Thurlby Thandar Instruments TF960 User Manual

TF960

6GHz Universal Counter

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Table of Contents

Introduction 2
Specification 3
EMC 7
Safety 8
Connections 8
Manual Operation 10
Remote Operation 17
Maintenance 23

This manual is 48581-1440 Issue 2
Note: The latest revisions of this m anual and device driver can be downloaded from:

http:tti1.co.uk/downloads/manuals-rf.htm

1

Introduction

The TF960 is a portable, battery-operated, universal counter with a large 0.5" 10-digit liquid
crystal display (LCD). The frequency range is from below 0.001Hz to over 6GHz and
measurement functions include f requency, period, ratio, pulse width and count.

The instrument uses a high quality tem per ature compensated internal frequency reference which
has a low aging rate and is stable to within ±1ppm over the full temperature range. Its short
warm-up time allows accurate measurements to be made even under portable battery powered
conditions.

Input A has configur able coupling ( AC or DC), input impedanc e ( 1MΩ or 50Ω), attenuation
(1:1 or 5:1), threshold (fully variable) and active edge and can be used for frequencies in the
range 0.001Hz to over 125MHz. Input B is a nominal 50Ω input for frequencies in the range
80MHz to 3GHz. Input C is a nominal 50Ω input with an N-type connector for frequencies in the
range 1GHz to over 6GHz. An External Reference input is provided and changeover from the
internal timebase is automatic when an external reference standard is connec t ed.

For frequency, period and frequency ratio functions the instrument uses a reciprocal counting
technique to provide high resolution at all frequencies. 8 significant digits of answer are
produced in a 1 second measurement time, 9 dig its in 10s and 10 digits in 100s with a granular it y
of less than 2 counts in the least significant digit.

Indicators show measurement input configuration & function, measurem ent time & status,
external reference connection, low battery and the units of the measurement which may be Hz,
kHz, MHz, ns, us, ms or s.

The instrument has a USB interf ace which allows it to be remotely contr olled using s er ial
communication via a computer’s USB port. The remote com m ands of predecessor instruments,
the TF830 and the TF930, are compatible with the TF960 command set

The instrument operates from internal rechargeable NiMH batteries which give typically 24 hours
operating life. The universal AC charger supplied will recharge the batteries in less than 4 hours
and can be used for continuous AC operation. The instrument will also automatically be powered
from a standard USB port when connected (whether remot e cont rol is in use or not) but this will
not charge the batteries.

This instrument is fully compliant with EN61010-1 Safet y and EN61326 EMC standards.

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or 50Ω nominal (AC coupled only).

< 500kHz to > 125MHz (50Ω, AC coupled).

AC coupled:

Average ± 50mV (1:1 attenuation) or ± 250mV (5:1 attenuation).

50Ω nominal (AC coupled) in-band. 250kΩ at DC.

>100k

AC coupled.

Input Specificat ions

Input A

Specification

Configurable options
Input coupling:
Input impedance:
Attenuation:
Active edge:
Low pass filter:
Trigger threshold:

Input Impedance:

Frequency Range:

Trigger Threshold:
DC coupled:

Sensitivity: Sinewave - 15mVrms 30Hz to 100MHz, 25mV to 125MHz

AC or DC
1MΩ or 50Ω
1:1 or 5:1
Rising or falling, or width high or low
Filter In (~50kHz cut-off) or Out
Variable thr es hold for both DC and AC coupling

1MΩ//25pF (DC or AC coupled)

< 0.001Hz to >125MHz (1MΩ, DC coupled).
< 30Hz to >125MHz (1MΩ, AC coupled).

0 to 2V (1:1 attenuation) or 0 to 10V (5:1 attenuation).

at optimum threshold adjustment.

Input B

Input Impedance:
Frequency Range: < 80MHz to >3GHz.
Sensitivity: 12mVrms 80MHz to 2GHz, 25mVrms to 2.5GHz, 50mVrms to 3GHz.
Maximum Input Signal: < 0dBm recommended, +13dBm (1V

50Ω nominal (AC coupled).

rms) maximum.

Input C

Input Impedance:
Frequency Range: < 2GHz to >6GHz (typically 1.8GHz to 7.5GHz).
Sensitivity: 25mVrms (–19dBm) 2GHz to 6GHz.
Maximum Input Signal: < +16dBm (1.5Vrms) recommended. Damage level +25dBm (4Vrms).

External Reference Input

Input Impedance:
Frequency: 10MHz.
Signal Level:

TTL, 3V

Ω,

to 5Vpp CMOS or 1 to 2Vrms sinewave.

pp

Maximum Input Voltage

Inputs A, B, C, and
External Reference:

30V

DC; 30Vrms 50/60Hz with respect to earth g r ound

Note that the inputs will not be damaged if subjected t o an accidental short-term connection to a 50/60Hz
line voltage not exceeding 250V

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rms, or 250V DC.

A Input Frequency Range:

< 0.001Hz (DC coupled) to >125MHz

B input Frequency Range:

80MHz to >3000MHz.

C input Frequency Range:

<2Ghz to >6GHz.

Resolution:

up to 10 digits (see below) or 0.001Hz

A Input Period Range:

8ns to 1000s (DC coupled)

B input Period Range:

0.333ns to 12.5ns

C input Period Range:

0.166ns to 0.5ns

Functions:

Width high or low, ratio H:L (high time to low time) or duty cycle.

Pulse Width Range:

40ns to 1000s

Averaging:

Automatic within measurement time selected, up t o 50 pulses.

averaging. 0.01% for Rat io H:L and Duty Cycle.

Count range:

1 to 9 999 999 999

Minimum pulse width:

8ns

If the ratio exceeds ten digits, displays six digits plus exponent.

Timebase

Measurement Clock: 50MHz.
Internal Reference oscillator: 10MHz TCXO with electronic calibration adjustment.
Oscillator Temperature Stability: Better than ± 1ppm over rated tem per at ur e range.
Initial Oscillator Adjustment Error: < ± 0.2ppm at 21ºC.
Oscillator Ageing Rate: < ± 1ppm first year.
Calibration adjustment range: > ± 8ppm.

Measureme nt Functions

Frequency (Inputs A, B or C)

Period (Inputs A, B or C)

Resolution: up to 10 digits (see below)

Pulse Width Modes (Input A only)

Resolution: 20ns for one pulse; up to 1ns or 10 digits with multiple pulse

Total Count (Input A only)

Frequency Ratio B:A

Resolution: Equal to the resolution of the two f r equency measurements.

Measurement Time

Selectable as 100s, 10s, 1s or 0.3s. The instrument displays the average value of the input
signal over the measurement time selected, updat ed every 2s, 1s, 0.5s or 0.3s respectively. The
hardware captures the count values and continues measuring without any dead time.

Resolution

The displayed resolution depends upon measurement time and input frequency. The basic
resolution of period is 8 digits for every 2 seconds of measurement time. Frequenc y resolution is
the reciprocal of period resolution. Usable resolut ion c an be r educ ed by noise at low frequencies.

Accuracy

Measurement accuracy is timebase accuracy + measurement res olut ion + 2 counts.

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Operating Facilities

Noise Filter (Input A only)

The Filter key controls a low pass filter, with a cut-off frequency of about 50kHz, to assist in
obtaining stable readings at low frequencies.

Hold

Pressing the Hold key will hold the current measured value in the display, wit h the Hold indicator
on, until the Hold key is pressed again. The measurement cont inues in the bac kground when
Hold is on. A long press on the Hold key clears old data and restarts the meas ur em ent .

Intelligent Power S witching

The unit automatically selects the best available power source of AC adaptor, USB or battery.
Intelligent switching avoids discharging the bat t er y overnight when operated from externally
switched AC power.

A press-to-measure facility allows a quick measurement to be made by pressing a function select
key which will power the instrument up in the corresponding function. The instrument will
automatically switch off 15 seconds after the last k ey-press.

Remote Control

All capabilities can be controlled remotely and measurements read through a USB port.
The instrument can be powered (but the batt er y cannot be c har ged) by the USB host.

Interface: Serial port emulation over USB.
Current consumption: < 100mA (<5mA if AC adaptor power is present)
Command set: Instrument specific. TF830 and TF930 compatible.

Power Re quirements

The instrument has fixed internal rechar geable batteries and is supplied with a universal voltage
external mains adaptor with interchangeable UK, Euro, Australian and US power connectors.

Battery Type: Three 2500mAh NiMH cells.
Battery Operating Life: Typically 24 hour s
Low Battery Indicator: ‘Lo Bat' shows in display when approximately 10% of battery life remains.
Recharge Time: < 4 hours
Adaptor Supply range: 85 to 240V, 50 or 60 Hz,
Power consumption: 5W max at DC input to unit; 15VA max at AC adaptor input (charging).

General

Display: 10 digit LCD, 12.5mm high (0.5”). Annunciators show input

Operating Range: +5° C t o + 40°C, 20% t o 80% RH

configuration, operating mode, measurement units and gate tim e.

Storage Range:
Environmental: Indoor use at altitudes up to 2000m, Pollution Degree 2
Size: 260mm(W) x 88mm(H) x 235mm(D)
Weight: 1050 gms (plus 170 gms AC adaptor)
Electrical Safety: Complies with EN61010-1
EMC: Complies with EN61326

5

–20°C to +60°C

b) EN61000-4-3 (2006) Electromag ne tic Field

Performance levels achieved are detailed in the user manual.

EC Declaration of Conf ormity

We Thurlby Thandar Instruments Ltd
Glebe Road
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire PE29 7DR
England

declare that the:

TF960 6GHz Universal Counter with USB Interf ace

meets the intent of the EMC Directive 2004/108/EC and the Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC.
Compliance was demonstrated by conformance to the following specifications which have been
listed in the Official Journal of the European Comm unit ies.

EMC

Emissions: a) EN61326-1 (2006) Radiated, Class B
Immunity: EN61326-1 (2006) Immunity Table 1, referring to:

a) EN61000-4-2 (2009) Electrostatic Discharg e

Safety – TF960
EN61010-1 Pollution Degree 2.

Safety – A C Power Adaptor

EN60950-1

CHRIS W ILDING
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

nd

2

October 2012

6

Universal Counter

This instrument has been designed to meet the requirements of the EMC Directive 2004/108/EC.
Compliance was demonstrated by meeting the test limits of t he following standards:

Emissions

EN61326 (2006) EMC product standard for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control and
Laboratory Use. Test limits used (radiated emissions only) were Class B.

Immunity

EN61326 (2006) EMC product standard for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control and
Laboratory Use. Test methods, limits and performance achieved are shown below (requirement
shown in brackets):

a) EN61000-4-2 (2009) Electrostatic Discharge : 4kV air, 4kV contact, Performance B (B).
b) EN61000-4-3 (2006) Electromagnetic Field:

3V/m, 80% AM at 1kHz, 80MHz – 1GHz: Performance B (A) and 1.4GHz to 2G Hz:
Performance B (A); 1V/m , 2. 0GHz to 2.7GHz: Performance B (A).

Note: The TF960 is a sensitive measuring instrument and, i f subjected to a sufficiently
large RF field, may count its frequency. At lower field strengths a measurem ent might be
disturbed, particularly if the applied signal level is sm a ll. This is much more likely to occur
with the B input than with t he A or C inputs. In all other respects, the instrument will
operate correctly (Perform ance A) in fields up to 3V/m.

EMC

Adaptor/Charger

This AC adaptor/charger has been designed to meet the requirements of the EMC Directive
2004/108/EC.
Compliance was demonstrated by meeting the test limits of t he following standards:

Emissions

EN55022, radiated and conducted Class B.

Immunity

EN55024:1998 + A2:2003. Test methods, limits and performance achieved were:
a) EN61000-4-2 (2009) Electrostatic Discharge : 8k V air, 4kV contact, Perfor m anc e B ( B).
b) EN61000-4-3 (2006) Electromagnetic Field, 3V/m, 80% AM at 1kHz, Performance A (A) .
c) EN61000-4-11 (2004) Voltage Interrupt: ½ cycle and 1 cycle, 0% Perf or m anc e B (B) ;

25 cycles, 70% and 250 cycles, 0% Performance B (C).
d) EN61000-4-4 (2004) Fast Transient, 1kV peak (AC line), Perform ance B ( B) .
e) EN61000-4-5 (2006) Surge, 1kV (line to line), 2kV (line to ground), Perf or m anc e B ( B).
f) EN61000-4-6 (2009) Conducted RF, 3V, 80% AM at 1kHz (AC line only; DC Output

connection <3m, therefor e not tested), Performanc e A (A).

Performance Def initions

The definitions of performance criteria are:

Performance criterion A: ‘During test normal performance within the specification limits. ’
Performance criterion B: ‘During t est, temporary degradation, or loss of function or

performance which is self-recovering’.

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