[time-nuts] Worst possible error on a rubidium

Dr. David Kirkby david.kirkby at onetel.net
Thu Jul 14 20:46:55 UTC 2011


On 07/14/11 01:27 PM, Bob Camp wrote:
> Hi
>
> I've looked at a random sample of a couple dozen Rb's that are in the 5 to
> 30 year old range. In about 90% of the cases I'm reasonably certain they
> haven't been adjusted since they left the factory. If they still worked,
> they all came in at or below +/- 3x10^-9.
>
> Bob

Thank you.

Of the couple of dozen, how many worked? Clearly if only two worked, the data is 
not very useful. But if 15 or more worked, then it's interesting. It would give 
me reasonable confidence the unit is sufficient for my needs without bothering 
with calibration.

I do have a friend with a GPS locked rubidium. At some point I'll get the unit 
to him, but I recently sold my HP 5370B to someone on this list (regretting I 
sold it now!)

I guess a scope would be OK to check for gross errors by one 10 MHz signal to 
the X input and another to the Y input.


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