076.pdf> > > > > Lew > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com -- To unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to and follow the instructions there.
MD
Magnus Danielson
Thu, Nov 11, 2021 3:51 PM

Hi,

I strongly recommend the HP AN200 series of application notes. Having
those alongside Enricos slides is a good start for those new in the field.

There is one variant of averaging which is used in the HP5328A/B
counters that is described there that is not covered in Enrico Rubiolas
otherwise excellent set of slides.

A more updated version exist in the Rohde, Rubiola, Whitaker "Microwave
and Wireless Syntesizers" book. The PDEV was not published in 2012, but
came in 2014. PDEV is now included in the IEEE 1139 draft, going through
the voting process.

Many modern counters have used the method of charging a capactor and
then read that charge out either as a pulse (Nutt interpolator) or
through A/D conversion such as SR-620, Pendulum/Fluke CNT-80/81/90/91
and Wavecrest DTS and SIAs. Modern FPGA based tapped delay was used
already in HP5371A but is now used in FPGA and ASIC for higher
resolution and is for sure comming along strong in commercial and
academic counters.

Cheers,
Magnus

On 2021-11-11 16:02, Erik Kaashoek wrote:

Lewis
The interesting source you referred to contained a slide deck which
turned out to be a gold mine for a novice like me.
http://rubiola.org/pdf-slides/2012T-IFCS-Counters.pdf
This should be on leapsecond
Many thanks!!!!
Erik.

On 10-11-2021 19:36, Lewis Masters wrote:

Hi,

Anders Wallin has details of a commercially available time stamping
counter
that will do a proper ADEV measurement.  He also includes links to other
interesting sources.

Search for:

CONT vs RCON mode on the 53230A frequency counter
<http://www.anderswallin.net/2015/06/cont-vs-rcon-mode-on-the-53230a-frequen

cy-counter/> - anderswallin.net

1604.05076.pdf (arxiv.org) https://arxiv.org/pdf/1604.05076.pdf

Lew


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Hi, I strongly recommend the HP AN200 series of application notes. Having those alongside Enricos slides is a good start for those new in the field. There is one variant of averaging which is used in the HP5328A/B counters that is described there that is not covered in Enrico Rubiolas otherwise excellent set of slides. A more updated version exist in the Rohde, Rubiola, Whitaker "Microwave and Wireless Syntesizers" book. The PDEV was not published in 2012, but came in 2014. PDEV is now included in the IEEE 1139 draft, going through the voting process. Many modern counters have used the method of charging a capactor and then read that charge out either as a pulse (Nutt interpolator) or through A/D conversion such as SR-620, Pendulum/Fluke CNT-80/81/90/91 and Wavecrest DTS and SIAs. Modern FPGA based tapped delay was used already in HP5371A but is now used in FPGA and ASIC for higher resolution and is for sure comming along strong in commercial and academic counters. Cheers, Magnus On 2021-11-11 16:02, Erik Kaashoek wrote: > Lewis > The interesting source you referred to contained a slide deck which > turned out to be a gold mine for a novice like me. > http://rubiola.org/pdf-slides/2012T-IFCS-Counters.pdf > This should be on leapsecond > Many thanks!!!! > Erik. > > On 10-11-2021 19:36, Lewis Masters wrote: >> Hi, >> >> >> Anders Wallin has details of a commercially available time stamping >> counter >> that will do a proper ADEV measurement.  He also includes links to other >> interesting sources. >> >> >> Search for: >> >> CONT vs RCON mode on the 53230A frequency counter >> <http://www.anderswallin.net/2015/06/cont-vs-rcon-mode-on-the-53230a-frequen >> >> cy-counter/> - anderswallin.net >> >> 1604.05076.pdf (arxiv.org) <https://arxiv.org/pdf/1604.05076.pdf> >> >> >> Lew >> >> _______________________________________________ >> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com -- To unsubscribe >> send an email to time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com >> To unsubscribe, go to and follow the instructions there. > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com -- To unsubscribe > send an email to time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to and follow the instructions there.