[time-nuts] Symmetricom X72 interface boards

[Mark Sims]

The X72 rubidium oscillator interface board sets have (finally) been shipped to everybody that paid for them.  I had hoped to get them out a couple of weeks ago, but ran into a couple of annoying snags...

First, the assembly house built a couple of test articles that were great and were approved for production.  Over a week later they came back and said "They're ready... except we can't do the through hole parts.  Our through-hole machine is broken and we aren't going to fix it" (turns out they sold the company assets to another company and were letting them deal with it).   I wound up hand soldering them... lotsa fun there.

Next, it turned out the the MAX232A RS-232 chips I got in were wonky / fake / haunted.   Luckily they are socketed.  I bought out the local supply of good / genuine ones.   Ahh, such fun.  If anybody needs 50 sketchy MAX232A's...  I can hook you up.