[time-nuts] TSC5120A

[Bob Martin]

Jim,

   I was involved in the design of the TC5120A and can confirm the 
issue.  There is a single board computer (SBC) in the unit which 
runs off a compact flash.  The flash can and does occasionally get 
corrupted if the power ends during a write operation.

   Since support has gone away for the product, I suggest you remove
the cover on the unit, find the SBC, remove the compact flash and 
make a copy of it as a backup.  If that works you will be covered in 
case of failure.  Others in this list may be able to provide CF 
images. I haven't tried this as I no longer have a TSC5120A and am
not sure if the CF is protected or not. I'd try and use the same
size and make CF when making an image.

  I'm retired now but could wander over to:
  Timing Solutions -> Symmetricon -> Microsemi -> Microchip and ask 
the original software developer whether the CF can be copied if
it becomes an issue.

   Running the unit with the cover off is something else to try as
the unit runs "warm". The internal signal paths are all shielded
and if the results with cover on vs cover off are the same in your
working environment, I'd leave it off as heat is the enemy of long
life for electronics. The enclosure was designed originally for the
TSC5110 which drew less power than the TSC5120A.

Good luck and hopefully many years of good use,

Bob Martin