[time-nuts] Expected 10 MHz offset from a GPSDO?

Bob kb8tq kb8tq at n1k.org
Sat Aug 20 15:14:58 UTC 2016


Hi

At the most basic level, ADEV is a standard deviation. When people read an instrument they usually want a "max error" sort of number. ADEV operates on delta between readings so a simple "three sigma" mental math conversion is not all you need. It *is* the right measure. It can take a bit of work to convert it to useful units .

Bob


> On Aug 20, 2016, at 7:38 AM, Charles Steinmetz <csteinmetz at yandex.com> wrote:
> 
> Bryan wrote:
> 
>> With a GPSDO as a general rule is there much variation of the 0.005 to 0.02 ppb range. Would there me much if only 2 satellites were visible but the unit was no in holdover vs say 6 satellites. I assume there is probably a lot of variables such as quality of GPSDO and OCXO, multi path interference, antenna location, etc, but worse case what would a user expect assuming the unit isn't in holdover.
> 
> There are lots of ADEV plots of GPSDOs on the web, if you search for them.  Tom has the attached plot posted on his web site -- it includes one decent (but not stellar) GPSDO, the HP Z3801.  That is about what you can expect without heroic tuning efforts (on a GPSDO that supports user fiddling, such as the Trimble Thunderbolt).
> 
> Since many counters gate for one second (or gate faster, then average), the ADEV at tau=1 second is a reasonable estimate of the real-world performance of a good counter driven by a GPSDO.  Note that, since the ADEV at 1 second depends largely on the OCXO, the heroic tuning efforts mentioned above won't change the ADEV at tau=1 second hardly at all. That is attributable strictly to the OCXO (unless the GPSDO is very poorly designed).  Building a GPSDO using the best OCXO available can improve things.  For example, look at the "BVA" plot -- at 1 second, its ADEV is nearly a full decade better than the Z3801, better even than the hydrogen masers.  (While I referred to the 3801 above as "decent but not stellar," that is based on its performance at tau from 100-100k seconds.  Its OCXO -- and, thus, its ADEV -- is better than most others at 1 second.)
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Charles
> 
> 
> <ADEV_plots_of_various_oscillators_TVB.gif>
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