[time-nuts] Frequency counter recommendation

Thu Dec 16 20:17:40 UTC 2010

LFCSP (QFN) with 0.5mm spacing is very easy to do... have done about a dozen
(AD9912) with nil failures using just solder paste, a $50PID controller 
and a $20
oven. refs all around on the web. You may get a bridge here and there 
but you can
wick them away ;-) easily.
QFP has leads so is even easier imho.
BGAs is another story - avoid at all costs in hobby designs.

Xtof,

On 16/12/10 20:59, Bob Camp wrote:
> Hi
>
> > From what I have seen of hand soldered 0.5 mm spaced / several hundred pin
> packages - not very easy at all, even with pro gear and pro soldering
> people. Based on the adverse reaction on the list to 14 pin 1 mm spaced
> parts, I don't think there's much chance of a big QFP being popular.
>
> Bob
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
> Behalf Of K. Szeker
> Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 2:36 PM
> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Frequency counter recommendation
>
> Hi Bob,
>
> If a 256 ball package is the solution for these FPGA, I would prefer it in
> 256 QFP-package version-if exists.
> These will be solderable for the good "home-specialists", bat a BGA (even
> with "only" 256 balls) is a real problem for home labs...
>
> Karesz
>
> 2010/12/16 Bob Camp<lists at rtty.us>
>
>> Hi
>>
>> Yes indeed, been there done that. Not very hard at all.
>>
>> All you need is the six layer pc board (can be bought), the FPGA (Digikey
>> has them), a few of these and a couple of those. Spend less than $100 and
>> you are in business if the PC board volume is high enough.
>>
>> In this case the next step in the business is to solder the 256 ball 1 mm
>> spacing BGA package down on the pc board. Not so easy without the right
>> tools...
>>
>> Bob
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
>> Behalf Of Don Latham
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 3:48 PM
>> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
>> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Frequency counter recommendation
>>
>> OK, time-nuts, here's the gauntlet. can't "we" generate a design for a
>> PC-based FPGA or chip setup that would be generally useful as a counter?
>> We've seen thorough discussions about trigger jitter, which IMHO is the
>> fundamental problem. And isn't the PIC2 Time base from 10 MHz standard,
>> all else should be straightforward.
>> I'm not a designer, just a messer-arounder, or I'd give it a shot. Robot
>> Basic is a nice PC software maybe.
>> Don
>>
>> J. L. Trantham, M. D.
>>> I suspect that this question will lead to a discussion of Dual Mixers
> but
>>> as
>>> far as the counter question goes, I would recommend you consider an HP
>>> 5370B.
>>>
>>> Joe
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com]On
>>> Behalf Of Dave M
>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 1:55 PM
>>> To: TimeNuts
>>> Subject: [time-nuts] Frequency counter recommendation
>>>
>>> I'm a retired electronics tech and computer programmer.  I have a pretty
>>> decently equipped shop for almost all of my projects and experiments.
>>> However, my time and frequency equipment is a bit long in the tooth.  I
>>> have
>>> a couple old HP 5328A counters (commercial version; not the military
>>> version), one with a 10544, the other with a 10811 oscillator.
>>> I have an HP Z3801A that has been operating well for several years, and
>>> recently acquired a TBolt to keep the counters in tune.  I also have a
>>> good
>>> distribution amp and  couple of old Montronics (Fluke) frequency
>>> comparators.
>>> What I'm looking for now, is a recommendation for a good low-cost
> (<$400)
>>> counter that will get me on the way to performing some of the "down in
>> the
>>> grass" noise, jitter and deviation tests that the more learned members
> of
>>> the group discuss.  I know that new equipment is far out of my budget,
>> but
>>> I'm also aware that some of the older, now obsolete (also cheaper)
>>> equipment
>>> is quite capable of doing what I want to do. I prefer HP equipment since
>>> manuals are much easier to find than most other brands.
>>> I'd also like recommendation for a good low-cost GPIB controller that
>>> allows
>>> me to write software to control some of my instruments.  I have
>> experience
>>> writing software in BASIC on a Fluke 1722A controller.  I've seen these
>>> controllers on the Bay and other online vendors, but I've not located
> the
>>> BASIC discs for them.  Any advice?
>>> I realize that a counter is not the only piece that I need, but it's
>> first
>>> on my list.  Other, more applicable equipment is on my want list, but
>> will
>>> have to wait for a bit.
>>>
>>> Thanks for advice,
>>> David
>>> dgminala at mediacombb dot net
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
>>> To unsubscribe, go to
>>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>>> and follow the instructions there.
>>> -----
>>> No virus found in this message.
>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>> Version: 10.0.1170 / Virus Database: 426/3317 - Release Date: 12/15/10
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
>>> To unsubscribe, go to
>>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>>> and follow the instructions there.
>>>
>>
>> --
>> "Neither the voice of authority nor the weight of reason and argument are
>> as significant as experiment, for thence comes quiet to the mind."
>> R. Bacon
>> "If you don't know what it is, don't poke it."
>> Ghost in the Shell
>>
>>
>> Dr. Don Latham AJ7LL
>> Six Mile Systems LLP
>> 17850 Six Mile Road
>> POB 134
>> Huson, MT, 59846
>> VOX 406-626-4304
>> www.lightningforensics.com
>> www.sixmilesystems.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
>> To unsubscribe, go to
>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>> and follow the instructions there.
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
>> To unsubscribe, go to
>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>> and follow the instructions there.
>>
> _______________________________________________
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.

Disclaimer: http://www.kuleuven.be/cwis/email_disclaimer.htm