Validating today's complicated designs requires quick, high-resolution frequency or power measurements with an acquisition time of either zero (manual) or 25 ms (automated). The MCA3000 Microwave Counter Analyzer Series provides very high precision for metrology and calibration applications thanks to its high resolution, low systematic time interval A-B error, and reliable internal OCXO time base.

In terms of resolution, speed, and acquisition time, the MCA3000 Series instruments perform better than any microwave counter now available on the market. The MCA3000 Series is a feature-rich instrument that combines a variety of functions, including an integrated power meter.

In addition to being an excellent microwave counter, the MCA3000 Series has two other 300 MHz inputs that allow it to be used as a general-purpose timer/counter.

Comparing the MCA Microwave Counter Series to other microwave timer/counters on the market, you can save up to 90% on testing time while still achieving the industry-best throughput. Internal memory may hold up to 250,000 measurement results per second. The GPIB or USB interfaces can also be used to transfer up to 5,000 measurement results per second in Block mode.

The MCA Series offers frequency and power measurement with a single connection at any supported frequency level thanks to an integrated power meter. Signal power variations can now be observed, recorded, and evaluated numerically and visually in the same way as frequency for the first time. With a broad power range of -35 dBm to +10 dBm and a 0.01 dBm at 100 ms measuring time resolution, you have the versatility for a variety of power measurement applications.

The MCA Series' distinctive display allows you to measure several signal properties from a single test link. You can use measurement statistics to monitor how signal characteristics change over time, or you can use the MCA Series graphical display mode to examine the data as a real-time trend plot or a histogram to uncover signal quality problems including drift, intermittent transients, and stability. On the timer/counter's display, a single button in the Analyze mode allows you to quickly gain insight into how your device is acting.

• 27 GHz and 40 GHz models
• Microwave analyzer channel with CW or Burst
• Two 300 MHz general-purpose channels
• 100 ps single-shot time resolution
• 12 Digit/s frequency resolution, 14 digit display
• 25 ms (auto) or zero (manual) acquisition Time
• 3 mV voltage resolution
• Optional 1.5×10⁻⁸ ultra high-stability oven time base
• -35 dBm to +10 dBm power range

• 250k Sample/s data transfer rate to internal memory (up to 750k samples stored)
• 5k sample/s data transfer rate over USB/GPIB bus (block mode)

• Automated measurements: frequency, period, ratio, time Interval, time interval error, pulse width, rise/fall time, phase angle, duty cycle, maximum voltage, minimum voltage, peak-to-peak voltage
• Integrated power meter
• Multi-measurement display
• Trend plot mode
• Measurement statistics mode
• Histogram mode
• Allan deviation
• Zero dead-time frequency/period measurements

• MCA3027: Microwave/Counter 27 GHz / 100 ps
• MCA3040: Microwave/Counter 40 GHz / 100 ps

Includes: Microwave/Counter; line cord; calibration certificate; Quick Start User Manual; CD-ROM with user manual (English, French, German, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Russian, Japanese); Programmer's Guide; Technical Specifications; Trial version of TimeView™ Software; CD-ROM with National Instruments LabVIEW SignalExpress™ Tektronix Edition, Limited Edition Software.