[time-nuts] Re: Working on a low-phase-noise frequency multiplier

[Bob Camp]

Hi

You will do better with a diode bridge style doubler on the 5 MHz devices. Mini circuits
among others makes them and they may show up on eBay.  The MK-3 is fine if
you need connectors. The RK-3+ 

https://www.minicircuits.com/WebStore/dashboard.html?model=RK-3%2B

combined with a cheap ( = JLPCB) board would be my choice. If you do some bandpass
filtering, it will also work as a 4X device. If the target it simply the TinyPFA, you may not 
need any filtering …. (narrow band may have some advantages …).

Bob



> On Aug 25, 2023, at 1:39 PM, Bill Ezell via time-nuts <time-nuts at lists.febo.com> wrote:
> 
> I have some old frequency standards that provide 1, 2.5, or 5 Mhz outputs, not great for comparing against modern 10Mhz standards.
> 
> I could do a divider, pretty easy, but only useful for doing analysis. Better to have 10Mhz output.
> 
> So, I'm thinking a multiplier. There are many versions, from simple diode ones and up.
> 
> It seems that doing an integer-N PLL with a VCXO would be the way to go. The capture range can be quite narrow since the input will be something that's within a 1 Hz range and a long loop constant might be good. Plus, with a good-quality VCXO, I would expect the noise figure to match the VCXO's pretty closely.
> 
> Any comments before I wander off into la-la land? BTW, Analog Devices has some good PLL design tools.
> 
> So, what sparked this? I bought one of the Sulters that was mentioned a while back, 2.5Mcycles (gotta be historically accurate). I also have an equally-ancient Vectron double-oven std that, last I tested it, was down in the e-11 or better range. I also got a TinyVNA which is now a TinyPFA, and it can only deal with equal freq inputs. I want to also compare that against my HP 5370 and 53310. You can see the slippery slope.
> 
> Thanks, Bill
> 
> -- 
> Bill Ezell
> I happen to know that this is the Lupin Express.
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