HP / Agilent 5361B 40 GHz Pulse/CW Microwave Counter

The HP/Agilent 5361B is a 40 GHz microwave counter engineered for precision frequency measurements across pulsed and continuous wave signals in radar, electronic warfare, and communications applications. Operating from 10 Hz to 40 GHz overall, with pulse measurement capability from 500 MHz to 40 GHz, the instrument delivers automatic acquisition and tracking up to 800 MHz/s. Microprocessor control enables streamlined characterization of agile signals, frequency modulation profiling, radar pulse analysis, and oscillator testing—including STALO, VCO, and DTO measurement of step response, settling time, and post-tuning drift.

## Technical Specifications

**Frequency Coverage**
• Overall measurement range: 10 Hz to 40 GHz
• Pulse measurement range: 500 MHz to 40 GHz
• Automatic acquisition: 500 MHz to 40 GHz
• Manual acquisition: 500 MHz to 20 GHz (extendable to 26.5 GHz with Option 026, 40 GHz with Option 040)

**Pulse Measurement**
• Minimum pulse width: 60 ns (manual), 100 ns (automatic)
• Pulse width: 1 ns minimum for PW < 1 ms in LSD mode
• PRF range: 1 Hz to 2 MHz
• Minimum off-time: 500 ns

**Sensitivity (Input 1, 50 Ω)**
• 0.5–12.4 GHz: −28 dBm
• 12.4–20 GHz: −23 dBm
• 0.5–26.5 GHz (Option 026): −20 dBm
• 26.5–40 GHz (Option 040): −29.8 dBm

**Input 2**: 25 mV rms (1 MΩ or 50 Ω)

**Frequency Modulation**
• FM tolerance (Input 1): 55 MHz peak-to-peak
• FM chirp tolerance: 50 MHz peak-to-peak maximum span

**Acquisition Performance**
• Tracking speed: 800 MHz/s
• Acquisition time: < 40 ms (manual), < 100 ms (automatic fast acquisition)

**Timebase**: Oven-controlled crystal oscillator

## Key Features

• Frequency, period, pulse width, rise/fall time, and frequency ratio measurement
• PRF and PRI determination with off-time analysis
• Profile measurements spanning 500 MHz to 40 GHz on Y-axis
• Fast automatic and manual acquisition modes
• Built-in FM profiling for chirp and transient characterization

## Typical Applications

• Radar signal verification and pulse analysis
• Electronic warfare signal characterization
• Oscillator performance evaluation (settling time, drift, step response)
• Communications system frequency validation
• Agile signal and frequency-hopping measurements

## Compatibility & Integration

Options 026 and 040 extend measurement range and sensitivity at higher frequencies. Dual inputs accommodate both microwave (50 Ω) and low-frequency (1 MΩ/50 Ω) signal sources.