[time-nuts] Mini-time lab cost and maintenance

[Bob Camp]

Hi

I still believe we should wait for input from the original poster before we start spinning solutions. 

If I have one very good watch, that might be fine for my needs to “know what time it is”. 

For others, a minimum of three watches would be needed to cross check the time and be
confident that they both know the time and can put a bound on how well they know it. 

Someone else could easily pop up and point out the three watches all from the same source,
even if they are good, are prone to drift the same way at the same time. They would suggest
that we need good watches from multiple sources. 

This process can continue on for quite a while, with each added layer adding both cost and the 
potential for improvement. 

Without having some sort of bounds (which only the original requester can supply), the process it’s
self is an open loop servo. The only limits are the point at which smoothing saturates. That does
not lead to an accurate (or valid) solution, it just generates a lot of smoke. 

=====

Does this equate to not wanting to help? Of course not. A number of list members have chimed in 
with suggestions and questions. They have been doing so over several days. What’s missing is 
not input from the list. The missing element is input from the person needing the help. 

I’d certainly admit that we can be a scary bunch. I don’t think that in this case we have been overly 
agressive about any of this. The conversation may have moved off list and the questions have all been
answered there. Who knows ...

Bob




> On Apr 9, 2015, at 5:47 PM, Mark Spencer <mark at alignedsolutions.com> wrote:
> 
> It's hard to provide advice without more details but obtaining two or more counters and references would also likely be helpful.
> 
> In my small lab I find it helpful to compare the performance of a "device under test" to two or more references at the same time.   This helps me decide if I am observing a change caused by the "device under test" or the reference.
> 
> Just my $.02 worth
> Regards 
> 
> Mark Spencer
> 
> On 2015-04-07, at 11:43 AM, Ole Petter Ronningen <opronningen at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Every timelab needs a time interval counter. I'd say look for a HP 5334B
>> with option 010. I've picked up two from ebay for about USD100 each, and
>> that comes with a decent 18011. After that, watch your cash disappear as
>> you discover a need for faster/better/more accurate instruments, not to
>> mention better and better oscillators..
>> 
>> Ole
>> 
>> On Tue, Apr 7, 2015 at 12:33 AM, Chris Albertson <albertson.chris at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> You can do a lot for $200 if you can build electronics yourself.
>>> Decent GPS with PPS starts at under $20 on eBay.  Same for surplus
>>> 10MHz oscillators.  People have build usable counters for cheap
>>> microprocessor development boards and software.    But it all depends
>>> on what you want to measure
>>> 
>>> On Mon, Apr 6, 2015 at 9:30 AM, Adam Blakney <akblakney at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> I was wondering how expensive it would be to have even a small and lower
>>>> level time lab. What are some less expensive models of machinery i would
>>>> need, and how much maintenance is required?
>>>> 
>>>> Thanks, Adam
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>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> 
>>> Chris Albertson
>>> Redondo Beach, California
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