HP / Agilent 4342A Q-METER
The HP/Agilent 4342A Q-Meter is a versatile instrument for measuring the quality factor (Q) of inductors, capacitors, and resonant circuits. It operates over a frequency range, providing accurate and reliable measurements for component evaluation and circuit analysis. Its features include a wide Q range, high accuracy, and stable performance, making it suitable for both laboratory and production environments.
- Model
- HP / Agilent 4342A
- Calibration
- Available on request
- Price
- $3,058
- Status
- In stock
- RFQ ref
- 4342A
This unit
The HP/Agilent 4342A is a solid-state Q-meter engineered for precision measurement of quality factor (Q) in inductors, capacitors, and resonant circuits across a broad frequency spectrum. This instrument delivers direct-reading Q measurements, dissipation factor and dielectric constant determination for insulating materials, transformer coupling coefficient analysis, and RF resistance and reactance calculations. Elimination of fragile thermocouple components ensures operational durability across diverse test environments.
Technical Specifications
Frequency Range: 22 kHz to 70 MHz (standard); optional 10 kHz to 32 MHz (Option 001). RF accuracy ±1.5% from 22 kHz to 22 MHz; +2% from 22 MHz to 70 MHz; +1% at L-point reference. Seven sub-ranges provide approximately 1% resolution increments. Q Measurement: Range 5 to 1000 across four overlapping sub-ranges (5–30, 20–100, 50–300, 200–1000). Delta-Q (ΔQ) spans 0 to 100 with ±10% full-scale accuracy. Upper scale resolution 0.1 (0–10); lower scale 0.05 (0–3). Resonating Capacitor: Main dial 25 to 470 pF with ±1% or 1 pF accuracy (whichever greater); vernier dial ±5 to +5 pF with ±0.1 pF accuracy. Increments: 1 pF (25–30 pF), 2 pF (30–200 pF), 5 pF (200–470 pF) on main dial; 0.1 pF on vernier. Inductance (L): Direct-reading 0.09 µH to 1.2 H at seven specified frequencies. Power: 25 VA maximum (40 VA maximum per updated specification). 115 or 230 V ±10%, 50–400 Hz. Operating Temperature: 0°C to 50°C.Key Features
- Push-button frequency range selection and Q/ΔQ switching
- Direct-reading expanded scale for Q measurements
- Solid-state signal detection - no thermocouple thermal drift
- Dual-dial capacitor tuning with fine vernier adjustment
Typical Applications
- Component Q and dissipation factor characterization
- Dielectric constant measurement of insulating materials
- Transformer coupling coefficient and frequency response analysis
- Mutual inductance and RF impedance determination
Compatibility & Integration Standard mains operation (115/230 V, 50–400 Hz) supports laboratory integration. Low power consumption accommodates multi-unit test setups.
Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 22 kHz to 70 MHz (standard) |
| 10 kHz to 32 MHz (Option 001) | Voltage / Current Range | 115 or 230 V ±10%, 50-400 Hz |
HP / Agilent 4342A — Repair & Calibration Service
Aumictech offers NIST-traceable calibration and repair for the HP / Agilent 4342A. Calibration covers impedance magnitude accuracy at 100 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz, and 100 kHz, dissipation factor (D) and quality factor (Q) accuracy, phase angle accuracy, open and short compensation verification, and cable length compensation. HP/Keysight 4284A additionally verified at 1 MHz.. All calibrations ship with a NIST-traceable certificate. Turnaround is typically 1–3 business days after receipt.
Common HP / Agilent 4342A faults: GPIB interface board failure, display failure, guard terminal switch contact wear, oscillator calibration drift on older analog bridges. HP 4284A and 4285A most common faults are HPIB interface board failure and display contrast loss. The internal oscillator and vector measurement circuits are highly stable and rarely fail. Wayne Kerr and GenRad bridge instruments may develop switch contact wear on decade resistance/capacitance dials.
HP / Agilent 4342A price
This HP / Agilent 4342A is listed at $3,058. Calibration is available separately from $450. Contact us for volume pricing or if you need multiple units.
HP / Agilent 4342A calibration cost
NIST-traceable calibration for the HP / Agilent 4342A is $450 (standard — pass/fail certificate and calibration sticker) or $650 (full measured data at every test point, reference standards documented, traceability chain included). Calibration for this instrument covers impedance magnitude accuracy at 100 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz, and 100 kHz, dissipation factor (D) and quality factor (Q) accuracy, phase angle accuracy, open and short compensation verification, and cable length compensation. HP/Keysight 4284A additionally verified at 1 MHz.. Turnaround is 1 to 3 business days after receipt. See full calibration details →
