[time-nuts] RAPCO 1804 GPS Frequency Standard

[GandalfG8 at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/10/2010 23:26:06 GMT Daylight Time,  
alan.melia at btinternet.com writes:

It'll be  your fault !! ....:-))
I was wondering about these but didnt know what they  were like.....I have a
space in the rack.....it 'ud better be  good!!


-------
Hi Alan
 
Ah...ummmmmmmmm
 
well, oh dear, I was having second thoughts and.....
 
whoops....only joking:-)
 
My test bench and racks are still without power and other cabling  so 
haven't been able to do much with these as yet but have  powered up a 53132A and 
a couple of Thunderbolts to compare them frequency  wise.
They don't seem to settle quite as quickly as the T'bolt but after about  
six hours I was seeing frequency variation of a couple of parts in 10^11.
That was first time round, didn't seem to take so long next time.
 
I haven't found any specific software for them but they will talk to a  
terminal program such as Hyperterminal using a null modem (crossover) lead and  
give out some of the usual information such as PRN number, relative signal  
strength, position, time, PDOP, etc etc.
I'll let you have details of the Comms port settings and commands.
 
Oi finks it'll be good, an Oi loiks em anyways:-)
 
These are more Z3801A vintage than T'bolt but Rapco kit has a  good 
reputation, well Spectracom must have thought so anyway :-), and the  last one of 
these I bid on on Ebay, admittedly a few years ago now, went  for over £300.
 
regards
 
Nigel
GM8PZR