Hp 5316A

[simba15]

So I have a HP 5316A, unfortunately it is only communication is by means of GPIB. This is not ideal for me as it means I need to use usb to GPIB Adapter ( I may try and build AR488 to ease the usage)

The HP5316A is very helpful as it has a Totalizer mode.

Do any modern Frequency counters offer this mode?

I did not see it in the SDG2000x series.

Thanks!

[aeg]

You need a universal counter, not a frequency counter. SDG2000x is neither of these, it's an arb. B&K 1823A, Iwatsu SC-7205 and Agilent 53131A have totalize mode and RS232 connectivity. TTI TF930 has totalize mode and USB. Picotest U6200A / Berkeley Nucleonics 1105 and Keysight 53220A have totalize mode, USB and Ethernet (hold on to your wallet). You could also DIY it.

[tautech]

You need a universal counter, not a frequency counter. SDG2000x is neither of these, it's an arb.

The datasheet says otherwise, it has Frequency Counter Characteristics and a counter mode. Sure it's only 200 MHz capable which is better than nothing if you haven't got a counter.
https://siglentna.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2022/07/SDG2000X_DataSheet_DS0202X-E02G-1.pdf

[simba15]

Tautech,

Can the SDG2000X counter mode work in a totalizer mode?

Thanks.

[tautech]

I guess it can sort of, if totaliser means this:
a totalizing function ............ to count electrical events and sum them.
Look at p103
https://siglentna.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2022/06/SDG2000X_UserManual_UM0202X-E02D.pdf

I don't see an actual count # listed but I've never used such a function however having a trigger level setting capability points to almost having this functionality.
Sticking my neck out to say if it hasn't got it, it should have !

Maybe ask here if someone is using this sort of counter functionality:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/the-siglent-sdg2042x-thread/

[tautech]

Tautech,

Can the SDG2000X counter mode work in a totalizer mode?

Thanks.

Just had a quick play with it counting itself with a Counter Trigger level set.
Latest FW installed.

[simba15]

Thanks!

But just so I am clear, at this point is "num" the total number of counts? If not where is it show? It should not have a frequency unit attached.

Thanks for the help I may buy one if it can work.

[tautech]

Thanks!

But just so I am clear, at this point is "num" the total number of counts? If not where is it show? It should not have a frequency unit attached.

Thanks for the help I may buy one if it can work.

It is but dependant on the trigger level and coupling type (AC or DC) in the Setup menu.

It looks like it can do what you want but still I would ask for feedback from someone who has really used the Counter in this way as this functionality is new to me.

[aeg]

So in your screenshot, the frequency of the input signal is 1kHz and the "Num" display, which you claim is totalize count, is 25. Are you running the output in burst mode or did you take the screenshot 25 milliseconds after connecting the input signal?

[tautech]

So in your screenshot, the frequency of the input signal is 1kHz and the "Num" display, which you claim is totalize count, is 25. Are you running the output in burst mode or did you take the screenshot 25 milliseconds after connecting the input signal?

Sorry no science was involved other than setting a DC trigger near the P-P waveform amplitude and IIRC a Slow sample setting in the Setup menu. Kicked it into gear and saw the count increasing, tuned OFF the AWG output and took that pic.
Never even checked the Counter input spec, just used conservative settings and Sinewave to see if that might stuff it up.........thinking about this more while typing.....when doing that quick and lazy check I didn't wanna piss around setting xN pulse bursts and be all day doing so but just comes to mind is the Pulse Burst waveform in our STB-3 however they are PCB standoff pin output so I'd need to use a 1x scope probe to couple it into the counter.
Hmm, maybe a task for later today when all other tasks are done.

Watch this space.

Surely someone here has used/explored this previously in an instrument that's a few years old now. 

[aeg]

just so I am clear, at this point is "num" the total number of counts?

It is

No, it's not.

Here is video of the SDG1032X frequency counter mode in operation:

The input frequency is 10MHz and the Num readout is incrementing by one every 1.75 seconds. It certainly appears that this product does not have a totalize function, and the Num readout is the number of gate periods over which the Mean, Min, Max and Sdev have been averaged. Why are you claiming that the product you sell has capabilities it does not?

[tautech]

 
Thanks for your endorsement of my work here.

Did I not say I had not used these features ?
Did I not say I would more deeply investigate any Totaliser function these have ?

Well now I have and spent some real time to arrive at a firm conclusion there is no Totaliser mode in these 1kX, 2kX or 6kX AWG's but there darn well should be IMHO.
Maybe the HW is not fast enough to support a Totaliser function however I will ask HQ about this.

Investigations reveal the Num shown in the counter display is best described in this manner as it is in the SDG7000A manual:
Count/Num = Number of statistics - Number of measurements obtained


OTOH the somewhat more expensive SDG7000A certainly does have a Totaliser function described in the User manual on P109.
https://int.siglent.com/u_file/download/22_03_03/SDG7000A_UserManual_EN01A_2.pdf

[simba15]

Thanks for the Clarification about the counter mode.

I would love to see it added but I think at this time it we will end up with a TF930 as we need something soon for this project.

Or I need to get GPIB communication with the 5316A (with AR488)

Thanks everyone for the help.

[tautech]

What DSO do you have simba and does it have an xN edge counter ?

Maybe you already have something that can provide an event counter ?

[simba15]

DSO I have tons,

Hantek  2d15
tek tds 2024C and 1052B and 2074 (2 series)
keysight DSOX2014

not sure of any can do the counter thing.

For the end user of the device a dedicated counter is best as they are not elec ( chemical eng dept.)

Currently the HP5316A works great in total mode but getting GPIB communication is not so easy.

Thanks!

[timenutgoblin]

So I have a HP 5316A, unfortunately it is only communication is by means of GPIB. This is not ideal for me as it means I need to use usb to GPIB Adapter ( I may try and build AR488 to ease the usage)

The HP5316A is very helpful as it has a Totalizer mode.

Do any modern Frequency counters offer this mode?

I did not see it in the SDG2000x series.

Thanks!

You need a universal counter, not a frequency counter. SDG2000x is neither of these, it's an arb. B&K 1823A, Iwatsu SC-7205 and Agilent 53131A have totalize mode and RS232 connectivity. TTI TF930 has totalize mode and USB. Picotest U6200A / Berkeley Nucleonics 1105 and Keysight 53220A have totalize mode, USB and Ethernet (hold on to your wallet). You could also DIY it.

I have used a TTi TF930 Frequency Counter and occasionally used the COUNT function. It's a useful feature for counting clock edges etc. If you're running WinXP, then you may be familiar with HyperTerminal. You will need a USB cable. Configure HyperTerminal and then send the commands to remotely operate the TF930 and then capture readings into the capture file. Import the capture file in to Microsoft Excel (or similar software) and you can graph the readings.