The HP/Agilent 5328B is a 100 MHz universal counter engineered for precise frequency, period, time interval, and ratio measurements in laboratory and production test environments. This instrument delivers 8-digit resolution on direct frequency counts and supports multiple measurement modes with configurable trigger levels and attenuation settings. The 5328B integrates into automated test systems and accepts input signals from 25 mVrms across its measurement channels, with dual-channel capability for ratio and time interval averaging operations.
## Technical Specifications
**Frequency Measurement**
• Range: 0 to 100 MHz
• Resolution: Up to 8 digits/s (direct count)
• Sensitivity: 25 mVrms to 40 MHz; 50 mVrms from 40 to 100 MHz
• Attenuators: X1, X10 switch selectable
**Period Measurement**
• Range: 100 ns to 10 seconds
• Resolution: 10 ns
• Period Average Resolution: 1 fs
**Time Interval Measurement**
• Resolution: 10 ns
• Time Interval Averaging Resolution: 10 ps
• Average Range: 0.1 ns to 1 second
• Minimum Dead Time: 40 ns
**Ratio Measurement**
• Channel A: 0 to 10 MHz
• Channel B: 0 to 100 MHz
**Totalize**
• Range: 0 to 10¹² counts
**Input Characteristics**
• Channel A Sensitivity: 25 mVrms to 100 Vrms
• Channel B Sensitivity: 25 mVrms to 30 Vrms
• Trigger Level Range: −5 V to +5 V
• Trigger Level Programmability: 10 mV steps (x1); 100 mV steps (x10)
• Trigger Level Accuracy (Remote, x1): ±35 mV
**Time Base**
• Standard Crystal: 10 MHz, <3×10⁻⁷/month aging, <2.5×10⁻⁵ temperature stability (0–50°C)
• Optional Oven Crystal: 10 MHz, <5×10⁻⁹/day aging, <1×10⁻¹⁰ rms/s short-term stability, 20-minute warm-up
• Timebase Accuracy & Stability: ±1 ppm
**Optional DVM (Option 021)**
• Range: ±10 V, ±100 V, ±1000 V DC and Autorange
• Input Impedance: 10 MΩ nominal (floating pair)
• Maximum Input: ±1100 V (Hi to Low); ±500 V (Low to Chassis)
• Sensitivity: 10 µV to 100 mV depending on measurement window
**1300 MHz C-Channel (Option 031)**
• Frequency Range: 90 MHz to 1300 MHz
• Sensitivity: 20 mVrms (−21 dBm)
• Maximum Input: 5 Vrms, ±5 Vdc
## Key Features
• Multi-channel measurement with independent trigger controls
• Programmable attenuation and trigger level adjustment via 10 mV or 100 mV steps
• Dual time base options: standard crystal for general use or oven oscillator for precision applications
• Optional C-channel extends capability to 1.3 GHz for RF counting
• Optional DVM provides DC voltage measurement to ±1100 V
• High-resolution time interval averaging to 10 ps
• Period averaging achieves 1 fs resolution
## Typical Applications
• Frequency and period verification of oscillators and timing circuits
• Time interval and jitter measurement in digital systems
• Ratio measurements for frequency divider validation
• Event counting and totalization in production test
• High-stability frequency measurement with optional oven timebase
## Compatibility & Integration
The 5328B interfaces with automated test systems through remote control of trigger levels and measurement modes. Modular options allow field configuration: the DVM option (021) adds DC voltage measurement capability; the C-channel option (031) extends frequency measurement to 1300 MHz. Both channels support floating input pairs with independent sensitivity and trigger settings.
