[time-nuts] GPS frequency standard help

[J. L. Trantham]

Chris,

I, too, am new to the 'time-nuts' but began with the same goal you have of a
stable and accurate bench reference.  That said, I now have Thunderbolt's,
Z3816A's, 5061A's, and a 5061B and 5065A.

One of my Thunderbolt's died that I think was due to a switching power
supply powering the unit.  That issue has been discussed at length on this
list and you can search the archives for all the details.

What I am finding I do is to run a 5061A all the time with CS off which
leaves the Oscillator and Oscillator Oven on and then I compare it to a
thunderbolt which can turn on quickly and (on a linear power supply) has run
for weeks at a time without a problem.  I am very pleased with the
Thunderbolt.

When I really need it exact, I can turn on the CS.  

I found some 5087A's on e..y and they work well as a distribution amplifier
but I suspect they are lacking in the phase noise arena as compared to the
level of refinement typical on this list.

The Z3816A has four 10 MHz outputs and if you do not need many, perhaps you
can save a distribution amplifier.  It also has four 19.????? Mhz outputs
that some have converted to additional 10 MHz outputs.

Good luck and if you get caught up in this, I predict Cesium Beam Standards
in your future.

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
Behalf Of Chris Bridge
Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 4:27 PM
To: time-nuts at febo.com
Subject: [time-nuts] GPS frequency standard help


Hi All,
   This is my first post here, the second that John will see.  The 
amount of information available is staggering (to me anyway).

   I am new to the idea of GPS, and have only listened to the WWV 5, 10 
and 15 MHz stations way back in high school.  That would be about 33 
years ago now I guess.  These days I have a basement electronics lab and 
would really like to have a GPS type 10 MHz clock to synchronize all my 
equipment.  It's mostly HP, the most critical would be a 5535A universal 
counter and a 3585A spectrum analyzer.  My problem?  I know zero about 
GPS frequency standards and I would really like some help in order to 
get set up correctly if possible.  I need to buy a receiver with 
oscillator I guess, and an antenna.  I'm located near Toronto, Ontario 
in Canada.

   Once I have a frequency standard running, I'll have to build a 
distribution amplifier for it as well.  I see they are pretty expensive 
to buy.  Any help would be deeply appreciated.  Until then, I'll bounce 
around here and try to educate myself some.  I have read that HP Z3801 
and similar models are easy to use.  There is also a Trimble (?) as 
well.  I need guidance folks!

   Thank you, -Chris

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