[time-nuts] Vaperware Parts and pulse stretching circuits

[John Ackermann N8UR]

Hi Perry --

The circuit in the FatPPS is really simple and would be easy to duplicate.

Frankly, the reason we had to significantly increase the cost is because
we provide the board fully assembled (it's all surface mount parts), and
with the low volume we've had in the last few years, the per-unit
assembly cost has gone way up.

John
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On 4/24/20 7:19 PM, Perry Sandeen via time-nuts wrote:
> Learned Gentlemen,
> Several poster wrote:
> TAPR offers a FatPPS kit to stretch the pulse out, and it looks likethey're back in stock. I have one but haven't assembled it yet.https://tapr.org/product/fatpps-pulse-stretcher/
>  OK no problemo. But it's $55. It's probably a great device, but does this application warrant such expense?
> I looked up *pulse stretcher circuits* and found over a dozen inexpensive circuits.
> 
> 
> DRV8662and is available from Digikey for $3.35. It is a small-pitch device(0.5mm) but not impossible to solder.
> 
> RV-3028 is 3.2x1.5 mm in size, 1.5ppm, additionally trimmable, 45 nAstandby current, under $3 USD in price and in stock at Mouser andDigikey. 
> 
> Aswonderful as the DS3231 is, there is a newer chip from Micro Crystalthat is smaller, more accurate than the DS3231M, much cheaper, anddraws less power
> 
> These three chips fall into the *Vaperware Parts* category. Yes, they are great chips and I don't mind someone posting their advantages.
> I believe It is a bit disingenuous to say: *It is a small-pitch device but not impossible to solder*.
> Really?  If you've dropped $750 to $1K for a stereo microscope and other specialized soldering equipment then you can probably do it without too much difficulty.  Or some may access to such specialized equipment.
> But for us *Po Folks* hobbyist we have to stick with older but larger parts.
> Now if there was a service where you could order the part soldered to a breakout board with .1 inch breakout pins for say, $20 then using many of the latest chips would be feasible.  But until then I believe 99.9 percent of us have to find a commercial product or some other workaround.
> Regards,
> Perrier
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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