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The Keysight 53200A Series comprises three RF and universal frequency counter/timers — the 53210A, 53220A, and 53230A — designed to deliver frequency and time interval measurements with the resolution, speed, and analysis capabilities required for both R&D and manufacturing environments. The series builds on Keysight's heritage in time and frequency measurement, expanding traditional counter functionality with built-in graphical analysis, deep measurement memory, and modern connectivity.
Per the datasheet, the 53200A Series supports frequency, frequency ratio, period, voltage level, and RF signal strength measurements across all three models. The 53220A and 53230A add time interval, pulse width, rise/fall time, duty cycle, phase, and totalize measurements. The 53230A further enables continuous gap-free measurements, timestamped data for modulation domain analysis, and — when configured with the 6 GHz or 15 GHz microwave option — pulse and burst measurements including carrier frequency, pulse repetition frequency (PRF), pulse repetition interval (PRI), and burst positive/negative width.
ValueTronics International stocks, tests, and supports the Keysight 53200A Series from a 20,000 square foot secure warehouse at 1675 Cambridge Drive in Elgin, Illinois. Every instrument is inspected and performance-verified by our in-house technicians before shipment, with condition documentation accompanying the unit. Our depth in time and frequency instrumentation — across new authorized distribution, verified used inventory, and trade-in offset programs — lets us match a 53210A, 53220A, or 53230A to your application from multiple sourcing paths rather than a single channel.
Keysight Technologies was established in 2014 when Agilent Technologies separated its electronic measurement business. Agilent itself originated in 1999 as a spin-off from Hewlett-Packard's test and measurement, semiconductor products, chemical analysis, and medical businesses. The 53200A Series continues a long heritage of HP, Agilent, and now Keysight frequency counters that have served R&D and manufacturing benches for decades.
The 53200A Series is structured as a three-tier family. The 53210A is positioned as the RF frequency counter, providing frequency, frequency ratio, period, and voltage-level measurements on the standard channel and adding RF signal strength when the microwave channel option is installed. The 53220A and 53230A are universal counter/timers, extending the measurement set to include time interval, pulse width, rise/fall time, duty cycle, phase, and totalize functions across two standard 350 MHz channels.
Within the universal counter pair, the 53230A is the higher-resolution and higher-capability model. It adds 20 ps single-shot time resolution (versus 100 ps on the 53220A), continuous gap-free measurements, timestamped acquisition for modulation domain analysis, and — when paired with the optional microwave channel — pulse and burst measurement support including carrier frequency, PRF, PRI, and burst positive/negative width.
Each pre-owned 53200A Series model below is its own dedicated product page with condition-matched pricing and configuration options. Use the links to navigate to the specific model that matches your application — base model, OCXO timebase, microwave channel option, or battery configuration — and confirm option codes against the unit you receive.
The three models differ along three primary axes that the datasheet describes explicitly: measurement function set, resolution, and acquisition mode. The 53210A is limited to frequency-domain measurements (frequency, ratio, period, voltage level, and optional RF signal strength). The 53220A and 53230A add the full time-interval measurement set — single-shot time interval, pulse width, rise/fall time, duty cycle, and phase. Single-shot time resolution steps from N/A on the 53210A to 100 ps on the 53220A to 20 ps on the 53230A.
Acquisition capability differs at the top of the family. The 53230A is the only model offering continuous gap-free measurements and timestamped acquisition (up to 1 MSa/s, with acquisition lengths up to 1 million samples or 100,000 seconds), enabling modulation domain analysis workflows. The 53230A is also the only model supporting pulse and burst measurements with the optional microwave channel. The comparison table that follows summarizes the measurement-by-model matrix from the datasheet.
| Model | Frequency Range | Resolution | Single-Shot Time Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53220A | DC (1 mHz) to 350 MHz | 12 digits/s | 100 ps |
| 53210A | DC (1 mHz) to 350 MHz | 10 digits/s | — |
| 53230A | DC (1 mHz) to 350 MHz | 12 digits/s | 20 ps |
Additional differences in specifications beyond the few shown above are not listed here — see each model's full specifications below.
| Specification | 53210A | 53220A | 53230A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseband frequency range (DC coupled) | DC (1 mHz) to 350 MHz | DC (1 mHz) to 350 MHz | DC (1 mHz) to 350 MHz |
| Standard input channels | Ch 1 | Ch 1 & Ch 2 | Ch 1 & Ch 2 |
| Optional microwave input channel | Ch 2 (6 or 15 GHz) | Ch 3 (6 or 15 GHz) | Ch 3 (6 or 15 GHz) |
| Resolution | 10 digits/s | 12 digits/s | 12 digits/s |
| Maximum display resolution | 12 digits | 15 digits | 15 digits |
| Single-shot time resolution | N/A | 100 ps | 20 ps |
| Channel-to-channel time skew (typ) | N/A | 100 ps | 50 ps |
| Measurement technique | Reciprocal | Reciprocal and resolution enhanced | Reciprocal, resolution-enhanced or continuous (gap-free) |
| Gate time | 1 ms to 1000 s in 10 µs steps | 100 µs to 1000 s in 10 µs steps | 1 µs to 1000 s in 1 µs steps |
| External trigger rate | 300/s max | 1 k/s max | 10 k/s max |
| Standard input connector | Front panel BNC(f); Option 201 adds parallel rear panel BNC(f) inputs | ||
| Input impedance (typ) | Selectable 1 MΩ ± 1.5% or 50 Ω ± 1.5% || <25 pF | ||
| Input coupling | Selectable DC or AC | ||
| Input range | ±5 V (±50 V) full scale ranges | ||
| Sensitivity (typ) | DC - 100 MHz: 20 mVpk; > 100 MHz: 40 mVpk | ||
| 50 Ω damage level | 1 W | ||
| 1 MΩ damage level (DC - 5 kHz) | 350 Vpk (AC + DC) | ||
| Option 106 microwave frequency range | 100 MHz - 6 GHz | ||
| Option 115 microwave frequency range | 300 MHz - 15 GHz | ||
| Microwave input connector | Front panel precision Type-N(f); Option 203 moves to rear panel SMA(f) | ||
| Microwave input impedance (typ) | 50 Ω ± 1.5% (SWR < 2.5) | ||
| Volatile reading memory | 1 M readings (16 MBytes) | ||
| Non-volatile internal memory | 75 Mbytes (up to 5 M readings) | ||
| Display | 4.3" Color TFT WQVGA (480 x 272), LED backlight | ||
| Programming interface | LXI-C 1.3, 10/100/1000 LAN, USB 2.0 (USB-TMC488), GPIB (IEEE-488.1, IEEE-488.2) | ||
| SCPI programming language | 532xx Series and 53131A/53132A/53181A Series compatibility mode | ||
| Standard timebase aging (1-year, TCAL ±5 °C) | ± 1 ppm (TCXO standard); ± 50 ppb (Option 010 Ultra-High Stability OCXO) | ||
| Warm-up time | 45 minutes | ||
| Bench dimensions | 261.1 mm W x 103.8 mm H x 303.2 mm D | ||
| Rack mount dimensions | 212.8 mm W x 88.3 mm H x 272.3 mm D (2U x 1/2 width) | ||
| Weight | 3.9 kg (8.6 lbs) fully optioned; 3.1 kg (6.9 lbs) without Option 300 | ||
| Operating temperature | 0 °C to +55 °C | ||
| Storage temperature | -30 °C to +70 °C | ||
| Operating humidity | 5% to 80% RH, non-condensing | ||
| Operating altitude | Up to 3000 meters (10,000 ft) | ||
| Line power voltage | 100 V - 240 V ± 10%, 50-60 Hz ± 5%; 100 V - 120 V, 400 Hz ± 10% | ||
| Power consumption | 90 VA max when powered on or charging battery; 6 VA max when powered off/standby | ||
| Acoustic noise (nom) | SPL 35 dB(A) |
Please review the Manufacturer's Data Sheet to verify published specifications. Feedback on this webpage is always welcome — please reach out to your Test Architect at any time for questions or concerns. Thank you, we truly appreciate you being our customer.
Model No
Keysight
Condition
Used
Manufacturer
Agilent
Frequency
350 MHz
10
Ultra-high-stability OCXO timebase
106
6 GHz microwave input
150
Pulse Microwave Measurements
202
Channel 3 input front - Type N
203
Move Channel 3 input to rear panel - SMA
400
GPIB Interface
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