User`s guide

53220A/53230A User’s Guide 29
Preparation for Use 1
The date and time settings for the counter’s real-time clock are set using the
commands:
SYSTem:DATE <year>,<month>,<day>
SYSTem:DATE? (query form)
SYSTem:TIME <hour>,<minute>,<second>
SYSTem:TIME? (query form)
The date and time range values are:
year: 2000-2099 hour: 0-23
month: 1-12 minute: 0-59
day: 1-31 second: 0-59.999
The real-time clock is battery-backed and retains the date and time when
power is off. There is no automatic setting of, or automatic return to the cur-
rent date and time.
Measurement Time Out
The measurement time-out is the time allowed for each measurement to
complete. If a measurement does not complete before the time out expires,
9.91E37 (not a number) is returned and the display indication is: - - - - - - -.
The sequence continues with the next reading in the sample count.
Specifying a time out prevents the instrument from pausing indefinitely if for
some reason a measurement is unable to complete.
The default and factory-set time out is 1 second. Refer to “Setting the Measure-
ment Time Out” in Chapter 3 for more information.
Time Base
53220A and 53230A measurements are based on a reference oscillator - also
referred to as an internal/external clock or time base. A valid reference oscil-
lator signal must be present for measurements to occur.