aioscilloscope / Bench / Leo Bodnar LBE-1421 GPS Clock

Leo Bodnar LBE-1421 GPS Clock

Name: Leo Bodnar LBE-1421 GPS Clock
Brand: Leo Bodnar

On the benchGPS-locked clock source

The Leo Bodnar LBE-1421 GPS-locked clock source (two outputs, 1 Hz to 1.4 GHz): its specifications and how we use it to check the time base and frequency readings of Rigol scopes running NovaOS.

CH1 Specifications

Out 1 frequency	1Hz to 800MHz or 1 PPSData sheet, p. 1
Out 2 frequency	1Hz to 1.4GHzData sheet, p. 1
Frequency resolution	1µHzData sheet, p. 1
Amplitude	1.65V into 50Ω, 3.3V into High ImpedanceData sheet, p. 1
Stability	1x10⁻¹² at 1000sData sheet, p. 1
Output power	< 400 MHz: +11dBm, +6dBm (Low Power Mode); 400MHz - 1GHz: +10dBm, +5dBm Low Power Mode; > 1GHz: +10dBm, +3dBm Low Power ModeData sheet, p. 1
RF output connectors	2 x SMA FemaleData sheet, p. 1
PPS output	1.65V into 50Ω, 3.3V into High Impedance; pulse length 100msData sheet, p. 1
Antenna port	SMA Female; up to a maximum of 30mA; 3.3V ±5%Data sheet, p. 1
Power	USB-C (USB 2.0); 5V ±10%; 250mA ±10% @ 5VData sheet, p. 1
Dimensions (with connectors)	69x40x12mmData sheet, p. 1

Leo Bodnar's own figures, as its documents state them; each links to the page it is on.

CH2 What it does

An oscillator kept in step with the timing of the GPS satellites, giving a reference frequency accurate enough to check other instruments' clocks against.

What we use it for

A frequency known to GPS accuracy: it checks how true each scope's time base, frequency readings and generators are.

Its 10 MHz is a frequency known to GPS accuracy. On a scope channel it shows how far the scope's own time base is off, through the frequency counter and the frequency measurements, in parts per million; into the waveform generator's reference input it makes every frequency the generator sends just as true.

CH3 What we will measure

The tests we will run with it next; the results will appear here.

Time-base accuracy: Its 10 MHz on a channel of each scope: the frequency counter's and the frequency measurement's error in parts per million.
The scopes' own generators: Each scope's built-in generator counted against it, and the waveform generator locked to it as the known source for the measurement-accuracy tests.

CH4 Discussions

Forum threads worth reading before you buy one.

Leo Bodnar LBE-1420 and LBE-1421 GPSDOAn owner's measurements: phase noise at 10 MHz, 100 MHz and 1 GHz, spurs, and comparisons with a rubidium standard.
Leo Bodnar LBE-1420 square wave problemWhy the output's edges look wrong into a 1 MΩ input, and how cabling and termination fix it, with the LBE-1421 compared.

Datasheets and manuals

LBE-1421 Dual Output GPS Locked Clock Source Datasheet (PDF, 401 kB)Official copy from Leo Bodnar, retrieved 11 October 2026

Where to buy

Back to the bench: everything NovaOS is developed and measured with.