Hi I had a 5360 on my bench in the 1970’s. Back then it was a pretty impressive piece of gear. The most amazing thing I remember doing with it was converting the output to PPM. Yes, that’s not really all that exciting these days …..
Bob > On Apr 13, 2016, at 5:32 PM, Jeremy Nichols <[email protected]> wrote: > > The insider name for the 5360A was "computing pig" because of its size > (weight) and complexity. It combined most of the counting ability of a 5345 > with much of the computing ability of the 9100 programmable calculator. > Jamming so much into a standard (for the era) -hp- cabinet was quite a > challenge. One of my 5360s uses Nixie tubes while the newer one is plasma. > > Since there is no way to store a program entered with the keyboard, you have > to leave the machine 'on' or re-key your program. Given the limited 32-step > memory, this is not a terrible limitation. The 5376 Systems Programmer could > be expanded to 200 (!) steps but I've not had the privilege of using one with > my 5360. > > If any one has a copy of Application Sheet No. 27, "Fractional Frequency > Deviation Measurements on Ultra-Stable Sources" or Application Note AN 120-2, > "Measuring Phase with the 5360A," I'd like to buy copies. > > Jeremy > > On 4/13/2016 1:44 PM, John Ackermann N8UR wrote: >> Thanks, Tom (and others)! That's fascinating. >> >> I was interested in the mention of diode programming systems. It's a little >> off topic, but I encountered a few of those in the 1970s amateur radio >> world. A couple of the early synthesized (as opposed to >> fixed-frequency-crystal) controlled ham radios had memory channels that were >> "programmed" in BCD digits by installing or removing 1N914 diodes, often in >> a row of DIP sockets. >> >> Another early design was in the first synthesized "police radio" scanner by >> Regency. It used aluminum combs that looked like, well, combs. You broke >> off the tines as instructed for a particular frequency and then inserted the >> comb into a socket. The presence or absence of the tine signified 1 or 0. >> >> ---- >> On 4/13/2016 3:57 PM, Tom Van Baak wrote: >>> John, >>> >>> I agree with Paul, an absolutely amazing instrument. The early models have >>> nixie display, later ones plasma. 11 digits! In 1969! It was the first hp >>> instrument that was capable enough to compute stability statistics. In >>> real-time! Like Paul I have a couple, along with various the accessories. >>> Built like a tank, even the keyboard. >>> >>> You'll find mention of the counter in old technical articles, sometimes >>> including the programs people would write for automated statistics. I've >>> always thought the 5360 was uniquely at the cross-roads between hp as an >>> instrument company and hp as a computer company (not to mention hp as a >>> printer ink company). You can see the DNA of each of these in the 5360 & >>> its accessories. >>> >>> You were probably reading this major 5360A Computing Counter issue: >>> >>> http://www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/pdfs/IssuePDFs/1969-05.pdf >>> >>> Here's all about the 5375A keyboard: >>> >>> http://www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/pdfs/IssuePDFs/1970-03.pdf >>> >>> And this is where the diode and punch card interface is shown, as well as >>> ADEV from 1 us to 1 s (see page 4, fig 4). >>> >>> http://www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/pdfs/IssuePDFs/1970-12.pdf >>> >>> More on ADEV on the 5360: >>> >>> http://www.hpl.hp.com/hpjournal/pdfs/IssuePDFs/1971-11.pdf >>> >>> Select high-res page scans from my own hardcopy HPJ collection are here: >>> >>> http://www.leapsecond.com/hpj/ >>> >>> For example, the 79-step ADEV program is here: >>> >>> http://www.leapsecond.com/hpj/v22n4/v22n4p10.jpg >>> >>> Finally, do not miss HP AN116 "Precision Frequency Measurements": >>> >>> http://www.hpmemoryproject.org/an/pdf/an_116.pdf >>> >>> /tvb >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "John Ackermann N8UR" <[email protected]> >>> To: <[email protected]> >>> Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 9:38 AM >>> Subject: [time-nuts] HP 5360A History? >>> >>> >>>> I was browsing through the HP Journal archives and came across the May, >>>> 1969 issue, dedicated to the new 5360A Computing Counter -- "An >>>> Electronic Counter for the 1970s!" >>>> >>>> I don't recall hearing much about these in time-nuts lore. I can guess >>>> from the Journal articles that it was a beast to keep running and was >>>> very expensive (500 ICs and a 10A 5V power supply). >>>> >>>> Is anyone here familiar with the story of this product? >>>> >>>> John >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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.
