[time-nuts] Odetics 325: Replacing receiver...?

Bruce Lane kyrrin at bluefeathertech.com
Sun Dec 10 03:49:23 EST 2006


Hi, Rob,

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 10-Dec-06 at 08:29 Rob Kimberley wrote:

>Hi Bruce,
>
>The 325 came with different RX modules. Some of the earlier ones also used
>a down converter on the antenna. 

	Yes, I saw references to that in the manual.

>What antenna are you using (is it the original?), what is the RX module? A
>quick check to see if it is a down converter type is to check on the
>antenna connector to see if you have 10 MHz on there, and also the voltage. I
>believe these used a 12v supply, so trying the unit with a standard modern
>antenna (typically 3.3 or 5V input) would result in antenna damage.

	Actually, I've gotten quite lucky antenna and receiver-wise. I had the unit open today, and discovered that the receiver is a fairly late-model Magellan OEM type, specifically an "OEM 5000." I've already dropped a note to Thales (who bought Magellan) to see if I can get some details on it.

	You are correct about the DC bias (it's 12V). Fortunately, I have a Trimble reference antenna which can handle anything from 5 to 15V. I've been using it to test, but still have not managed to pick up any satellites.

>Odetics changed its name to Zyfer (I worked for them then), and then more
>recently FEI-Zyfer. The 325 is obsolete and the guys in Anaheim do not
>offer any support whatsoever now.

	Ah. Then my E-mail to them will probably go unanswered (sigh).

>Time Nuts is your best bet for an answer, and I know that there are at
>least two 325s lurking out there amongst fellow ' Nuts.

	Excellent! I'm hoping someone will be able to shed some insight on this beastie. I'm hoping, since it uses a Magellan module, that it understands NMEA sentences. If so, it would be trivial to swap the existing receiver for a workable one.

	Thanks much.



-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Owner & Head Hardware Heavy,
Blue Feather Technologies -- http://www.bluefeathertech.com
kyrrin (at) bluefeathertech do/t c=o=m
"If Salvador Dali had owned a computer, would it have been equipped with surreal ports?"




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