[time-nuts] WWV / WWVH / WWVB

[John Ackermann N8UR]

Tucker Electronics is probably the biggest US used test gear vendor, but 
there are others.  I've dealt once or twice with TekNet with good results.

However, most of the used equipment folks are selling to commercial 
entities and their prices can be large multiples of the eBay going rate. 
  So be prepared for sticker shock.

BTW, I used a couple of 3586s to record audio from the 2005 leap second 
event -- One was tuned to 60 kHz for WWVB and the other to CHU.  (Having 
run out of 3586s at that point, I used my ham gear for WWV 5 and 10 MHz. 
  You can see and hear the results at 
http://www.febo.com/pages/leapsecond_2005/

John
----

Brad Stockdale wrote:
> Oh my... The HP 3586 looks like a gorgeous piece of equipment. It'd 
> look very impressive in my (hopefully) growing rack of time/frequency gear...
> 
> I just checked on eBay right now and didn't see any available right 
> this second, but I will put in a saved search for them so I can get 
> email alerts...
> 
> Do you know of any good (reasonably priced) used equipment dealers 
> that I should also be looking at for HP test equipment? I know 
> there's shops that specialize in used test gear, but I just don't 
> know their addresses... I'll google around right now and see what I 
> can come up with, but if anyone has any suggestions that they have 
> delt with before and been satisfied, I'd like to hear.
> 
> Thanks for the great idea! I hope I can track one of these down 
> sooner or later.
> 
> Regards,
> Brad
> 
> 
> At 01:55 PM 11/20/2008, you wrote:
>> Brad Stockdale wrote:
>> [ ... ]
>>>     Anyway, on to the reason for this post... I'd like to get some
>>> receivers so I can HEAR and USE the WWVB, WWV, and WWVH signals... I
>>> know that HEARING them may not be a 'normal' request, but I just
>>> would like to monitor the audio as well as being able to decode 
>> the signals...
>> broadcast ranges.
>>
>> [ ... ]
>>>     Can anyone suggest a kit, or project listed online with
>>> schematics and parts lists, or I guess even reasonably priced 
>> commercial units?
>>>     If I can't get radios that have built in decoders for these
>>> stations, I'd be happy just receiving their audio and then trying to
>>> build my own decoder using a PIC or something...
>> If you don't mind a big, heavy box, the HP 3586[A,B,C] selective
>> voltmeters are absolutely wonderful tools for any sort of LF/HF
>> measurement.  They tune from 20 Hz to 32 MHz and have narrow 20 and 400
>> Hz filter bandwidths, as well as a voice-bandwidth filter (the width
>> depends on the model and option).  They read amplitude to 0.01 dB and
>> can count a received carrier to 0.1 Hz frequency resolution.
>>
>> They have a speaker and line-level audio output, but no decoder.  They
>> also have a GPIB connector, so you can use a computer to tune and read
>> frequency and amplitude.
>>
>> The "C" model is the best for lab use, because it has 50/75/600 ohm
>> input options, and uses standard BNC and binding post input connectors.
>>   The A and B models were designed for telco use and have slightly weird
>> input impedances and connectors, but nothing to stop them from still
>> being very useful.
>>
>> They sometimes go on eBay for <$200, which is a steal in my book.  They
>> weigh about 50 pounds, though, so aren't exactly portable.
>>
>> John
>>
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