Re: [time-nuts] FRK-L Manual
I do, post your email address and I can send it to you. Peter Lacey - AA1ZU -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brian Kirby Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 11:42 PM To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement Subject: [time-nuts] FRK-L Manual Does anybody have a scanned copy of the FRK-L manual ? Brian - N4FMN ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
[time-nuts] HP 3325B Function Generator and GPS based frequency control
Hello everyone, I found this HP3325B Function Generator on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=270006696082 It has the high voltage option but not the High Stability Oven. Since I plan to use an external GPS based frequency source, does it matter? I suspect the unit still has a decent ovenized crystal to begin with. Any thoughts from the group? -George Hrysanthopoulos, N2FGX ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
Re: [time-nuts] HP 3325B Function Generator and GPS based frequencycontrol
Seems like a lot of money to pay for one. I have been using an HP 3325A for about 25 years and like it very much. I bought it brand new from HP for the company I worked, where I was director of engineering. After I resigned, to pursue greener pastures, they eventually closed down their hardware capability and operations and offered me the entire laboratory and inventory which then I purchased personally. I would recommend you getting the A version for about one fifth of the price of that B model, unless, you have an overwhelming desire to get the B for some special reason. Option 001 provides the high accuracy ovenized reference and it does not look like the one on ebay has that option. Normally they would use a TCXO. Regardless, since you will be using an external reference it really does not matter. The A also accepts an external reference and I run my off of a local Rubidium. 73 - Mike Mike B. Feher, N4FS 89 Arnold Blvd. Howell, NJ, 07731 732-886-5960 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of xaos Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 9:11 AM To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement Subject: [time-nuts] HP 3325B Function Generator and GPS based frequencycontrol Hello everyone, I found this HP3325B Function Generator on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=270006696082 It has the high voltage option but not the High Stability Oven. Since I plan to use an external GPS based frequency source, does it matter? I suspect the unit still has a decent ovenized crystal to begin with. Any thoughts from the group? -George Hrysanthopoulos, N2FGX ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.10/383 - Release Date: 7/7/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.10/384 - Release Date: 7/10/2006 ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
Re: [time-nuts] FRK-L Manual
Brian, i just sent you the 80 page FRK (H OR L) Operating and Maintainance Manual. It is abt. 5 MB 73 Ulli -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- Von: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Im Auftrag von Brian Kirby Gesendet: Dienstag, 11. Juli 2006 05:42 An: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement Betreff: [time-nuts] FRK-L Manual Does anybody have a scanned copy of the FRK-L manual ? Brian - N4FMN ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi- bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
Re: [time-nuts] HP 3325B Function Generator and GPS based frequencycontrol
I've always been curious about the 3325A vs. B -- there is more price spread between those two than just about any other HP A vs. B model. What's the difference between them, and is it worth anything like that much (obviously, Mike doesn't think so :-) ). I've been happy with my A model, though it often fails amplitude calibration on powerup. Waiting a few seconds and then running the cal always works, though. John Mike Feher wrote: Seems like a lot of money to pay for one. I have been using an HP 3325A for about 25 years and like it very much. I bought it brand new from HP for the company I worked, where I was director of engineering. After I resigned, to pursue greener pastures, they eventually closed down their hardware capability and operations and offered me the entire laboratory and inventory which then I purchased personally. I would recommend you getting the A version for about one fifth of the price of that B model, unless, you have an overwhelming desire to get the B for some special reason. Option 001 provides the high accuracy ovenized reference and it does not look like the one on ebay has that option. Normally they would use a TCXO. Regardless, since you will be using an external reference it really does not matter. The A also accepts an external reference and I run my off of a local Rubidium. 73 - Mike ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
Re: [time-nuts] Low Cost GP-IB PCI card?
John, please note that i do not intend to make fun over the boys of SPARK FUN! It is just VERY difficult to surpress a bright smile if I manage to get onto pages like that. I appreciate your comments a lot. If you are eager to see something even more strange, then visit http://www.lrr.in.tum.de/~acher/bga/index.html This guy has built a apparatus that enables him to solder bgas! Unfortunately the site is in German but the pictures speak for themselves. Regards Ulrich -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- Von: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Im Auftrag von John Day Gesendet: Dienstag, 11. Juli 2006 00:42 An: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement Betreff: Re: [time-nuts] Low Cost GP-IB PCI card? Actually I think you will find that if you read the site carefully they have given up on the toaster oven and are now using a fry-pan, albeit a non-stick electric one. Like many of us involved in doing small prototype work with the new, and very small SMD devices, we often have to think laterally about how we do things. I have also used the mylar film stencils (also cut by http://www.pololu.com ) and they work very well. Although I have probably never used one more than two or three times, prototyping is like that. For small boards I tend to use a small lab-type hotplate I stole from the guys in the chem lab. We used to use it for soldering flanges onto waveguide, but it got put in the back of the cupboard and now does a sterling job of reflowing solder cream. To assist the surface tension sometimes on these boards you do tend to use a little bit of liquid flux. On many of the tiny pads there is so little solder that it doesn't do the job, the flux tends to help! For small hand assembly work many of the traditional aids just don't cut it. You cant afford to do a stainless steel stencil for 10 small boards. Conventional screening frames are often more trouble than they are worth. Many of the small infrared ovens you see advertised in the trade press and on ebay are about as useless as well I am sure you get the idea. However there are some really nice dispensing and handling systems at bargain prices on ebay these days. Those tiny suction hand-pieces for picking and locating SMD parts are really really useful. Choice of soldering irons is important too. Many of the hobbyist haven't realised that if you spend money you get something worthwhile. I had been using Weller for years, and some Pace, but my favourite was always a beaten up old Metcal that I am not sure how old it was. I just recently went out and bought a brand new Metcal MX-500 series station with the talon tweezer style handpiece as well. It is worth a small fortune and then some, but with the right tips it makes touching up of boards, and even removing and replacing 0402 and 0201 components under the microscope a pretty simple task. Just don't laugh at the toaster oven, it actually does work - I have one myself - but I tend to use the hot-plate most often these days. John At 11:48 AM 7/10/2006, Ulrich Bangert wrote: Hi Said, Works great with frequency counters, power meters etc. Have not tried SRQ. Works great with a SINGLE instrument that talks from time to time. Anything that is only a bit more complex needs different measures. One other factoid: the SMD chips seem to be soldered by hand, my card had a lot of solder flux on it. If you want to read the absolute truth and nothing but the truth about smd processing at SPARK FUN, go to: http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorial/ReflowToaster/reflow-hotplate.htm and be prepared to have a lot of fun. That's no joke! The boys are really doin it this way! Regards Ulrich -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- Von: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Im Auftrag von [EMAIL PROTECTED] Gesendet: Sonntag, 9. Juli 2006 19:46 An: time-nuts@febo.com Betreff: Re: [time-nuts] Low Cost GP-IB PCI card? In a message dated 7/9/2006 04:56:51 Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I found that USB-GPIB controller. Looks like BSD and Linux are supported. http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=549 Hi, I bought one on Ebay, they work quite well. They used to be $99 at Sparkfun, now they raised the price, and it is out of stock... Have you tried using SRQ or other features than simple read/wait/write sequences with it? I found with one of the old RS-232-to-GPIB converters that anything beyond reads and writes was hard to handle. John Hi John, I typically only use the basic (polled) features of the GPIB, sending commands manually to the unit (*RST, *IDN, etc etc), or what is even better I put the units into TALK mode, that way they spit out
Re: [time-nuts] HP 3325B Function Generator and GPS based frequencycontrol
Hi John: It's my recollection (and so subject to bad memory) that the 3325's claim to fame is that the amplitude is settable in steps of 0.01 dB. Also the amplitude accuracy is very good. Because of this the 3325 is still called out as part of the required test equipment needed to calibrate other test instruments. The A model uses mechanical attenuators that wear out and the B model uses some more reliable attenuation scheme. Once the A model breaks it's toast. Since they are still needed for doing calibrations the demand for the more reliable B model is driving up the price. http://www.tucker.com/images/images_spec/0015.pdf Have Fun, Brooke Clarke -- w/Java http://www.PRC68.com w/o Java http://www.pacificsites.com/~brooke/PRC68COM.shtml http://www.precisionclock.com John Ackermann N8UR wrote: I've always been curious about the 3325A vs. B -- there is more price spread between those two than just about any other HP A vs. B model. What's the difference between them, and is it worth anything like that much (obviously, Mike doesn't think so :-) ). I've been happy with my A model, though it often fails amplitude calibration on powerup. Waiting a few seconds and then running the cal always works, though. John Mike Feher wrote: Seems like a lot of money to pay for one. I have been using an HP 3325A for about 25 years and like it very much. I bought it brand new from HP for the company I worked, where I was director of engineering. After I resigned, to pursue greener pastures, they eventually closed down their hardware capability and operations and offered me the entire laboratory and inventory which then I purchased personally. I would recommend you getting the A version for about one fifth of the price of that B model, unless, you have an overwhelming desire to get the B for some special reason. Option 001 provides the high accuracy ovenized reference and it does not look like the one on ebay has that option. Normally they would use a TCXO. Regardless, since you will be using an external reference it really does not matter. The A also accepts an external reference and I run my off of a local Rubidium. 73 - Mike ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
[time-nuts] time-nuts Digest, Vol 24, Issue 19
Greetings [EMAIL PROTECTED] Charles Curry is out of the office until Monday July 17th. If your enquiry is of an urgent nature please contact Joanne Akers on +44 (0) 1594 862234 ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Regards, [EMAIL PROTECTED] __ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email __ ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
Re: [time-nuts] HP 3325B Function Generator and GPSbased frequencycontrol
Across the life-span of the HP 3325A, the following changes were incorporated: 1. They removed the sockets for power supply regulator transistors (instead soldering the leads right to the board) for better reliability. 2. They re-designed the power supply board layout in order to put more space between a hot AC mains trace and a grounded mounting screw (safety issue). 3. They changed the ribbon cables' connectors from tinned to gold-plated for better reliability. (They changed the associated ribbon cables for same reason.) 4. They replaced the old high-profile yellow attenuator relays with the low-profile black Omron relays -- this was a big improvement in attenuator reliability. 5. They redesigned the controller/HPIB board. (Both old and new boards worked equally well, but the new board was more simple, with less number of IC's, as I remember.) Back in the eighties and nineties, whenever a 3325A came to HP for any repair, items 1 through 3 (above) were routinely updated (e.g., new power supply board, new ribbon cables connectors, etc. were installed). Also, many times the old attenuator board was replaced with the new one. All together, many older 3325A's therefore have the newer features inside. By the time the 3325B was introduced, all the above features were included in production, and the controller/HPIB board (and its firmware) were further refined and stream-lined. A few additional programming commands were added. Bottom line: If you have a fully updated A, your unit is just about every bit as good as the B version. Otherwise your A version might be less reliable, with some intermittent digital resets to the turn-on state, and have intermittent output levels (if you still have the old attenuator board with the big yellow relays). Greg - Original Message - From: John Ackermann N8UR [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement time-nuts@febo.com Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 8:39 AM Subject: Re: [time-nuts] HP 3325B Function Generator and GPSbased frequencycontrol I've always been curious about the 3325A vs. B -- there is more price spread between those two than just about any other HP A vs. B model. What's the difference between them, and is it worth anything like that much (obviously, Mike doesn't think so :-) ). I've been happy with my A model, though it often fails amplitude calibration on powerup. Waiting a few seconds and then running the cal always works, though. John Mike Feher wrote: Seems like a lot of money to pay for one. I have been using an HP 3325A for about 25 years and like it very much. I bought it brand new from HP for the company I worked, where I was director of engineering. After I resigned, to pursue greener pastures, they eventually closed down their hardware capability and operations and offered me the entire laboratory and inventory which then I purchased personally. I would recommend you getting the A version for about one fifth of the price of that B model, unless, you have an overwhelming desire to get the B for some special reason. Option 001 provides the high accuracy ovenized reference and it does not look like the one on ebay has that option. Normally they would use a TCXO. Regardless, since you will be using an external reference it really does not matter. The A also accepts an external reference and I run my off of a local Rubidium. 73 - Mike ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
Re: [time-nuts] HP 3325B Function Generator and GPS based frequencycontrol
Here's one that sold for $102 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=31869022 ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
[time-nuts] Web Site Update
Hi Fellow Nuts I have updated the www.to-way.com Web site. The missing Kinnemetrics 60-DC manual is now back. Added the Efratom FRK H/L manual. Contributions always welcome Had A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
Re: [time-nuts] HP 3325B Function Generator and GPS based
Hi Xaos: It may have worked fine and just had a rear output modification. But the missing connector on the front is why the price was so low. Have Fun, Brooke Clarke -- w/Java http://www.PRC68.com w/o Java http://www.pacificsites.com/~brooke/PRC68COM.shtml http://www.precisionclock.com xaos wrote: Well, except for the fact that it had no output it was fine ;) Seriously, though. $100.00 is a bargain for that box. If you got lucky and the bad parts were not some custom jobs you'd have a very nice function generator. Looks like I have to pay a bit more though... -George Here's one that sold for $102 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemitem=31869022 ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
Re: [time-nuts] HP 3325B Function Generator and GPS based frequencycontrol
From: John Ackermann N8UR [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [time-nuts] HP 3325B Function Generator and GPS based frequencycontrol Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 10:39:49 -0400 Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I've always been curious about the 3325A vs. B -- there is more price spread between those two than just about any other HP A vs. B model. What's the difference between them, and is it worth anything like that much (obviously, Mike doesn't think so :-) ). The B model adds modulation source if I recall correctly. I have the B model but also has some of the A documentation. However, I can't check the details from here (600 km between me and the manuals). I would not add too much money on the B model compared to the A model. It's nice but not strictly necessary. The High Voltage option is nice, but if you are a true time-nut the 001 ref doesn't add much since you already as a nice ref heated. The only thing which annoys me is that it doesn't go higher in frequency and that I wish I could run the modulation source internally even if I like the contacts at the back. If you don't get the modulation source to do anything reasnoble, check if you have hooked up a cable! Cheers, Magnus ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
[time-nuts] time-nuts Digest, Vol 24, Issue 21
Greetings [EMAIL PROTECTED] Charles Curry is out of the office until Monday July 17th. If your enquiry is of an urgent nature please contact Joanne Akers on +44 (0) 1594 862234 ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Regards, [EMAIL PROTECTED] __ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email __ ___ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
