TimeView™
Modulation Domain Analyzer SW
- Category: Modulation Domain Analyzer SW
- Manufacturer: Pendulum Instruments
- Supported front-end hardware (TimeView 2): CNT-90, CNT-90XL, CNT-91, CNT-91R
- Supported front-end hardware (TimeView 3): CNT-91, CNT-91R
- Maximum input frequency range: 20 GHz (CNT-90/91/91R); 60 GHz (CNT-90XL)
- Free-running sample rate: Up to 250,000 Sa/s (250 kSa/s)
- Data sheet: Download PDF
- External link: Official product page
Overview
TimeView™ has two parts: a Pendulum CNT-90 family timer/counter/analyzer as the fast sampling front end, and a standard Windows PC connected over USB or GPIB. With the signal under test connected to the front-end counter, the software captures frequency, time or phase data continuously at up to 250,000 samples per second and streams it to the PC for post-processing. The advanced version, TimeView™ 3, is designed for the CNT-91 or CNT-91R and adds an Agilent 53310A emulation mode, a precision FM calibration mode, frequency display for burst signals, and wander metrics such as MTIE and TDEV. Every measurement setting is made from the PC, graphs print directly, and results are stored as ASCII for easy import into MS Excel for further analysis. Statistical distribution histograms, FFT analysis, smoothing, and ADEV and MADEV against τ make TimeView an all-round answer for frequency stability measurement, communications system verification and radar signal analysis.
Key features
- Live modulation domain display — Shows the dynamics of a signal as frequency against time (f vs. t), updating as often as every 4 μs, so FM modulation, frequency hopping and VCO drift can be followed as they happen — a frequency oscilloscope, in effect.
- FFT analysis and smoothing — Built-in FFT analysis (with Hamming, Hanning and rectangular window functions) finds expected and unexpected modulation frequencies; smoothing applies a moving-average digital low-pass filter that strips random noise and leaves the trend visible.
- Zero-dead-time timestamped measurement — Back-to-back frequency and period measurement gives zero-dead-time sampling, which is what detecting a phase jump requires; timestamp resolution reaches 35 ps rms with the CNT-91.
- Allan deviation and wander analysis — ADEV and MADEV against τ for stability; TimeView 3 adds MTIE, MRTIE and TDEV wander analysis, for verifying telecoms clock synchronization quality and assessing short-term oscillator stability.
- A wide range of applications — Frequency-hopping communications analysis (to 20 GHz), pulsed radar and chirp signals, FSK digital modulation, VCO settling time, PLL response and optical disc jitter — one software package covers them all.
- Flexible data output and integration — Settings and results are stored as ASCII for direct import into MS Excel or another program; statistical histograms and dual-cursor readout (with dx, dy and 1/dx) make the data easier to present.
Typical applications
- Verifying VCO and PLL locking behaviour — Developing a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) or a phase-locked loop (PLL), an engineer uses TimeView with a CNT-91/CNT-91R to capture the frequency drift curve continuously with zero dead time, watching the PLL move from unlocked to locked live, and quantifying settling time and residual frequency error exactly — which shortens the tuning loop.
- Modulation domain analysis of pulsed radar and frequency-hopping signals — In radar system acceptance or frequency-hopping module test, TimeView's modulation domain analysis reconstructs pulse width, rise and fall time and the pulse-by-pulse frequency change as a complete time-series waveform, so an engineer can confirm that the hopping sequence and the timing of FSK or FM modulation meet the design specification — in place of a legacy modulation domain analyzer such as the discontinued Agilent 53310A.
- Phase noise and jitter statistics for oscillators — Metrology laboratories and oscillator manufacturers use TimeView's statistical distribution histograms and FFT analysis to quantify cycle jitter on a crystal or atomic clock output and plot its Allan deviation, while the FFT picks out unexpected modulation such as supply noise — which gives final test a traceable, quantified basis.
Key specifications
Key specifications for TimeView™, as published by Pendulum Instruments. For the full datasheet or a customized configuration, please get in touch.
| Supported front-end hardware (TimeView 2) | CNT-90, CNT-90XL, CNT-91, CNT-91R |
|---|---|
| Supported front-end hardware (TimeView 3) | CNT-91, CNT-91R |
| Maximum input frequency range | 20 GHz (CNT-90/91/91R); 60 GHz (CNT-90XL) |
| Free-running sample rate | Up to 250,000 Sa/s (250 kSa/s) |
| Repetitive sampling, effective rate | Up to 100 MSa/s (minimum 10 ns delay) |
| Timestamp resolution | 35 ps rms (CNT-91/91R); 70 ps rms (CNT-90/90XL) |
| Internal memory depth | 1.9M results (CNT-91/91R); 375k (CNT-90/90XL) |
| Minimum sample interval (MDA mode) | 4 μs (free-running); 10 ns (repetitive sampling) |
| PC interface | USB (CNT-90 family); GPIB (National Instruments / Agilent / Keithley / CEC) |
| Operating system | The 2020 data sheets list MS Windows 2000, XP and Vista (TimeView 2) and Windows 7 (TimeView 3). The installers Pendulum distributes today are TimeView 2.1.24 and TimeView 3.0.2 (published February 2026); contact KanTek to confirm which Windows versions they support |
| Waveform voltage resolution | 1.0 mV (CNT-91); 2.5 mV (CNT-90/90XL) |
| Order numbers | Option 29/90 (TimeView 2, for the CNT-90 family); Option 29/91 (TimeView 3, for the CNT-91/91R) |
Frequently asked questions
Yes. KanTek Technology is the authorized Taiwan distributor for Pendulum Instruments, supplying new TimeView™ Modulation Domain Analysis Software instruments with factory quotations and technical advice.
Instrument rental is launching soon. TimeView™ Modulation Domain Analysis Software is part of the line-up being prepared, and advance enquiries are welcome.
Yes. KanTek provides calibration and repair for TimeView™ Modulation Domain Analysis Software, with calibration performed by a partner laboratory, to keep the instrument accurate and available.
Use Request a quote on this page, or call +886-2-2999-7719. KanTek replies within 24 hours with pricing, lead time and the options that suit your application.
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Instrument rental, launching soon
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