Re: [time-nuts] Ebay FE-5680A Rb: Connections and Features

2012-01-09 Thread Roy Phillips
Nigel Thanks for your information. The data given by Bert seems to be getting more sensible, and I think you will agree that of all the items that have been purchased and discussed on Time-Nuts, this one is hands down for confusion. One of the reasons for my trusting and buying from Bob (Fluke

Re: [time-nuts] HP Z3817A Reverse Engineering

2012-01-09 Thread Azelio Boriani
I had a negative experience with chinese vendors too. Bought a Z3815A, yes works, the GPS unit has heavy rust and the boards shows sign of exposure to high humidity if not rain. Fortunately the E1938A oscillator seems clean and works OK. From fluke I got an LPFRS very different from the pictures

Re: [time-nuts] Z3801A EFC error

2012-01-09 Thread Azelio Boriani
I was able only to find the pinout for the Furuno GT74 GPS. On Sun, Jan 8, 2012 at 9:50 PM, Said Jackson saidj...@aol.com wrote: I found the gt74 gps to be lacking in performance in my Z3815. Sorry, no data sheet for it. I simply cut the 1pps output cable, and spliced a ublox receiver 1pps

Re: [time-nuts] Ebay FE-5680A Rb: Connections and Features

2012-01-09 Thread GandalfG8
Hi Roy There's some very good stuff coming out of China via Ebay, but some does come with confusion attached and it's probably best never to place too much reliance on descriptions unless for items reasonably well known or with relevant documentation available. Just to add to the

Re: [time-nuts] HP Z3817A Reverse Engineering

2012-01-09 Thread Robert Benward
Hi Ed, I just tracked down Fluke and he offered me one, and per your advice I will try and confirm the condition before purchasing from him (not that there are alternate sources) . I have the schematics, but taking apart the hocky puck is another matter, I pry and pry but get nowhere.I

Re: [time-nuts] Ebay FE-5680A Rb: Connections and Features

2012-01-09 Thread Ed Palmer
On 1/9/2012 7:21 AM, gandal...@aol.com wrote: Hi Roy There's some very good stuff coming out of China via Ebay, but some does come with confusion attached and it's probably best never to place too much reliance on descriptions unless for items reasonably well known or with relevant

Re: [time-nuts] HP Z3817A Reverse Engineering

2012-01-09 Thread Ed Palmer
On 1/9/2012 8:58 AM, Robert Benward wrote: Hi Ed, I just tracked down Fluke and he offered me one, and per your advice I will try and confirm the condition before purchasing from him (not that there are alternate sources) . I have to say that fluke.l did guarantee that the E1938A was alive

Re: [time-nuts] Ebay FE-5680A Rb: Connections and Features

2012-01-09 Thread EWKehren
In some cases they have been cough having some one bid up the price. Bert Kehren In a message dated 1/9/2012 11:05:01 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, ed_pal...@sasktel.net writes: On 1/9/2012 7:21 AM, gandal...@aol.com wrote: Hi Roy There's some very good stuff coming out of China via

Re: [time-nuts] HP Z3817A Reverse Engineering

2012-01-09 Thread Bruce Griffiths
Ed Palmer wrote: On 1/9/2012 8:58 AM, Robert Benward wrote: Hi Ed, I just tracked down Fluke and he offered me one, and per your advice I will try and confirm the condition before purchasing from him (not that there are alternate sources) . I have to say that fluke.l did guarantee that

Re: [time-nuts] HP Z3817A Reverse Engineering

2012-01-09 Thread Ed Palmer
Thanks for the correction, Bruce. I made the mistake of thinking that the Bridge Section was the only thing inside the puck. I should have looked further. Ed On 1/9/2012 12:47 PM, Bruce Griffiths wrote: Ed Palmer wrote: On 1/9/2012 8:58 AM, Robert Benward wrote: Hi Ed, I just tracked

[time-nuts] free HP Test and Measurement catalogs

2012-01-09 Thread Stan Searing
Eight catalogs covering 1993 through 2000 in great shape. Preference given to someone who can pick them up in Mountain View or San Jose, California. Free to a good home. (If I end up mailing them, expect to pay actual postage plus a few bucks for packaging.) Please only reply off-list (if you

Re: [time-nuts] Internal 5 volt switching regulator on some non-programmable FE-5680A's

2012-01-09 Thread Chris Albertson
On Sun, Jan 8, 2012 at 3:01 PM, David davidwh...@gmail.com wrote: If noise was so important I wonder why they did not use a lower noise switching regulator or the LT1375 which supports oscillator synchronization. Maybe noise WAS important, so they removed the regulator altogether. That

Re: [time-nuts] Internal 5 volt switching regulator on some non-programmable FE-5680A's

2012-01-09 Thread Peter Gottlieb
I suspect the reason was far simpler: 5 volts was available in the system, why not use it and take the small amount of heat out of the box. There would also be a reliability improvement, one less regulator per freq standard. I bet the cost of the regulator is insignificant compared to the

[time-nuts] Adding adjustment pot to 5680

2012-01-09 Thread Arthur Dent
 I resisted the suggestion to use Twinkies for insulation (and ate them!), plus tossed out all the other 'good' suggestion for modifications like using a robotic arm to move a magnet to trim the frequency, and used a very simple modification that I just completed a few minutes ago; and it seems

[time-nuts] TEMEX Rubidium

2012-01-09 Thread Erno Peres
Hello, I have a Temex RMO 10MHz rubidium osci but no lock signal comes out. Checking the RS232 diag code I have the flwng hex code: 7D 04 39 8B 41 4A 48 CB where the second HEX code indicating the Rb signal level which is in my case is almost zero and it

Re: [time-nuts] Trimble GPS antenna preamp, anyone know the gain?

2012-01-09 Thread Magnus Danielson
On 01/10/2012 02:44 AM, Chris Albertson wrote: I bought a pair of in-line Trimble amplifiers but I can't find any specs. Anyone know the gain? They are in a machined stainless steel box with two N connectors. Trimble sells them bundled with a long antenna cable so that the amp (I assume)