Hi The FE 5680's appear to have the more modern miniature tubes in them.
Bob On Nov 14, 2012, at 7:39 PM, Dale J. Robertson <[email protected]> wrote: > Bob, > Which category do the FE-5680A's fall into? > Dale > NV8U > > > -----Original Message----- From: Bob Camp > Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 6:28 PM > To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement > Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Confused about Rubidium oscillators > > Hi > > There are several different basic Rb cell designs. The old "large cell" > designs had relatively little trouble with glass / metal interaction. The > early small cell designs tended to turn the bulbs black over time. Newer > small cell designs seem to have gotten past that problem. > > Bob > > On Nov 14, 2012, at 5:46 PM, Brian Kirby <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I believe Corby came up with the bulb "rejuvenation". >> >> If you tried to get a new bulb for a FRK, they wanted $400 in the late 1990s >> for them. >> >> Several rubidium's are plentiful and cheap, it may be easier to buy one from >> the auction site. >> >> I have a HP5065A, I run it when I need it, and when not in use, I power it >> up about every 3 months for a couple of days. On the HP unit, there is a >> flooding/pooling problem if the unit is not used. >> >> >> On 11/14/2012 10:56 AM, Bob Smither wrote: >>> Do Rb oscillators wear out? I have found: >>> >>> "There are no "wear-out" or "use-up" mechanisms in a Datum >>> Efratom Rubidium oscillator." >>> -- Datum - Note About Rubidium Oscillators >>> >>> and >>> >>> "Atomic Vapor Oscillators have no wear out mechanism." >>> -- FEI - Precison Oscillator Overview, 2007, p19. >>> >>> But also: >>> >>> "Unlike a quartz crystal oscillator which has no clearly-defined "wear out" >>> period and, if well-designed, can actually improve as time goes on, a >>> Rubidium >>> reference has a definite lifetime associated with its lamp: As the unit >>> operates, the Rubidium within the lamp is gradually consumed and >>> eventually, too >>> little vapor is available for the atomic resonance to be detected and the >>> unit >>> fails." >>> -- http://www.ka7oei.com/10meg_rubidium1.html >>> >>> and >>> >>> The page at: >>> http://www.oscilent.com/esupport/TechSupport/ReviewPapers/IntroQuartz/vigcomp.htm >>> also mentions a wear out mechanism. >>> >>> and >>> >>> "These OCXOs maintain performance characteristics comparable to Rubidium >>> oscillators without their high cost and inherent wear out," >>> -- >>> http://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/2301-an-ocxo-with-rubidium-oscillator-performance >>> >>> Finally I found: >>> >>> "Problems with rubidium cell wear-out have been solved and manufacturers now >>> offer essentially unlimited warranties against cell failure." >>> --http://www.endruntechnologies.com/frequency-standard-oscillators.htm >>> >>> so maybe both points of view are correct? >>> >>> I recall seeing something about rejuvenating Rb oscillators on this list, >>> so I >>> suspect Clint is correct. >>> >>> Whose right? As a time-nut, do you leave your Rb oscillators on 24/7? >>> >>> Thanks, >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe, go to >>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts >>> and follow the instructions there. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts >> and follow the instructions there. > > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
