Keysight Agilent Symmetricom 5071A Primary Frequency Standard

Keysight Agilent 5071A Primary Frequency Standard

The Agilent 5071A primary frequency standard delivers unsurpassed accuracy, stability and reliability for the most demanding laboratory and field applications. It is the first caesium (cesium ) standard to specify its stability for averaging times longer than a day. With a specification for 30-day averaging time, the 5071A's performance ensures that your calibration services are available longer.

The 5071A is easy to use. Automatic startup is simple and requires no adjustments. A logical menu structure simplifies front-panel operations, selections, and status reporting. The 5071A can be operated and maintained anywhere. All controls are programmable, status can be checked remotely, and no adjustments or alignments are necessary during operation. An internal battery provides 45 minutes of backup in case of AC power failure.

Performance suited to advanced communications and tracking systems

Frequency accuracy to 5 x 10-13

Long-term stability better than 1 x 10-14

Proven track record in military and commercial applications

Easy to use with automatic startup and intuitive menu structure

Guaranteed stability keeps the Agilent 5071A working longer for you

The 5071A primary frequency standard has the accuracy and stability you need for both laboratory and field applications. A stability specification for 30-day averaging time means the 5071A will keep extremely predictible time and phase for long periods. Further, the 5071A can be used for long-term averaging of noisy signals such as GPS.

The 5071A is easy to use. No more manual start-up steps or complicated adjustments—everything is automatic. A logical menu structure simplifies front panel operations, selections, and status reporting. Remote control features tailor the 5071A for complete operation and manageability in virtually any location.

The 5071A is a direct descendant of and replacement for the veteran 5060A, 5061A and 5061E cesium standards. This innovative product is the result of Agilent’s more than 35 years of experience in the precision frequency standard business

The 5071A—meeting the needs of leading-edge metrology and calibration labs

Time keeping and National Standards Laboratories verify the stability and accuracy of their in-house cesium standards to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), provided by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) in Paris. A standard’s accuracy and reliability determine the quality of service these time keeping labs provide. Of even greater concern is the stability of a standard. Stability directly affects a laboratory’s ability to deliver time keeping and calibration services to its clients

The 5071A offers exceptional stability and is the first cesium standard to specify its stability for averaging times longer than one day. The instrument takes into account environmental conditions that can heavily influence a cesium standard’s longterm stability. Digital electronics continuously monitor and optimize the instrument’s operating parameters.

Thus, the 5071A’s response to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity are virtually eliminated. The 5071A primary frequency standard maintains its accuracy and stability, even in unstable environments

Satellite communications

Stable frequency generation is required to transmit and receive signals properly between ground terminals and communication satellites. Frequency flexibility is also needed to adjust for satellite-to-satellite carrier-frequency differences. The 5071A’s state-of-theart technology produces offset and primary frequencies with the same guaranteed stability.

For secure communications, precise timing synchronization ensures that encrypted data can be recovered quickly. Frequency-agile signals also require exact synchronization between transmitter and receiver during channel hops.

5071A automates the synchronization to any external 1-PPS signal, greatly simplifying this aspect of satellite communications.

Cesium II technology delivers unmatched accuracy and stability

Exceptional accuracy An improved cesium beam tube and new electronics design—known as Cesium II Technology—make the Agilent 5071A six times more accurate than its predecessor, the 5061B. The intrinsic accuracy of the improved cesium beam tube assures that any 5071A Option 001 will power up to within ±5 3 10-13 of the accepted standard for frequency. This is achieved under full environmental conditions in 30 minutes or less— and without the need for any adjustments or alignments.

Unsurpassed stability

Agilent’s Cesium II technology brings a new level of stability to the cesium clock. The 5071A’s outstanding specifications are a result of this advanced technology. The 5071A Option 001 high-performance cesium beam tube guarantees stability to be better than 1 part in 1014 for averaging times of five days or greater. The 5071A is the first cesium standard to specify stability for averaging times longer than 105 seconds (approximately one day)

The 5071A is also the first cesium standard to specify and guarantee a flicker floor. Flicker door is the point at which the standard’s stability (σy (2, τ)) does not change with longer averaging. The 5071A Option 001 flicker door is guaranteed to be 1 part in 1014 or better. Long-term measurements at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) show that the flicker floor is typically better than 5x3 10-15.

Unstable environments are normal for many cesium standard applications. The 5071A features a number of microprocessor-controlled servo loops. The 5071A has demonstrated a mean time between failures (MTBF) of over 100,000 hours, based on actual field repair data which allow it to virtually ignore changes in temperature, humidity, and magnetic fields. Under full environmental conditions, the 5071A Option 001 frequency varies less than 8 parts in 10(14)

The 5071A delivers exceptional performance over very long periods of time, greatly increasing the availability of critical time and frequency services.

Traditional reliability

Hewlett-Packard and Agilent Technologies have been producing cesium frequency sources and related products since 1964. Over 100 million field operating hours in critical military and commercial applications have proven the reliability of cesium standards.

Cesium II technology, because of advancements in tube design, automated maintenance, and extensive use of digital circuitry, offers improved reliability over its predecessor, the 5061B. Backing up this reliability is a 10-year warranty on the standard cesium beam tube and a three-year warranty for the optional high-performance tube.

Complete repair and maintenance services are available at four strategically located service centers worldwide.

Full traceability to NIST

Agilent Technologies’ Santa Clara, California lab provides NIST traceability to the accuracy measurements made on every 5071A. Traceability to NIST is maintained through the NIST supplied frequency measurement and analysis system (FMAS). This service exceeds the requirements of MILSTD-45662A and can be a valuable tool in demonstrating traceability to your customers

Main Features

Automatic Startup

48V DC Power Supply Unit

Clock Control

High-Performance Cesium Beam Tube

Full Traceability to NIST

Integrated Clock and Message Displays

Automatic Synchronization of 1PPS Signal

Remote Interface and Control I

Accuracy and stability

Conditions—any combination of:

Temperature 0 to 50 °C

Humidity 0 to 80% (40 °C maximum)

Magnetic Field dc, 55, 60 Hz; 0 to 0.2 millitesla (2 Gauss) peak—any orientation

Pressure 47 kPa (equivalent to an altitude of 6 km)

Shock and Vibration 100-mm drop

Specifications:  
   
Standard cesium beam tube. Values are within: High-performance cesium beam tube (Option 001)
Accuracy  
±1 x10-12 ±5 x 10-13
Frequency change vs environment  
±1 x 10-13  ±8 x 10-14
Warm-up Time  
To normal operational status (typical)     15 Minutes 15 Minutes
To full specifications (typical)                  30 Minutes 30 Minutes
Reproducibility  
2 ±1.0 x 10-13  ±1.0 x 10-13
   
Long-term Stability
Time Domain Stability(2)  5- and 10-MHz outputs  
Averaging Time  
10(4) seconds 
≤2.7 x 10-13  ≤8.5 x 10-14
10(5) seconds   
≤8.5 x 10-14  ≤2.7 x 10-14
5 days     
≤5.0 x 10-14 ≤1.0 x 10-14
30 days  
 ≤5.0 x 10-14  ≤1.0 x 10-14
Flicker Floor Value(2)  
Guaranteed                              ≤5.0 x 10-14  ≤1.0 x 10-14
Typical                                    ≤1.5 x 10-14  ≤5.0 x 10-15
   
   
Sinusoidal output characteristics (all located on rear panel)  
   
Parameter  
Ports 1 & 2 1 MHz, 100 kHz
   
Amplitude into 50 Ω load >  
> 1 Vrms > 1 Vrms
Isolation(2) between ports   
>110 dB (typical)  Not specified
Harmonic signals (typical)   
<–40 dBc  <–40 dBc
Non-harmonic distortion 
<–80 dBc  Not specified
Connector Type  
N BNC
Source Impedence  
50 Ω 50 Ω
 

* Each output can be set to either 5 or 10 MHz from the front panel or by remote command

1. Specifications in this product overview refer to the instrument’s warranted performance. Supplemental characteristics are typical or nominal values intended to provide information useful in applying the instrument.

2. See NIST Technical Note 1337, “Characterization of Clocks and Oscillators,” available from U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402-9325 for more information on time and frequency domain stability. Definitions for all terms may be found in the Agilent 5071A Operating and Programming documentation.

3. Typical flicker floor performance measure is based on long-term measurements made by NIST.

4. Settability: The degree to which the frequency of the 5071A may be adjusted to correspond with a reference.

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