[time-nuts] Agilent 53220A and TimeLab

[Timothy Schaffer]

Hi everyone, first time time-nut here. First I'd just like to say thanks to
everyone who keeps this list running, I've been a reader of this list for
sometime, but only recently was I bitten by the time bug.

I've had an Agilent 53220A for some time, and recently discovered the
wonderful TimeLab software, but I've hit a bit of a snag trying to run some
ADEV measurements on a Rb clock.  The problem is that the graph doesn't
line up with the amount of data TimeLab says is collected. I ran an
acquisition for 100 seconds, but according to the chart it only shows data
collected for 20 seconds. However, if you look at the bottom it says it
collected data for 100 seconds, and it collected 500 points at 0.2 sec
intervals which checks..  I'm assuming this is because I have some scaling
setting incorrect someplace, so I've attached a screen shot of the
acquisition setup. I timed the run as well and it does actually run for 100
seconds.

I've tried this using the sampling interval automatically set by the
monitor function, and also manually entering the gate time (which I don't
think is necessarily correct?) Neither one produces accurate results. I've
tested this using both frequency and TI modes. I've also tried this using
both GPIB and ethernet. Both produce similar results.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Is there something than I'm overlooking
here?  I have the 53220A external ref connected to a Z3816A, which seems to
be reasonably accurate despite my less than ideal antenna configuration.
>From what I understand the 53220A is less than ideal for these types of
measurements since it isn't gap free, and the records aren't time-stamped,
but it's what I have and so I'm trying to make the most of it.

On a side note, I was disappointed to find out that I missed the boat on
the semi-affordable TimePod. Is there anything remotely in the price rang
(sub 5K) that can do stability AND phase noise measurements? It seems like
the Wavecrest DST "might" be able to, but from what I read in the time-nuts
archive I wasn't able to get a clear picture.... there's an app note
floating around about making phase noise measurements with it, but nothing
solid.

I don't have any real application for wanting to do any of this, other than
my never ending quest for precision...I just like to measure things :)
Being a newcomer to this, I find it all fascinating.. I watched a video on
Mitutoyo micrometer that is so precise just holding it in your bare hands
can cause enough expansion in the metal to affect your measurement...blows
my mind.  I think most people know that metal expands and contracts, but I
was amazed to see a device that could actually measure a change from only a
few degrees.

My wife says I'm OCD, but I like to say I'm a connoisseur of fine precision.

Regards,
-Tim
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