[time-nuts] Affordable (cheap) COTS / eBay kit for TIE / 1PPS phase comparison

[Bob Camp]

Hi

You can do a lot better than 5 ns these days if you want to spend some money. 

Some low(er) cost alternatives:

5335 counter running GPIB. The counter should be below $150 and it should get you to 1 ns or so. 

5334 counter also running GPIB. A bit smaller / cheaper - should be around 2 ns. 

Both are staple items on the auction sites. You would still need a GPIB adapter and a PC to collect the data and do the analysis.  Sounds like you have the PC. The USB adapters aren’t very expensive. 

Bob

On Jan 21, 2014, at 8:23 PM, Wojciech Owczarek <wojciech at owczarek.co.uk> wrote:

> Hi List,
> 
> I'm a software developer turned network test engineer slowly turning
> time&frequency guy (not sure if this is upwards or downwards ;-) ) with
> some distant background in electronic engineering.
> 
> For the last couple of years I have been increasingly involved in various
> work involving IEEE 1588 and finally I started fitting out a small home lab
> setup. I never really needed lab kit at home before and my work lab is
> primary to do with Ethernet and IP (and timing, but outside my price
> ranges), so I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction:
> 
> I'm looking for some reasonably inexpensive solution to allow me a) to do
> TIE measurements of 1PPS signals against a reference and b) do phase
> comparisons of different 1PPS signals - so something with REF and at least
> two inputs.
> 
> I have an OCXO GPS reference (upgradable to Rb) with 1PPS, 5MHz and 10MHz
> outputs which is stable enough for my needs so that part (perhaps most
> important) is sorted. In terms of requirements, granularity wise, well, as
> good as achievable - I'm used to 10 ns and 5 ns granularity with TIE that I
> get from work kit. 50 ns or better would be perfect.
> 
> I must add that ideally I would like to avoid having to design or build the
> kit myself - I would love a project, but I have time to spare to complete
> one.
> 
> Any pointers much appreciated.
> 
> Best regards
> Wojciech
> 
> -- 
> -
> 
> Wojciech Owczarek
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