[time-nuts] Errors on HP 58503A GPS time & frequency reference receiver bought from yixunhk.
Dr. David Kirkby (Kirkby Microwave Ltd)
drkirkby at kirkbymicrowave.co.uk
Wed Dec 10 22:25:18 UTC 2014
I bought an 85053A receiver from the eBay seller yixunhk. This is
supposed to be a real 58503A, rather than one of the updated ones. It
was $799. The diagnostic data from the serial line indicates that this
is so - see.
E-103> *IDN?
HEWLETT-PACKARD,58503A,3502A00477,3704-A
A few initial observations.
1) I bought it along with a couple of Motorola M12 timing receivers
($15 each). Two of them were put in a "ziploc freeze guard" bag - not
an antistatic bag. Two boards, along with a washer were in the bag.
2) Some SMA to N adapters I bought could have been better wrapped, but
don't seem to suffered any harm.
I asked the seller if they could sort me out a unit in good cosmetic
condition - offering to pay extra. They said they would, for no extra
charge. When it arrived it does look *mint* condition. I can't see a
scratch on it. When I bought a CertiPrime unit from Agilent I had to
look hard to find a mark, but this is even cleaner.
Someone from this list sent me an email saying this seller gets HP
boxes re-made, so they look original, but are not. I must admit I have
my suspicions about this one. There is some sort of safety warning on
the rear, but the HP serial number sticker is covering that up. I
don't think HP would attach the serial number in the way shown. The
serial number reported by the firmware (3502A00477) is the same as on
the instrument.
Also the N connector on the rear for the antenna does not look to be
up to HP standards. I measured the pin depth of the centre pin using
gages from an 85054B type N calibration kit. It only just about moves
the gages, being recessed 0.012" below where is should be. Although I
realize it is not a calibration standard, 0.012" is deeper than any
other bit of HP kit I just checked. Maybe, due to where it is, and
the fact it is not going to be used a lot, HP did not put a decent
connector there. But it looks a bit odd to me.
I am suspecting this has been rebuilt into a new case. To be honest,
if a seller remakes the boxes, and they look and function well, I
don't have a big problem with that, although I am sure it is illegal -
at least in the UK.
The antenna is supposed to be Andrews. I don't know whether it is, but
there's no name on it.
But the most important thing is there are problems in the power
supplies, as the log shows - see below.
scpi > :DIAG:LOG:READ:ALL?
Log status: 85 entries
Log 001:20141017.00:00:00: Log cleared
Log 002:20141017.00:00:00: Power on
Log 003:20141017.00:00:00: Power on
Log 004:20141017.00:00:11: 15V is out of tolerance, value: 16.62
Log 005:20141017.00:00:26: Self-test failed
Log 006:20141017.00:00:00: Power on
Log 007:20141017.00:00:11: 15V is out of tolerance, value: 13.78
Log 008:20141017.00:00:27: Self-test failed
Log 009:20141017.00:00:00: Power on
Log 010:20141017.00:00:11: 15V is out of tolerance, value: 13.80
Log 011:20141017.00:00:26: Self-test failed
Log 012:20141017.00:00:55: Power on
Log 013:20141017.00:01:06: 15V is out of tolerance, value: 13.75
Log 014:20141017.00:01:11: Power on
Log 015:20141017.00:01:22: 15V is out of tolerance, value: 13.73
Log 016:20141017.00:01:37: Self-test failed
Log 017:20141017.00:02:06: Power on
Log 018:20141017.00:02:17: 15V is out of tolerance, value: 13.73
Log 019:20141017.00:02:33: Self-test failed
Log 020:20141017.00:05:55: GPS reference valid at 20141205.04:34:39
Log 021:20141205.04:42:26: GPS lock started
Log 022:20141205.04:42:26: Primary oven current is out of tolerance,
value: 115.81
Log 023:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 024:20141205.00:00:11: 15V is out of tolerance, value: 13.66
Log 025:20141205.00:00:27: Self-test failed
Log 026:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 027:20141205.00:00:11: 15V is out of tolerance, value: 13.66
Log 028:20141205.00:00:27: Self-test failed
Log 029:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 030:20141205.00:00:01: 15V is out of tolerance, value: 13.67
Log 031:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 032:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 033:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 034:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 035:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 036:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 037:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 038:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 039:20141205.00:05:00: GPS reference valid at 20141205.06:48:08
Log 040:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 041:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 042:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 043:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 044:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 045:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 046:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 047:20141205.00:00:00: Power on
Log 048:20141205.00:04:23: GPS reference valid at 20141205.07:38:39
Log 049:20141205.07:45:54: GPS lock started
Log 050:20141205.09:39:43: Position hold mode started
Log 051:20141205.12:06:16: Holdover started, TI limit exceeded
Log 052:20141205.12:07:42: GPS lock started
Log 053:20141205.14:04:14: Holdover started, TI limit exceeded
Log 054:20141205.14:05:40: GPS lock started
Log 055:20141206.00:00:00: Power on
Log 056:20141206.00:08:32: GPS reference valid at 20141206.06:17:38
Log 057:20141206.06:22:29: GPS lock started
Log 058:20141206.06:39:56: Holdover started, not tracking GPS
Log 059:20141206.06:43:24: GPS lock started
Log 060:20141206.00:00:00: Power on
Log 061:20141206.00:00:00: Power on
Below is the first entries to mention the date I got it (10th December 2014).
Log 062:20141206.00:34:10: GPS reference valid at 20141210.13:10:33
Log 063:20141210.13:14:25: GPS lock started
Log 064:20141210.14:22:09: Holdover started, not tracking GPS
Log 065:20141210.14:25:48: GPS lock started
Log 066:20141210.00:00:00: Power on
Log 067:20141210.00:00:00: Power on
Log 068:20141210.00:00:00: Power on
Log 069:20141210.00:14:46: GPS reference valid at 20141210.15:20:33
Log 070:20141210.15:26:26: GPS lock started
Log 071:20141210.15:36:01: Power on
Log 072:20141210.00:00:00: Power on
Log 073:20141210.00:03:07: GPS reference valid at 20141210.15:52:09
Log 074:20141210.15:57:04: GPS lock started
Log 075:20141210.16:26:24: Holdover started, not tracking GPS
Log 076:20141210.16:30:50: GPS lock started
Log 077:20141210.00:00:00: Power on
Log 078:20141210.00:00:11: 5V is out of tolerance, value: 5.54
Log 079:20141210.00:00:11: 15V is out of tolerance, value: 19.46
Log 080:20141210.00:00:26: Self-test failed
Log 081:20141210.00:09:22: GPS reference valid at 20141210.18:52:33
Log 082:20141210.18:57:27: GPS lock started
Log 083:20141210.19:02:23: Power on
Log 084:20141210.19:45:31: GPS reference valid at 20141210.19:45:37
Log 085:20141210.19:51:18: GPS lock started
Below are some errors reported using :SYST:STAT?
E-113> :SYST:STAT?
------------------------------- Receiver Status -------------------------------
SYNCHRONIZATION ........................................... [ Outputs Invalid ]
SmartClock Mode ___________________________ Reference Outputs _______________
Locked TFOM 9 FFOM 3
Recovery 1PPS TI --
Holdover HOLD THR 1.000 us
>> Power-up: GPS acquisition Holdover Uncertainty ____________
Predict --
ACQUISITION .............................................. [ GPS 1PPS Invalid ]
Tracking: 0 ____ Not Tracking: 6 ________ Time ____________________________
PRN El Az UTC 12:02:29 [?] 01 Jan 1998
* 1 -- --- GPS 1PPS Invalid: not tracking
* 6 -- --- ANT DLY 0 ns
* 9 -- --- Position ________________________
*14 -- --- MODE Survey: 0% complete
*22 -- --- Suspended: track <4 sats
*24 -- --- INIT LAT N 51:39:03.825
INIT LON E 0:46:36.278
ELEV MASK 10 deg *attempting to track INIT HGT -14.04 m (MSL)
HEALTH MONITOR ...................................................... [ ERROR ]
Self Test: Err Int Pwr: OK Oven Pwr: OK OCXO: OK EFC: OK GPS Rcv: OK
E-113> :SYST:STAT?
------------------------------- Receiver Status -------------------------------
SYNCHRONIZATION ........................................... [ Outputs Invalid ]
SmartClock Mode ___________________________ Reference Outputs _______________
Locked TFOM 9 FFOM 3
Recovery 1PPS TI --
Holdover HOLD THR 1.000 us
>> Power-up: GPS acquisition Holdover Uncertainty ____________
Predict --
ACQUISITION .............................................. [ GPS 1PPS Invalid ]
Tracking: 0 ____ Not Tracking: 6 ________ Time ____________________________
PRN El Az UTC 12:02:56 [?] 01 Jan 1998
* 1 -- --- GPS 1PPS Invalid: not tracking
* 6 -- --- ANT DLY 0 ns
* 9 -- --- Position ________________________
*14 -- --- MODE Survey: 0% complete
*22 -- --- Suspended: track <4 sats
*24 -- --- INIT LAT N 51:39:03.825
INIT LON E 0:46:36.278
ELEV MASK 10 deg *attempting to track INIT HGT -14.04 m (MSL)
HEALTH MONITOR ...................................................... [ ERROR ]
Self Test: Err Int Pwr: OK Oven Pwr: OK OCXO: OK EFC: OK GPS Rcv: OK
I expect this is going to go back to them, unless they want to make me
an offer I can't refuse.
Dave
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