[time-nuts] Spectracom 8161 "Standard Frequency Receiver - Oscillator" for WWVB (and question...)

[Bob kb8tq]

Hi

This is another of the many devices out there that pre-date the
“modern” 180 degree phase modulation approach on WWVB. Getting 
one of these to run properly with the new modulation approach would take
some major mods …..

Bob

> On Oct 4, 2020, at 10:23 AM, Magnus Danielson <magnus at rubidium.se> wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I got a bit curious, so I dug up the manual (Available from Orolia that
> Spectracom is part of):
> 
> https://www.orolia.com/sites/default/files/document-files/8161_manual.pdf
> 
> It is apparent that the reference oscillator is actually free-running
> but compared to the WWVB, so you manually tune it to make the
> strip-chart become more of a flat line.
> 
> This is interesting, because the receiver locks up another 10 MHz
> oscillator.
> 
> Now, there is a 45 degree (2.1 micro) modulation on the WWVB signal,
> that shows up as time-tags on the strip-chart, so it is not trivially so
> that you just replace the simpler 10 MHz oscillator with the more
> advanced, unless you can live with that modulation at which time it is a
> fairlly trivial hack. You can be a bit more cunning to add hardware to
> compensate the modulation, but I wonder if that is what is done.
> 
> To figure it out, one has to pop the lid to figure out. That is however
> not for me to do.
> 
> Anyway, I thought the manual pointer and quick analysis would maybe be
> appreciated.
> 
> Good luck!
> 
> Cheers,
> Magnus
> 
> On 2020-10-04 09:37, Kirk Bailey wrote:
>> I ran across an interesting widget in my ongoing "find the bottom of the
>> pile" task.  Has a label indicating it was modified for "WWVB Continuous
>> Monitored".  I thought these were all for WWVB, so what does "Continuous
>> Monitored" mean?  See attached pic.  If anyone is interested in being the
>> new owner please contact me directly.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Kirk Bailey
>> bailey at peak.org
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at lists.febo.com
>> To unsubscribe, go to http://lists.febo.com/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts_lists.febo.com
>> and follow the instructions there.
> _______________________________________________
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at lists.febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to http://lists.febo.com/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts_lists.febo.com
> and follow the instructions there.