Frequency Counters

Devices

  • Agilent Frequency Counter (GPIB, RS-232) 53181A; 53131A/132A; Tested 01/2021
    5343A; GPIB, Tested 02/2023
  • Keysight Frequency Counter (GPIB, RS-232, Ethernet) 53230A/220A; Untested

Functions

freq_counter_name() 

freq_counter_name() -> str

The function returns device name.

freq_counter_frequency(channel) 

freq_counter_frequency(channel: str) -> float

Example: freq_counter_frequency('CH1') returns the measured frequency from channel 1.

This function returns a floating point value with the measured frequency (in Hz) from the specified channel. Refer to the device manual for the frequency range of different channels.
Possible channels are the following: [‘CH1’, ‘CH2’, ‘CH3’]. Agilent 53181a has two channels; Agielnt 53131a, Keysight 53230a - three. Agielnt 5343a has only one channel.

freq_counter_impedance(*impedance) 

freq_counter_impedance(channel: str, impedance: str) -> none
freq_counter_impedance(channel: str) -> str ['1 M', '50']

Examples: freq_counter_impedance('CH1', '1 M') sets the impedance of the channel 1 to 1 MOhm.
freq_counter_impedance('CH2') returns the current impedance of the channel 2.

The function queries (if called with one argument) or sets (if called with two arguments) the impedance of one of the channels of the frequency counter. If there is a second argument it will be set as a new impedance. If there is no second argument the current impedance for the specified channel is returned.
For Agilent 53181a impedance can be changed only for the first channel; for Agielnt 53131a, Keysight 53230a for channel 1 and 2.
Possible impedances are the following: [‘1 M’, ‘50’].
This function is not available for Agielnt 5343a.

freq_counter_coupling(*coupling) 

freq_counter_coupling(channel: str, coupling: str) -> none
freq_counter_coupling(channel: str) -> str ['AC', 'DC']

Examples: freq_counter_coupling('CH1', 'AC') sets the coupling of the channel 1 to AC.
freq_counter_coupling('CH2') returns the current coupling of the channel 2.

The function queries (if called with one argument) or sets (if called with two arguments) the coupling of one of the channels of the frequency counter. If there is a second argument it will be set as a new coupling. If there is no second argument the current coupling for the specified channel is returned.
For Agilent 53181a coupling can be changed only for the first channel; for Agielnt 53131a, Keysight 53230a for channel 1 and 2.
Possible couplings are the following: [‘1 M’, ‘50’].
This function is not available for Agielnt 5343a.

freq_counter_stop_mode(*mode) 

freq_counter_stop_mode(mode: str) -> none
freq_counter_stop_mode() -> str

Example: freq_counter_stop_mode('Timer') sets the digits mode.

This function queries or sets the stop arm for frequency, frequency ratio, and period measurements.
The mode should be from the following array: [‘Immediate’, ‘External’, ‘Timer’, ‘Digits’] for Agilent 53181a and Agilent 53131a.
In automatic (‘Immediate’) mode the device does the fastest possible acquisistion, in gate time mode it measures for the specified gate time, and in digits mode the time required for a measurement depends on the number of digits requested. This setting influences the resolution of the results. Use automatic mode for fast measurements or choose a desired resolution by using freq_counter_gate_time() to set the gate time for gate time (‘Timer’) mode or freq_counter_digits() for digits (‘Digits’) mode.
For Keysight 53230a possible modes are: [‘Immediate’, ‘Timer’, ‘Events’].
This function is not available for Agielnt 5343a.

freq_counter_start_mode(*mode) 

freq_counter_start_mode(mode: str) -> none
freq_counter_start_mode() -> str ['Immediate', 'External']

Example: freq_counter_start_mode('Immediate') sets the automatic mode.

This function queries or sets the start arm for frequency, frequency ratio, and period measurements.
The type should be from the following array: [‘Immediate’, ‘External’].
This function is not available for Agielnt 5343a.

freq_counter_gate_mode(*mode) 

freq_counter_gate_mode(mode: str) -> none
freq_counter_gate_mode() -> str ['Timer', 'External']

Example: freq_counter_gate_mode('Timer') sets the 'Time' mode.

This function queries or sets the gate source for frequency, frequency ratio measurements.
Currently, the type should be from the following array: [‘Timer’, ‘External’], where ‘Timer’ coresponds to starting the measurement immediately after a trigger and trigger delay; ‘External’ configures the instrument to gate the measurement using the Gate In/Out BNC after a trigger and trigger delay.
This functions is available only for Keysight 53230a.

freq_counter_digits(*digits) 

freq_counter_digits(digits: int) -> none
freq_counter_digits() -> int

Example: freq_counter_digits(5) sets the resolution to 5 digits.

This function queries or sets the resolution in terms of digits used in arming frequency, period, and ratio measurements. To set this mode use freq_counter_stop_mode() function.
The argument of the function should be an integer between 3 and 15 (Agilent 53181a, 53131a,) or between 3 and 9 (Agilent 5343a). To query the number of digits call the function with no argument. A query is possible only if freq_counter_stop_mode(‘Digits’) was called before.
This function is available for Agilent 53181a, 53131a, and 5343a.

freq_counter_gate_time(*time) 

freq_counter_gate_time(time: str) -> none
freq_counter_gate_time() -> float

Example: freq_counter_gate_time('100 ms') sets the gate time to 100 ms.

This function queries or sets the gate time used in arming frequency, period, and ratio measurements. To set this mode use freq_counter_stop_mode() function.
The argument of the function is an integer number + scaling [‘ks’, ‘s’, ‘ms’, ‘us’, ‘ns’] and should be from 1 ms to 1000 s (Adilent 53181a, 53131a); from 10 us to 10 s (Keysight 53220a); from 10 ns to 10 s (Keysight 53230a). To query the gate call the function with no argument. A query is possible only if freq_counter_stop_mode(‘Timer’) was called before.
This function is not available for Agielnt 5343a.

freq_counter_expected_freq(*frequency) 

freq_counter_expected_freq(channel: str, frequency: str) -> none
freq_counter_expected_freq(channel: str) -> float

Example: freq_counter_expected_freq('CH3', '10 GHz') 
sets the approximate frequency of a signal to 10 GHz.

The function queries (if called with one argument) or sets (if called with two arguments) the approximate frequency of a signal you expect to measure. Providing this value enables the device to eliminate a pre-measurement step, saving measurement time and enabling more accurate arming. Note that the actual frequency of the input signal must be within 10% of the expected frequency value you entered. Refer to the device manual for the frequency range of different channels.
If there is a second argument it will be set as a new approximate frequency of a signal. If there is no second argument the current approximate frequency of a signal for specified the channel is returned.
Possible channels are the following: [‘CH1’, ‘CH2’, ‘CH3’]. For Agilent 53181a the approximate frequency can be set for channels 1 and 2; for Agielnt 53131a for channels 1, 2, and 3. The frequency argument of the function is an integer number + scaling [‘GHz’, ‘MHz’, ‘kHz’, ‘Hz’].
This function is available only for Agilent 53181a and 53131a.

freq_counter_period(channel) 

freq_counter_period(channel: str) -> float

Example: freq_counter_period('CH2') returns the measured period from channel 2.

This function returns a floating point value with the measured period (in us) from the specified channel. Refer to the device manual for the frequency range of different channels.
Possible channels are the following: [‘CH1’, ‘CH2’, ‘CH3’].
This function is available only for Agilent 53181a and 53131a.

freq_counter_command(command) 

freq_counter_command(command: str) -> none

Example: freq_counter_command(':EVENt1:SLOPe POSitive'). 
This command sets which edge of the input signal will be considered an event for frequency, 
period, frequency ratio, time interval, totalize, and phase measurements.

The function for sending an arbitrary command from a programming guide to the device in a string format. No output is expected.

freq_counter_query(command) 

freq_counter_query(command: str) -> str

Example: freq_counter_query(':MEASure:PHASe? (@1),(@2)'). 
This command queries an measurement of the phase between channel 1 and 2.

The function for sending an arbitrary command from a programming guide to the device in a string format. An output in a string format is expected.