[time-nuts] Z3805 utility, Was: AW: (no subject)
Ulrich Bangert
df6jb at ulrich-bangert.de
Sun May 23 10:29:52 UTC 2010
Bob,
even without a computer connected the beast should do SOMETHING. In
conjunction with a pc and a running communication it is easier to judge WHAT
it currently does.
To establish communication first find out what pinning the RS232 connector
has: with the negative cable (black) of a voltmeter connected to Pin 7 of
the RS232 connector check pins 2 & 3 with the positive cable (red) for the
presence of a NEGATIVE voltage of a few Volts. If you can measure a negative
voltage on one of the pins, you have successfully identified the Z3805's
TRANSMIT pin. The other pin of 2/3 is the receive pin.
Then solder a cable in this way
Z3805 Transmit pin -> Pin 2 of pc RS232 port (9 pole D-Sub assumed)
Z3805 Receive pin -> Pin 3 of pc RS232 port (9 pole D-Sub assumed)
Z3805 Ground (7) -> Pin 5 of pc RS232 port (9 pole D-Sub assumed)
Should you have a 25 pin connector for RS232 at your pc then the cable is
Z3805 Transmit pin -> Pin 3 of pc RS232 port
Z3805 Receive pin -> Pin 2 of pc RS232 port
Z3805 Ground (7) -> Pin 7 of pc RS232 port
No other connection is needed. With a cable like this start Z38XX and check
that you that you choose the correct Com-Port for communication in the
Parameters window. And yes, I know, being an owner of a Z3805 I should know
exactly but I don't remember the day that I made the cable and I currently
cannot access the back of my Z3805.
Best regards
Ulrich Bangert
> -----Ursprungliche Nachricht-----
> Von: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com
> [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] Im Auftrag von Robert Benward
> Gesendet: Sonntag, 23. Mai 2010 05:31
> An: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> Betreff: Re: [time-nuts] Z3805 utility, Was: AW: (no subject)
>
>
> Thank you all for these inputs!
>
> Most importantly, the big question is: Regardless of RS-232
> or 422, will the unit do ANYTHING without communications?
> Do I need a computer to get anything beyond the "power" led?
>
> I bought this at the Dayton convention ham flea market, and
> the guy told me it was already modified for RS-232. The
> board inside says RS-422 near the connector. Without the
> other LEDs blinking, I'm worried I bought a dead unit. I had
> a GPS antenna on it, but it never locked on. Do I need a
> computer to enable this thing?
>
> Thanks,
> Bob
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bob Camp" <lists at rtty.us>
> To: "Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement"
> <time-nuts at febo.com>
> Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 10:54 PM
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Z3805 utility, Was: AW: (no subject)
>
>
> > Hi
> >
> > In this case the RS relates to Radio Shack ......
> >
> > Not a lot of standardization in the RS-232 world. Take a
> look at the
> > slew rate limiting requirements in the original
> > document ...
> >
> > Bob
> >
> > On May 22, 2010, at 9:47 PM, Robert Darlington wrote:
> >
> >> Was there ever a standard? I always thought the "RS" stood for
> >> Recommended Standard, as in "you *should* do the following" as
> >> compared to "you shall do the following" I've seen
> inverted TTL talk
> >> to the RS232 port on laptops and I even sometimes use the max233's
> >> (+/- 10 volts instead of 12), but always use the full max232 with
> >> external charge pumps when it's a gadget that needs to
> work everytime
> >> with systems from multiple countries.
> >>
> >> -Bob
> >>
> >> On Sat, May 22, 2010 at 7:21 PM, Didier Juges
> <didier at cox.net> wrote:
> >>> Bruce,
> >>>
> >>> Thanks for the additional information.
> >>>
> >>> +/- 14V is quite unusually low in my experience. I typically use
> >>> +Maxim parts such as the MAX220 series, which is
> >>> specified at +/-25V for no damage on the inputs (some
> parts in that
> >>> series go to +/-30V).
> >>>
> >>> The bottom line is that as I pointed out earlier, there
> is no such
> >>> thing as an RS-232 standard any more.
> >>>
> >>> Didier
> >>>
> >>> ------------------------ Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless thingy
> >>> while I do other things...
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: Bruce Griffiths <bruce.griffiths at xtra.co.nz>
> >>> Date: Sun, 23 May 2010 10:39:21
> >>> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency
> >>> measurement<time-nuts at febo.com>
> >>> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Z3805 utility, Was: AW: (no subject)
> >>>
> >>> Didier Juges wrote:
> >>>> Bill, I think you got it backwards. +/- 12V is typical
> for RS-232,
> >>>> 0/+5V is for RS-422 and RS-485.
> >>>>
> >>>> No RS-232 receiver should be damaged with +/- 12V or
> even +/- 15V
> >>>> because that is their normal operating voltage.
> >>>>
> >>>> Also, RS-422 and RS-485 have something like 25V common mode
> >>>> tolerance (not sure what the actual spec is there,) so that the
> >>>> RS-422 and RS-485 receivers should not be damaged by 15V either.
> >>>> The RS-422 drivers are pretty low impedance, while the RS-232
> >>>> drivers are current limited, so I don't think that connecting an
> >>>> RS-232 driver into an RS-422 driver will damage either.
> >>>>
> >>> Picking one RS485 receiver (ADM1485) at random the
> receiver absolute
> >>> maximum (no damage) input range is -14V to +14V. The
> RS485 receiver
> >>> operating common mode range is -7V to +12V. RS422
> receivers have an
> >>> input operating range of -7V to +7V. The no damage RS422 receiver
> >>> input ratings may be higher.
> >>>> However, most recent (<10 years?) RS-232 receivers will
> work with a
> >>>> 0/+3V or 0/+5V input, conveniently having a threshold a
> few 10's or
> >>>> 100's of mV above ground, even though the original RS-232 spec
> >>>> required receivers that work with as low as +/- 3V, and drivers
> >>>> that deliver +/- 9V minimum. Many commercial systems use +/- 5V
> >>>> drivers for RS-232 (B&B Electronics sells a lot of
> converters with
> >>>> these voltages). This is a deliciously sloppy spec that
> nobody has
> >>>> met in the last 25 years probably, yet works most of the time.
> >>>>
> >>>> The one thing to avoid is to short an RS-422 (or RS-485)
> driver to
> >>>> ground, as that can actually cause damage, maybe not every time,
> >>>> but definitely not recommended. These have relatively
> high current
> >>>> output capability to drive long lines.
> >>>>
> >>>> Didier KO4BB
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>> Bruce
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com
> >>>> [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On Behalf Of Bill Hawkins
> >>>> Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 3:09 PM
> >>>> To: 'Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement'
> >>>> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Z3805 utility, Was: AW: (no subject)
> >>>>
> >>>> When all else fails, get out the voltmeter.
> >>>>
> >>>> Do you have power to the antenna? Is it the right
> voltage? All the
> >>>> way to the antenna?
> >>>>
> >>>> What volts are on pins 2 or 3 relative to pin 7 in the comm
> >>>> connector?
> >>>>
> >>>> If you see 12 volts, that's RS-422. You may have burned out your
> >>>> computer's serial port.
> >>>>
> >>>> If you see less than 5 volts, that's RS-232 and all
> should be well,
> >>>> unless you see zero volts.
> >>>>
> >>>> I may have the RS-xxx volts somewhat off because my memory isn't
> >>>> what it used to be.
> >>>>
> >>>> The guy you bought it from should be able to help with
> comm basics.
> >>>>
> >>>> Bill Hawkins
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com
> >>>> [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On Behalf Of Robert Benward
> >>>> Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 2:08 PM
> >>>> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> >>>> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Z3805 utility, Was: AW: (no subject)
> >>>>
> >>>> Hi All,
> >>>> I hooked everything up and I still get nothing. I can't seem to
> >>>> establish communications with the Z3805. I tried a
> null modem as
> >>>> well, in case the cable (supplied) was wired with the wrong
> >>>> connector gender. I see a green blinking light inside,
> it he left
> >>>> rear corner of the box. Everything is warm, but nothing
> else. Any
> >>>> ideas?
> >>>>
> >>>> Bob
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>>
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> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
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