[time-nuts] Different or defective FE-5680A?

[Ed Palmer]

A few years ago I bought an FE-5680A that had only a 1 PPS output - no 
10 MHz.  The part number is the same format as yours.  It came on a 
Motorola circuit board (not cutoff).  It is programmable over a wide 
frequency range (typically < 100 Hz to 15-20 MHz), but you have to bring 
out the signal yourself, make a couple of internal mods and change the 
frequency from it's default of 8.388608 MHz.  As soon as you do this, 
the 1 PPS is no longer 1 PPS.  It doesn't require 5V, only 15V.  It also 
has the lock on pin 3.  You may have the same unit.  If so, you probably 
got a good deal since the programmable unit is typically more expensive 
than the 10 MHz only version.  Of course, the prices of these things 
have been all over the map lately.

Ed


On 6/8/2012 9:14 PM, Joseph Gray wrote:
> Considering that I get a Lock and PPS but no 10 MHz, I have to assume
> that the unit is defective. Still waiting to see what nichegeek says.
>
> Joe Gray
> W5JG
>
> On Fri, Jun 8, 2012 at 6:36 PM, Bob Camp<lists at rtty.us>  wrote:
>> HI
>>
>> I suspect it's the same part then. I doubt they were using two vastly different Rb's on the same card.
>>
>> Bob
>>
>> On Jun 8, 2012, at 5:34 PM, Joseph Gray wrote:
>>
>>> This one has no SMA and hasn't been modded in any way that I can tell.
>>> It came on a cutoff circuit board, like the others.
>>>
>>> Joe Gray
>>> W5JG
>>>
>>> On Fri, Jun 8, 2012 at 3:29 PM, Bob Camp<lists at rtty.us>  wrote:
>>>> Hi
>>>>
>>>> There is a variant that comes from the factory with no 10 MHz output at all. Industrious people in far away places drill holes and wire up SMA connectors to give them a 10 MHz output. If yours is one of those, the mod may not have been 100% effective. Maybe a loose wire ….
>>>>
>>>> Bob
>>>>
>>>> On Jun 8, 2012, at 5:21 PM, Joseph Gray wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Further information. I do get a Lock (low) indication on pin-3 and a PPS on pin-6. Nothing at all on pin-7.
>>>>>
>>>>> Joe Gray
>>>>> W5JG
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, Jun 8, 2012 at 1:41 PM, Joseph Gray<jgray at zianet.com>  wrote:
>>>>>> Months ago, I ordered two FE-5680A units from nichgeek for my personal use. They work just fine. Recently, I ordered one for work from the same source.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> For the work unit, I ordered a small 15 VDC switcher and a 5 V DC-DC module from Jameco. Today, I wired it all up, using the same pinout as the previous units that I bought from nichegeek. Although the unit gets warm, I get no 10 MHz output at all on pin 7.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I double checked my wiring and it is OK. I even went home and got one of my units. Plugging my home unit in place of the work unit, mine puts out a nice 10 MHz in short order.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Looking closer, I see that the two units are labeled differently. Mine has a large white label that says "P/N 217400-30352-1".  On the smaller label "FE-5680A  UN 78082" and "S/N 0434-84673". The work unit is silkscreened with "PN: FE-5680A". The small label says "FE-5680A
>>>>>> UN37915 REVISION: B" and "S/N 0226-53954".
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I know that there are several versions of FE-5680A, with different pinouts. I'm wondering if this latest unit is different than the two I purchased before.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I've emailed nichegeek and am awaiting a reply.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Joe Gray
>>>>>> W5JG