Uni-Byte 0030 - New toy: Time to play!

Just got in a nice little $100 GPSDO based on a design by BG7TBL. We set it up and let it settle in for a couple of days then use it to do a quick time base calibration on a nifty little HP counter.
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[@mikemc4759]

BG7TBL has also developed a distribution box with 8 independent channels. It has also an OCXO inside. I have hooked both devices together and using it in my ham radio shack here in Germany.

[@uni-byte]

Nice! Yeah, BG7TBL has made a considerable contribution to electronics hobbyists in general.

[@mikemc4759]

@@uni-byte Just a small info: This device has an NMEA output. You need 2 wires. a 9-SUB-D Socket and the freeware software "VisualGPSView" You can see the receiving quality of your antenna. IF you use the freeware software "BktTimesync" you can synchronise your PC clock via NMEA. This is very interesting for ham radio FT8 operation. RS232 speed ist 9600 by the way. i am using both pieces of software. Very reliable!

[@stevestrivia-bystevewagner4852]

The manual for the 5300B refers to a selector switch “near the power transformer” that transforms the BNC on the rear from an output to an input. When configured as an input, the GPS-DO 10 Mhz out could be connected and used as the counters’ time base oscillator. Then the accuracy of the internal oscillator would not matter. The GPS-DO would be operated 27/7.
Steve

[@uni-byte]

Very true, and I considered that. I need to have the GPSDO spread a bit thinner. I have 4 instruments that use 10MHz frequency references, so either I use the GPSDO as a calibrator, or I devise/buy a distribution amplifier and drive that with the GPSDO. However, the mains power around here is unreliable. For that reason I'm currently leaning to using it as a calibration instrument.
Well, maybe a small UPS could help.
Stuff to think about.
Thanks for your comment!

[@ivolol]

@@uni-byte If your mains goes out, then all the instruments will likely go down anyway. The GPSDO even after only a couple hours on, is probably as good as you can get 'till you go buy a rubidium.
Building a 10mhz square wave distributor shouldn't be very hard either. Some 74hc7014 or 74HC373 or 74HC367 or 74HC4050 or 74HC2G34 (etc) in a box (can try to find ac/ahc/vhc parts as well if you want) connected to some SMAs/BNCs

[@uni-byte]

Good suggestions Matt. Thanks!

[@jakubczajka4275]

Some guys are using atomic clocks located in orbit to calibrate instruments in their sheds, while some of their neighbours are flat earthers... Welcome to 21st century!

[@uni-byte]

LOL! Ain't it the truth!!!

[@patoneill555]

Cool!

[@uni-byte]

Thanks!