[time-nuts] Errors on HP 58503A GPS time & frequency reference receiver bought from yixunhk.

Bob Camp kb8tq at n1k.org
Thu Dec 11 01:10:55 UTC 2014


Hi

I suspect that if you look closely at the board in the unit, it’s got water stains on it ….

Bob

> On Dec 10, 2014, at 5:25 PM, Dr. David Kirkby (Kirkby Microwave Ltd) <drkirkby at kirkbymicrowave.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> 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
> <58503A-rear.jpg>_______________________________________________
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