Hi Skip! I am glad you were able to put my old 304D back in service! Jeff Kruth In a message dated 4/22/2021 11:40:15 AM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Send time-nuts mailing list submissions to [email protected] To subscribe or unsubscribe via email, send a message with subject orbody 'help' to [email protected] You can reach the person managing the list at [email protected] When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specificthan "Re: Contents of time-nuts digest..." Today's Topics: 1. New life for old Tracor rubidiums (Skip Withrow) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2021 09:38:26 -0600From: Skip Withrow <[email protected]>Subject: [time-nuts] New life for old Tracor rubidiumsTo: [email protected]: <ca+oswyvjjayrxw-gr9js-un6iam-zsvgehuqgksr9jxgcft...@mail.gmail.com>Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="0000000000001f3d0f05c0917913" Hello time-nuts, A while back I acquired a Tracor 308A (ATT version with 4.94MHz outputalso) in the hopes of comparing it to the HP5065A and perhaps using itto experiment to improve stability. The two units are the same formfactor, use similar sized optical units, have similar electronics, andmanuals with schematics are available. Tracor's are notorious for lamp failures (underfilled lamps).However, the lamp on this one did light although it did look a littlefunky. Try as I might, I just could not get signal through theoptical unit. So, I ended up acquiring a similar Tracor 304D unit with the hope ofswapping parts and comparing to get one or both working. The lamp inthis unit was dead and would not even light. So, I ended up yanking out the lamp assembly and replacing it with onefrom an FEI FE-5650A (with appropriate mechanical adaptations). Aftera little alignment it worked like a champ. Next I took the new lampassembly and threw it in the 308D. And that worked like a champ. Soa second new lamp assembly was built up (I have a pile of dead 5650Aunits). The moral of the story is don't throw out those old Tracor units. Ihave not run stability tests yet, or attempted any improvements butthey make great experiment test beds. I have attached a couple ofpictures of the new optical unit and its installation and the twounits chugging along and happily locked up. Regards,Skip Withrow-------------- next part --------------A message part incompatible with plain text digests has been removed ...Name: tracor -1s.jpgType: image/jpegSize: 54904 bytesDesc: not available-------------- next part --------------A message part incompatible with plain text digests has been removed ...Name: tracor - 2s.jpgType: image/jpegSize: 57999 bytesDesc: not available-------------- next part --------------A message part incompatible with plain text digests has been removed ...Name: tracor - 3s.jpgType: image/jpegSize: 65749 bytesDesc: not available ------------------------------ Subject: Digest Footer _______________________________________________time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] unsubscribe send an email to [email protected]%(web_page_url)slistinfo%(cgiext)s/%(_internal_name)s ------------------------------ End of time-nuts Digest, Vol 201, Issue 27****************************************** _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] -- To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] To unsubscribe, go to and follow the instructions there.
