That temperature sensor does have an effect on the final outcome as
it is part of
the internal equation. So buffering the ambient temperature is important.
I've heard this before, but the evidence I have seen does not seem to
support the proposition.
While switching the Dallas chip in one, I used the opportunity to
bring the chip temporarily outside of the Tbolt housing on a cable to
investigate whether the Tbolt makes any internal use of the
temperature data. Neither freeze spray nor bringing a soldering iron
near the chip, when it was outside of the Tbolt housing and the Tbolt
housing was well insulated from the changes in chip temperature,
seemed to have any effect on the operation of the Tbolt, either
normal or in holdover.
I have also run Tbolts with the newer ("wrong") temperature chips for
long periods, and have not observed any systematic differences in
performance between them and units with the older chips, either in
normal operation or in holdover. In Tbolts with the newer chips, the
reported temperature often has little connection with the actual
temperature and, at times, jumps abruptly, yet the Thunderbolts
operate normally with no corresponding jumps in operating parameters.
My supposition/conclusion is that the temperature sensor was provided
so telcom operators could get a rough idea of the temperature in
remote cell-site transmitter shacks, not for internal use by the Tbolt.
As long as the Tbolt is housed so that its reported temperature does
not change too rapidly, the oven control loop will keep the crystal
very close to its set temperature over a wide range of ambient
temperatures. I have used this approach and have also actively
controlled the housing temperature, and have not observed any
material difference in frequency or timing stability between the two
approaches.
Best regards,
Charles
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