[time-nuts] Symmetricom chip scale atomic clock

[Magnus Danielson]

Jim,

On 04/25/2014 05:32 AM, Jim Lux wrote:
> On 4/24/14, 6:26 PM, Said Jackson wrote:
>> Hi Magnus, Bob,
>>
>> Thanks much for your kind words.
>>
>> The failure rate is thankfully so low that we are not greatly alarmed,
>> and Microsemi has been a champ in resolving any failures with/for us
>> when they did show up. We are awaiting the results of the full
>> re-qualify that Microsemi is doing on the CSAC and were going to
>> announce the issue at that time..
>>
>
> Sometimes it is the low failure rates which make it so troublesome.
> Everyone gets excited, but the vast majority don't have the problem, but
> then, every little anomaly or unexpected event prompts a "is it the
> failure"...

When I started to see failures on a particular OCXO, I was alarmed. It 
ten turned out to be about 4% of all we bought, and I have checked them 
all myself. Seems that those that had problems have been detected or 
died out since we have not had any more reports.

Single units is freak cases, but when several have issues within a short 
time, then we react to try to see the systematics. Let me tell you that 
the OCXO case was benign compared to fans that died much earlier than 
advertised. Guess if that vendor is now blacklisted.
Another vendor got blacklisted as they did not take responsibility for 
the failures their poor design chip caused. The OCXO vendor handled the 
situation nicely, by replacing the broken units when requested.

Failures happens. Vendors taking responsibility when failure happens are 
keepers, but you don't really feel motivated to deal with those that don't.

That's why I'm happy to hear that Said have that support from 
Symmetricom/Microsemi.

Jim's boxes is another story.

Cheers,
Magnus