T&Fers, Re the HP Z3815A, let me answer a few questions:
1. Most of the few Z3815A units I know about use the HP E1938A oscillator, and that's what plugs into the connector that's clearly visible on one of Bill's photos. At least one example has an adaptor labelled Symmetricom, carrying a Milliren oscillator. The GPS module is by Furuno, and speaks NMEA. The Z3815A speaks SCPI, a closely related dialect to the Z3801A, and works fine with SATSTAT. 2. The backplane is not the problem you guys are imagining. You can easily pick signals off it, since the socket is 2.54mm pitch in both directions (ordinary PCB strip pins work fine). The 19.6608, 4.096 and 1.544MHz signals are available there in 'pseudo-ECL' form, although little is known about other signals. The 10MHz signal is available from three (unknown type) coax connections in the white block at the top end, but the back of this connector is easily accessible with the back cover off. The GPS antenna connects here as well. 3. Inside, there are easily discovered SMB connections with 1PPS, 10MHz etc. 4. Power is applied to the backplane, but it's also easily applied internally as there is a socket footprint on the board. It's easy to extend this to a socket on the back panel. The unit requires 20 - 56V at about 25W, and runs fairly warm without ventilation assistance. And most important of all: NO, THERE ISN'T A GREAT HORDE OF THESE THINGS AVAILABLE! The few that have surfaced down here have been distributed locally. Don't expect them to be offered on the open market. 73, Murray ZL1BPU _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list [email protected] https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
