[time-nuts] HP 5370B

Didier Juges didier at cox.net
Sat May 10 09:22:18 EDT 2008


 > -----Original Message-----
> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com 
> [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On Behalf Of Didier Juges
> Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 8:08 AM
> To: Time-Nuts
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] HP 5370B
> 
> 
> That's a good illustration of the difference between 
> precision and accuracy.
> 

This is not unique to the 5370 counter. Many instruments have precision that
far exceeds their accuracy. Most microwave network analyzers have amplitude
resolution of 0.01dB, while their accuracy is just around 1dB in most cases.

There are a few cases where it can actually be useful, but in the vast
majority of cases, it simply confuses the hell out of the unsuspecting QA
person.

I have had to argue too many times that a piece of equipment with a 2dB p-p
requirement on flatness was just fine when it measured 2.01dB on the HP
network analyzer. I would not have gotten in that argument if the data had
been 1.99dB. Go figure.

Didier

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