[time-nuts] Frequency counter recommendation

Alan Hochhalter alanh137 at comcast.net
Fri Dec 17 01:15:47 UTC 2010


One way to find out if people are interested enough to pledge some money 
up front is something like this project

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bushing/openvizsla-open-source-usb-protocol-analyzer

Alan

On 12/16/2010 12:55 PM, Bob Camp wrote:
> Hi
>
> If you look in detail at the ups and downs of the TAPR SDR project, it's not
> one I would want to emulate.
>
> If we have a few hundred people interested with cash in hand, this might
> indeed make sense.
>
> Bob
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
> Behalf Of Chris Albertson
> Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 3:36 PM
> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Frequency counter recommendation
>
> Here is an example of doing something like this as a open source
> design by a group of HAMs
> http://www.tapr.org/kits_janus.html
> This is a software defined radio but is close to the complexity we are
> talking about here. It has a d/a converter and fpga and lots of
> surface mount parts.  TAPR is able to have these made and sell them
> for $180.
>
> While this is a proof by example that such a project can be done I'd
> not go this route.     Better I think to design a modular system where
> the modules  have easy and well defined interfaces and where each  can
> have whatever quality specs are desired.   There is a danger with
> these group project that you run into a requirements "race" to the top
> and end up with a hard to manufacture and maintain part.  I think the
> HPSDR project did this
>
> On Thu, Dec 16, 2010 at 11:20 AM, Bob Camp<lists at rtty.us>  wrote:
>> Hi
>>
>> Yes indeed, been there done that. Not very hard at all.
>>
>> All you need is the six layer pc board (can be bought), the FPGA (Digikey
>> has them), a few of these and a couple of those. Spend less than $100 and
>> you are in business if the PC board volume is high enough.
>>
>> In this case the next step in the business is to solder the 256 ball 1 mm
>> spacing BGA package down on the pc board. Not so easy without the right
>> tools...
>>
>> Bob
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
>> Behalf Of Don Latham
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 3:48 PM
>> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
>> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Frequency counter recommendation
>>
>> OK, time-nuts, here's the gauntlet. can't "we" generate a design for a
>> PC-based FPGA or chip setup that would be generally useful as a counter?
>> We've seen thorough discussions about trigger jitter, which IMHO is the
>> fundamental problem. And isn't the PIC2 Time base from 10 MHz standard,
>> all else should be straightforward.
>> I'm not a designer, just a messer-arounder, or I'd give it a shot. Robot
>> Basic is a nice PC software maybe.
>> Don
>>
>> J. L. Trantham, M. D.
>>> I suspect that this question will lead to a discussion of Dual Mixers but
>>> as
>>> far as the counter question goes, I would recommend you consider an HP
>>> 5370B.
>>>
>>> Joe
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com]On
>>> Behalf Of Dave M
>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 1:55 PM
>>> To: TimeNuts
>>> Subject: [time-nuts] Frequency counter recommendation
>>>
>>> I'm a retired electronics tech and computer programmer.  I have a pretty
>>> decently equipped shop for almost all of my projects and experiments.
>>> However, my time and frequency equipment is a bit long in the tooth.  I
>>> have
>>> a couple old HP 5328A counters (commercial version; not the military
>>> version), one with a 10544, the other with a 10811 oscillator.
>>> I have an HP Z3801A that has been operating well for several years, and
>>> recently acquired a TBolt to keep the counters in tune.  I also have a
>>> good
>>> distribution amp and  couple of old Montronics (Fluke) frequency
>>> comparators.
>>> What I'm looking for now, is a recommendation for a good low-cost (<$400)
>>> counter that will get me on the way to performing some of the "down in
> the
>>> grass" noise, jitter and deviation tests that the more learned members of
>>> the group discuss.  I know that new equipment is far out of my budget,
> but
>>> I'm also aware that some of the older, now obsolete (also cheaper)
>>> equipment
>>> is quite capable of doing what I want to do. I prefer HP equipment since
>>> manuals are much easier to find than most other brands.
>>> I'd also like recommendation for a good low-cost GPIB controller that
>>> allows
>>> me to write software to control some of my instruments.  I have
> experience
>>> writing software in BASIC on a Fluke 1722A controller.  I've seen these
>>> controllers on the Bay and other online vendors, but I've not located the
>>> BASIC discs for them.  Any advice?
>>> I realize that a counter is not the only piece that I need, but it's
> first
>>> on my list.  Other, more applicable equipment is on my want list, but
> will
>>> have to wait for a bit.
>>>
>>> Thanks for advice,
>>> David
>>> dgminala at mediacombb dot net
>>>
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>>
>> --
>> "Neither the voice of authority nor the weight of reason and argument are
>> as significant as experiment, for thence comes quiet to the mind."
>> R. Bacon
>> "If you don't know what it is, don't poke it."
>> Ghost in the Shell
>>
>>
>> Dr. Don Latham AJ7LL
>> Six Mile Systems LLP
>> 17850 Six Mile Road
>> POB 134
>> Huson, MT, 59846
>> VOX 406-626-4304
>> www.lightningforensics.com
>> www.sixmilesystems.com
>>
>>
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