[time-nuts] Re: HP / Agilent 53132A

[Brett Fanoga]

I do not own the 53132A, but I own a 53131A and they are similar.  The 
53132A is rated at 150ps time interval resolution , the 53131A is rated 
at 500 ps resolution.  I believe the 53132A is 12 digit and the 53131A 
is 10 digit.

I bought mine about 2 years after they came out, I got one from a test 
equipment leasing company for around $1100 US.  I have only had one 
problem with mine, the fan failed.  It runs all the time, if the unit is 
plugged in to power – even if the unit is off on the power switch.  
Called HP and they do not sell the fan, they want to sell you the whole 
power supply which they wanted a small fortune for.  But, I found 
Digi-Key carried the exact fan, and I bought 2 units for just under $50 
US about 10 years ago.  And now if I am not using the counter,  I unplug it.

Other problems noted, from other people, is the display can go dim on 
you.  Its vacuum florescent and at one time, the Chinese were selling 
replacements around $100 US.

Amateur’s have made third party boards for the units.  One adds the 
pre-scaler, for the “C” input, you can buy them up to 12 GHz or so.  I 
bought a 3 GHz unit, as the normal frequency range as a counter is 
limited to 225 MHz.

Also available is high stability oscillator boards, some a working 
product, some bare boards, for do it yourself.  I bought one with a 
Morion MV-89A oscillator, as on occasion, I took the unit portable to go 
work on transmitters.  But for time interval work, the standard time 
base is fine.

On 4/27/23 17:45, Roger Brinkman via time-nuts wrote:
>     Hello Time Nuts,
>
>     I am looking to purchase a HP / Agilent 53132A to further my precision
>     timekeeping hobby. There seems to be a lack of availability on EBay at
>     the moment however I wanted to draw on the experience of our group for
>     advice please. For example, does the following listing look like a fair
>     price and quality offering?
>
>     Failing that, if anyone is looking to sell one, please feel free to PM
>     me. I am located in Australia.
>
>     s-l500.jpg
>     [1]Keysight Agilent 53132A opt:030 Universal Frequency Counter 3GHZ,12
>     digits/s
>     [2]ebay.com.au
>
>     I look forward to your advice!
>
>     Best wishes
>
>     Roger.
>
> References
>
>     Visible links:
>     1. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/134492450578?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=td6_hq7trtm&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=7HPQ6pffSGO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
>     2. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/134492450578?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=td6_hq7trtm&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=7HPQ6pffSGO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
>
>     Hidden links:
>     4. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/134492450578?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=td6_hq7trtm&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=7HPQ6pffSGO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
>
>
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