Re: [time-nuts] Z3805 service information ?

[Mark Spencer]

Thanks Bob.   No I haven't cracked open the case yet.  Once I saw rs 232 data 
and confirmed that the docxo was still working as well as before from an adev 
perspective I shelved the unit.   One day I may try and swap GPS receivers and 
power supplies with another unit but for now  it goes into the project pile.   
The docxo in that unit is almost as good as my fts1050 at short tau's.   It was 
by far the best GPSDO I had from an adev perspective but I haven't done much 
with it for the last few years.

Re the Lightning the unit did work after the storm but I thought it was odd 
that only that unit lost lock while three other gpsdo's connected to the same 
antenna via the same four port splitter worked without a hitch.  

This is also the same unit that failed after the power went out.

They all run from the same ups as well.

Thanks for the hint re the z38xx program.   I have not used that in a while.  I 
usually use GPScon.
Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 8, 2015, at 8:57 PM, Bob Benward <rbenw...@verizon.net> wrote:
> 
> Hi Mark,
> I suspected my GPS was trashed after the storm as well.  So I swapped the
> GPS model between my Z3801A and Z3805A.  I monitored both at the same time
> and both eventually got GPS locks.  My antennae are not optimally placed so
> that may be why it takes so long.  So much for that idea.  As I said before
> in my case it the ocxo running out of EFC range.  Did you check the supply
> voltages via the test points?
> 
> 
> Bob
> 
> P.S. Something I learned about the Z38xx program:  If you need to run two
> copies on the same computer, simply place then in different folders.  The
> data and init folders remain within the folders allowing you to run two
> different Z38xx machines on different com ports.
> 
>>>> -Original Message-
>>>> From: time-nuts [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Mark
>>>> Spencer
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2015 4:41 PM
>>>> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
>>>> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Z3805 service information ?
>>>> 
>>>> Hi it seems the GPS module is not working and I suspect the power supply
> is
>>>> failing.   After a few power cycles the unit started up and reported via
> rs232
>>>> that it could not communicate with the GPS receiver
>>>> 
>>>> The docxo still delivers great performance from an adev perspective and
> I
>>>> have other gpsdo's so I'm going to defer any more work on this for the
> time
>>>> being.  The docxo is probably the most valuable part right now.  It is
> far and
>>>> away better than any of my other 10811's from an adev perspective.
>>>> 
>>>> Right now I'm kind of glad no one bought my jackson labs fury GPSDO.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I figure I got my money's worth from the Z3805 and my interest in time
> nuts
>>>> pursuits has waned in recent years.
>>>> 
>>>> Also I seem to recall this Z3805 loosing GPS lock during a lightning
> storm as
>>>> well.  (I recall some one else mentioned this issue with their Z3805.)
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>> 
>>>>> On Sep 1, 2015, at 9:05 PM, Bob Benward <rbenw...@verizon.net> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Can you communicate over RS232?  Are you using the Z38xx software?
>>>>> What does it say?
>>>>> 
>>>>> Bob
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> -Original Message-
>>>>>>>> From: time-nuts [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of
>>>>>>>> Mark Spencer
>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2015 12:54 PM
>>>>>>>> To: time-nuts@febo.com
>>>>>>>> Subject: [time-nuts] Z3805 service information ?
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Hi, I realize this is a long shot but I'm curious if anyone has
>>>>>>>> ever
>>>>> come across
>>>>>>>> any form of a service manual (or insight into a power on self test
>>>>> routine) for
>>>>>>>> the Z3805 gpsdo ?
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> One of mine is not working properly after being power cycled.   It
> works
>>>>> well
>>>>>>>> enough to blink the status lights on the front panel hence my
>>>>>>>> request
>>>>> for info
>>>>>>>> about

Re: [time-nuts] Z3805 service information ?

[Mark Spencer]

Hi it seems the GPS module is not working and I suspect the power supply is 
failing.   After a few power cycles the unit started up and reported via rs232 
that it could not communicate with the GPS receiver

The docxo still delivers great performance from an adev perspective and I have 
other gpsdo's so I'm going to defer any more work on this for the time being.  
The docxo is probably the most valuable part right now.  It is far and away 
better than any of my other 10811's from an adev perspective.

Right now I'm kind of glad no one bought my jackson labs fury GPSDO.


I figure I got my money's worth from the Z3805 and my interest in time nuts 
pursuits has waned in recent years.

Also I seem to recall this Z3805 loosing GPS lock during a lightning storm as 
well.  (I recall some one else mentioned this issue with their Z3805.) 


Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 1, 2015, at 9:05 PM, Bob Benward <rbenw...@verizon.net> wrote:
> 
> Can you communicate over RS232?  Are you using the Z38xx software?  What
> does it say?
> 
> Bob
> 
>>>> -Original Message-
>>>> From: time-nuts [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Mark
>>>> Spencer
>>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2015 12:54 PM
>>>> To: time-nuts@febo.com
>>>> Subject: [time-nuts] Z3805 service information ?
>>>> 
>>>> Hi, I realize this is a long shot but I'm curious if anyone has ever
> come across
>>>> any form of a service manual (or insight into a power on self test
> routine) for
>>>> the Z3805 gpsdo ?
>>>> 
>>>> One of mine is not working properly after being power cycled.   It works
> well
>>>> enough to blink the status lights on the front panel hence my request
> for info
>>>> about a possible power on self test routine.
>>>> 
>>>> I'll likely start by confirming the power supply voltages using another
> working
>>>> unit as a guide and then swap parts with another working unit but
> thought I
>>>> would look for service information first.
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks in advance for any help.
>>>> 
>>>> With the exception of two ocxo's that have a dedicated battery backup
>>>> system all my time nuts gear, computers, freezers, etc was power cycled
>>>> during a two day power outage after a wind storm while I was on
> vacation.   I
>>>> have a nice generator that sat un used in my garage (:
>>>> 
>>>> Mark Spencer
>>>> VE7AFZ
>>>> 
>>>> ___
>>>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to
>>>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>>>> and follow the instructions there.
> 
> ___
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Re: [time-nuts] Z3805 service information ?

[Bob Benward]

Hi Mark,
I suspected my GPS was trashed after the storm as well.  So I swapped the
GPS model between my Z3801A and Z3805A.  I monitored both at the same time
and both eventually got GPS locks.  My antennae are not optimally placed so
that may be why it takes so long.  So much for that idea.  As I said before
in my case it the ocxo running out of EFC range.  Did you check the supply
voltages via the test points?


Bob

P.S. Something I learned about the Z38xx program:  If you need to run two
copies on the same computer, simply place then in different folders.  The
data and init folders remain within the folders allowing you to run two
different Z38xx machines on different com ports.

>>> -Original Message-
>>> From: time-nuts [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Mark
>>> Spencer
>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2015 4:41 PM
>>> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
>>> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Z3805 service information ?
>>> 
>>> Hi it seems the GPS module is not working and I suspect the power supply
is
>>> failing.   After a few power cycles the unit started up and reported via
rs232
>>> that it could not communicate with the GPS receiver
>>> 
>>> The docxo still delivers great performance from an adev perspective and
I
>>> have other gpsdo's so I'm going to defer any more work on this for the
time
>>> being.  The docxo is probably the most valuable part right now.  It is
far and
>>> away better than any of my other 10811's from an adev perspective.
>>> 
>>> Right now I'm kind of glad no one bought my jackson labs fury GPSDO.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I figure I got my money's worth from the Z3805 and my interest in time
nuts
>>> pursuits has waned in recent years.
>>> 
>>> Also I seem to recall this Z3805 loosing GPS lock during a lightning
storm as
>>> well.  (I recall some one else mentioned this issue with their Z3805.)
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>> > On Sep 1, 2015, at 9:05 PM, Bob Benward <rbenw...@verizon.net> wrote:
>>> >
>>> > Can you communicate over RS232?  Are you using the Z38xx software?
>>> > What does it say?
>>> >
>>> > Bob
>>> >
>>> >>>> -Original Message-
>>> >>>> From: time-nuts [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of
>>> >>>> Mark Spencer
>>> >>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2015 12:54 PM
>>> >>>> To: time-nuts@febo.com
>>> >>>> Subject: [time-nuts] Z3805 service information ?
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> Hi, I realize this is a long shot but I'm curious if anyone has
>>> >>>> ever
>>> > come across
>>> >>>> any form of a service manual (or insight into a power on self test
>>> > routine) for
>>> >>>> the Z3805 gpsdo ?
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> One of mine is not working properly after being power cycled.   It
works
>>> > well
>>> >>>> enough to blink the status lights on the front panel hence my
>>> >>>> request
>>> > for info
>>> >>>> about a possible power on self test routine.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> I'll likely start by confirming the power supply voltages using
>>> >>>> another
>>> > working
>>> >>>> unit as a guide and then swap parts with another working unit but
>>> > thought I
>>> >>>> would look for service information first.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> Thanks in advance for any help.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> With the exception of two ocxo's that have a dedicated battery
>>> >>>> backup system all my time nuts gear, computers, freezers, etc was
>>> >>>> power cycled during a two day power outage after a wind storm while
>>> >>>> I was on
>>> > vacation.   I
>>> >>>> have a nice generator that sat un used in my garage (:
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> Mark Spencer
>>> >>>> VE7AFZ
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> ___
>>> >>>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to
>>> >>>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>>> >>>> and follow the instructions there.
>>> >
>>> > ___
>>> > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to
>>> > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>>> > and follow the instructions there.
>>> >
>>> ___
>>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to
>>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>>> and follow the instructions there.
>>> -
>>> No virus found in this message.
>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>> Version: 2015.0.6140 / Virus Database: 4409/10580 - Release Date:
>>> 09/05/15

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Re: [time-nuts] Z3805 service information ?

[Bob Benward]

Can you communicate over RS232?  Are you using the Z38xx software?  What
does it say?

Bob

>>> -Original Message-
>>> From: time-nuts [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Mark
>>> Spencer
>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2015 12:54 PM
>>> To: time-nuts@febo.com
>>> Subject: [time-nuts] Z3805 service information ?
>>> 
>>> Hi, I realize this is a long shot but I'm curious if anyone has ever
come across
>>> any form of a service manual (or insight into a power on self test
routine) for
>>> the Z3805 gpsdo ?
>>> 
>>> One of mine is not working properly after being power cycled.   It works
well
>>> enough to blink the status lights on the front panel hence my request
for info
>>> about a possible power on self test routine.
>>> 
>>> I'll likely start by confirming the power supply voltages using another
working
>>> unit as a guide and then swap parts with another working unit but
thought I
>>> would look for service information first.
>>> 
>>> Thanks in advance for any help.
>>> 
>>> With the exception of two ocxo's that have a dedicated battery backup
>>> system all my time nuts gear, computers, freezers, etc was power cycled
>>> during a two day power outage after a wind storm while I was on
vacation.   I
>>> have a nice generator that sat un used in my garage (:
>>> 
>>> Mark Spencer
>>> VE7AFZ
>>> 
>>> ___
>>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to
>>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>>> and follow the instructions there.

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Re: [time-nuts] Z3805 service information ?

[paul swed]

Mark
Many of us would like those details but they have never crossed time-nuts
path as far as I know.
There has however been various reverse hacks that are helpful. Basically
time-nuts have figure out this and that power supply voltages and such.
Gross stuff. Some have ventured down into Forth.
But the easy pull out diags and schematics. Those were the gud ole days.

Comparing the two units are an excellent way to try to deduce the issue.
You are better off then most with two. However swapping parts may be a bad
idea. You may end up with 2 bad units. Just my 2 cents on this last item.

There is a DC to DC inverter and there tend to be issues with that so power
supply checks are a really good place to start.
Best of luck
Paul
WB8TSL

On Tue, Sep 1, 2015 at 12:54 PM, Mark Spencer 
wrote:

> Hi, I realize this is a long shot but I'm curious if anyone has ever come
> across any form of a service manual (or insight into a power on self test
> routine) for the Z3805 gpsdo ?
>
> One of mine is not working properly after being power cycled.   It works
> well enough to blink the status lights on the front panel hence my request
> for info about a possible power on self test routine.
>
> I'll likely start by confirming the power supply voltages using another
> working unit as a guide and then swap parts with another working unit but
> thought I would look for service information first.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> With the exception of two ocxo's that have a dedicated battery backup
> system all my time nuts gear, computers, freezers, etc was power cycled
> during a two day power outage after a wind storm while I was on vacation.
>  I have a nice generator that sat un used in my garage (:
>
> Mark Spencer
> VE7AFZ
>
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.
>
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[time-nuts] Z3805 service information ?

[Mark Spencer]

Hi, I realize this is a long shot but I'm curious if anyone has ever come 
across any form of a service manual (or insight into a power on self test 
routine) for the Z3805 gpsdo ?  

One of mine is not working properly after being power cycled.   It works well 
enough to blink the status lights on the front panel hence my request for info 
about a possible power on self test routine.

I'll likely start by confirming the power supply voltages using another working 
unit as a guide and then swap parts with another working unit but thought I 
would look for service information first.

Thanks in advance for any help. 

With the exception of two ocxo's that have a dedicated battery backup system 
all my time nuts gear, computers, freezers, etc was power cycled during a two 
day power outage after a wind storm while I was on vacation.   I have a nice 
generator that sat un used in my garage (:

Mark Spencer
VE7AFZ

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