I finally got my home bench-lab, 10 MHz, GPSDO distribution up and running tonight.
Built it up myself, ...maybe ignorance is bliss, ...it seems to work. Like Frank said, "Did it my way...." I set out with only three criteria: Cheap; 'GPS'-accurate; and tie the bench units to one standard. That includes servicing eight HP units, at this time. (btw, the external-in references on these HP units varies considerably, generation-to-generation. It affects loading.) Armed with what seems miles of cable-tv cables and splitters, I set out to see if this scheme could be made to work. It certainly met my price-break criteria (free). a.. I set up two distribution splits, each with a subsequent four-way split (the two four-ways are fed by a two way splitter). b.. Built a simple distribution amplifier from an LM7171 high-speed op-amp running at +/-15 volts. c.. Bought an inexpensive DATUM square-wave OCXO for $13 to feed the LM7171. A little capacitive input rounding and output coupling and it will just hit 5volts PP at all eight units. d.. Bought a $65 Motorola NAVMAN TU60 for the GPS. Works great and locks in just a few minutes; can monitor it all easily with TAC32. e.. Used a simple 4046 PLL and RC filter to lock the DATUM and GPS. Locks in about 7 minutes with a VFC of ~2.6 volts from the PLL/GPS. f.. I used left-over bricks to power it all and built a nice box out of 'paint-sticks.' They sand and stain REALLY nicely - you should try them.! hihi g.. In the end, ...All eight HP units display 10 MHz when fed the DATUM 'standard', ...even the 3586, ...at least the external-in reference is working in all. Soooo, for less than ~$80, I have an eight-unit distribution system for the bench. Cheap and hopefully, accurate. Not sure this makes me a TN, ...but certainly nuts. -Don Lewis Austin, TX
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