e) Which is the antenna signal level (dBm) that this unit require
  to operate properly?>>
The antenna you referenced should be fine. I would hazard to guess<g> that 
antennas a re a whole separate topic. The gain should be fine. What you need is a 
clear unobstructed view of the sky. I am pretty close to the window, with somewhat 
easy access to the roof. A 5m pole would pull out the antenna over the roof from the 
balcony(12m length total, worst case). No taller building around for several hundreds 
meters.
Having a more precise required signal level would help. SAT cables are mismatched but 
generally cheaper and able to play nice with cheap splitters, but to play safe I should 
stay with more expensive cable. LMR-400 sure original is a Tiffany item, here. Lot's of 
LMR-400 "equivalent" and not even cheap. Ouch.


>>As for splitting remember that it is a active antenna and expects 5 volts so not sure if the Wilkinson splitter would work??. Since yesterday I was thinking Wilkinson were a brand of shaving blades! Seems yes, according to this schematic:
http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/247256/gps-splitter-with-200ohm-dc-load-and-50ohm-rf-impedance-on-all-ports
This one takes into account sensing for antenna too, so I hope the answer is yes.

>> I would be interested as to what others have to say about splitting the antenna. Have read that a common television satellite antenna splitter commonly found on Ebay can be used, but the impedance may be 75 ohms and the connectors would have to be changed. If they work, it could be a cheap option, but I've always seen them with F connectors, so it could be not worth it.

> b) which is the difference between the Symmetrical and Trimble
(...omissis...)
>understood seems that Trimble does not initiate a Survey at power on.
>>I had the Symmetricom so can't tell you much about the difference other that from what other posters have contributed they are very close to if not identical in many respects.Not having to complete another survey on >>power up is a definite plus on the Trimble, but I found that it can complete a survey on the Symmetricom quite quickly.
Ok, thanks.

>>There is a number of serial ports on these boards. Looking at the fifth picture on the ebay link, at the top left corner next to the SMA connector just below R13 is a vertical row of holes. That is the main serial connection and >>it is at TTL levels. There is other serial connections available on a ribbon like connector at the end of the board. Posts on the EEVBlog show where and the pins on the ribbon connector and what they do. One poster on >>EEVblog probed the ribbon connector and identified the pins. http://tipok.org.ua/node/53. Some of the UART are high voltage, others TTL
>>[http://tipok.org.ua/sites/default/files/gps_rx_lores.jpg]<http://tipok.org.ua/node/53>Trimble/Symmetricom
 UCCM GPS Receiver 50-pin connector ...<http://tipok.org.ua/node/53>
>>tipok.org.ua
>>Introduction. This page describes the pinouts of 50-pin connector, avaliable at "Trimble 57963-C" and "Symmetricom UCCM 089-03861-02" boards, which can be bought on Ebay. >>Unfortunately they don't show the backside of the board in the Ebay link, but I strongly suspect as the main serial connection does not look populated by any wiring in the picture, they are tapping into the rx pin of the GPS >>receiver as the source for one of the RS232 connectors. This is a source of NMEA statements and is documented on the EEVblog. I asked the seller to provide docs, he was quick to answer but still nothing about the specific stuff the enclosure does. A Chinese would not populate a connector for nothing, if it's there there should serve a purpose.

>>You can't send any commands put it does send out a continuous stream of useful NMEA commands that make it a ideal source for a DIY project to add a display. Once you receive your unit and connect it to your pc you will >>(should) see a stream of NMEA commands from one of the RS232 ports. Let's wait and see what will come up. He said it is not NMEA, but TIPP, well not exactly TIPP but similar (!??!!). My bad English strikes again...

>>Hope this helps. I unfortunately toasted mine, and was contemplating about picking up another one.
Sorry to hear that. Hope you either fix or replace it.

Giuseppe Marullo
IW2JWW - jn45RQ

PS: I nevertheless bought the clock kit with a GPS antenna from qrp-labs, with enclosure and GPS antenna but not the frequency reference(yet). Once both will work I will nag you about how to easily compare the two...


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