[time-nuts] Looking for data on a couple of XO's

Mon May 25 21:51:47 UTC 2020

Hi

At least at Vectron / Norwalk, the standard process was to get in an order 
that was based on the catalog part number. Even if it was for 5 pieces and a
dead stock item, a 4 digit code was generated. Any order that came in after
the first one likely used the 4 digit code. It took care of “fitting” the part number
into a database field and / or reduced the typo errors on the long catalog
part numbers.

Bob

> On May 25, 2020, at 12:05 PM, Dave Miller <ve7hr at ve7hr.ca> wrote:
> 
> Thank you Bob,
> That gives me enough confirmation and direction to do some testing.
> BTW it was not a Fleabay purchase but a gift from a good friend. Here I
> thought you might like this. :-)
> I shall report back my findings.
> Thanks
> Dave
> 
> 
> On Mon, May 25, 2020 at 7:48 AM Bob kb8tq <kb8tq at n1k.org> wrote:
> 
>> Hi
>> 
>> It’s a good bet that the power is as indicated. Is there a second supply?
>> …. who knows .. in some cases there is. Is it an XO, a VCXO, a TCXO,
>> or an OCXO? The base part number should give you some indication
>> of that.
>> 
>> If it’s a voltage controlled device one of the “not ground, not power , not
>> output” pins should tune the beast. Try feeding a 2 to 3 V signal through
>> a
>> 10K ohm resistor to the suspect pins and see what happens.  They also
>> might be enable / disable or factory adjust pins, thus the isolation and
>> low
>> voltage.
>> 
>> A pin that comes up with a voltage on it when the unit is powered is likely
>> a Vref pin. It might be a combined Vref / tune pin …. again who knows. If
>> a 10K to ground on the pin tunes the part, it’s a combined pin.
>> 
>> Output wise, if it’s logic output, your scope should tell you all you need
>> to
>> know. If it’s sine wave, load is *probably* 50 ohms. It could be just about
>> anything ….
>> 
>> Stability wise you are flying blind. Is it more stable than a 30 cent TCXO
>> from China? Does it have better phase noise? Are it’s harmonics better?
>> No way to know without measuring each parameter.
>> 
>> Indeed, even if you *had* the spec sheet, there is no guarantee that the
>> eBay part you have still meet it’s original specs.
>> 
>> If supply is not marked, then a careful guess about pins is the first step.
>> Next is a gentle application of power with careful monitoring as you
>> go from 3 to 5 to 9 to 12 to 15 to 24. If it’s a negative supply part, good
>> luck figuring that out…..
>> 
>> Lots of fun !!!
>> 
>> Bob
>> 
>>> On May 25, 2020, at 10:08 AM, VE7HR <ve7hr at ve7hr.ca> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Let’s ask this another way then,
>>> Can anyone point me towards a good basic care and feeding of XO’S
>>> The looks on the time nuts landing webpage give 404 errors.
>>> After some more searching the web I bet I can figure out the pinout of
>> the connector as they all seems to be the same on the timekeeper devices.
>> The voltage is marked so that is easy.
>>> What are the common electrical tuning voltages and how might you black
>> box them?
>>> Are old ones bipolar or unipolar?  I will experiment but like to keep
>> the smoke in the can.
>>> 
>>> Any help is appreciated.
>>> Thanks
>>> Dave
>>> VE7HR
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>> 
>>>> On May 25, 2020, at 5:05 AM, Bob kb8tq <kb8tq at n1k.org> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Hi
>>>> 
>>>> Both part numbers are “OEM” numbers. In both cases, the official company
>>>> policy is to not hand out the specs. There are a number of reasons for
>> this,
>>>> including the time needed to dig out the latest spec. (it’s not as easy
>> to go
>>>> through 50+ years and > 60,000 paper specs as it might seem …). The
>> other
>>>> driver is that they like selling spares …..
>>>> 
>>>> Bob
>>>> 
>>>>> On May 24, 2020, at 7:30 PM, Dave Miller <ve7hr at ve7hr.ca> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> I did a bit of Googling and have come up with nothing so I joined up to
>>>>> this list and will ask a few questions.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Looking for a data sheet for Vectron Model 207-5916. I know it's
>> 10MHz. It
>>>>> seems to produce an output powered by 12V and I expect the white wire
>> is
>>>>> for the wiper of the frequency adjusting pot.
>>>>> That was just a WAG based on the colours of the wires on the connector.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Second one is a Wenzel 500-0481. If I recall, I called Wenzel a while
>> ago
>>>>> and they would not give me a pinout as it was a proprietary parts
>> number.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Is there a standard on the- multi pin connector. It's marked 12V 10Mhz.
>>>>> They also wanted me to send them in for calibration as they said it
>> was so
>>>>> old they were curious to see what frequency it was. It's a virgin with
>>>>> no wire ever soldered to it so I can't guess the wiring.
>>>>> I did not send it in as the shipping and calibration charges were
>>>>> significant.
>>>>> 
>>>>> While I wait for my 5372A I have the Vectron warming up connected to
>>>>> Timelabs with a talk only HP counter.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thanks
>>>>> Dave
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> --
>>>>> 72 de Dave
>>>>> VE7HR
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>>>> 
>>>> 
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> 
> 
> -- 
> 72 de Dave
> VE7HR
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