[time-nuts] TimeSource 2500

[Gregory Beat]

Symmetricom Timesource 2500 PRS 
MANUAL
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1334220/Symmetricom-Timesource-2500.html

Page 81 : Local Communications Port (Craft port), 5-wire RS-232 implementation
Note: TL1 messages are available only via the Craft port.

Page 83 : Remote Communications Port, Full 9-pin (DE-9) wiring.
==
Use a personal computer with a TRUE RS-232C serial port.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/RS-232#Cables

LAVA (Canada) is best add-on serial card for computers with PCIe or PCI expansion slots (support for >115k).
I have seen too many issues with cheap Chinese (Prolific) USB-RS-232 Bridges.
—
It is not uncommon on older used electronics hardware to find BAD 
TTL(UART) to RS-232C level converters (Maxim 232 family, TI 1488/1489, etc.).
ESD events, especially changing cables when u it is powered will damage Early generation components.  
Newer components (and designs) use ESD-resistant components (up to 15kV) ... as a defense to real-world events.
A “blown receiver” with those components ... causes “deafness” — can’t hear the transmissions via RS-232 port.

greg, w9gb
===
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2018 02:05:19 +0300
From: Dmitry Khorkin
To: time-nuts at lists.febo.com
Subject: [time-nuts] TimeSource 2500

Recently i purchased Symmetricom's Timesource 2500 PRS, but can't find a
way to communicate with it.  Tried both straight and null-cables, RS-232 and Craft interfaces but to no avail. There is no reply no matter what i send.

The only thing I was able to achieve is reading TL1 messages comming from
the Craft port.

Can someone please share a copy of BTMon software or advise how else one
can communicate with the device. Maybe description of the protocol, or
structure of the message it expects.

Thanks in advance!

Best regards,
Dmitry