[time-nuts] Z3801 Update with VP-Oncore 8Ch receiver

[Bob Camp]

Hi

On most of these 6 to 8 or 12 conversions, the original firmware (if it works) simply ignores the status 
line after the first 6 data fields. The only way to get the added data is to hack in and capture the stream
out of the GPS module yourself. That can be done on some of the KS boxes, but not on the normal i/o
channels. There does not seem to be a way to do it on the older Z series parts without adding wires and 
connectors. 

Bob


> On Feb 7, 2016, at 1:12 PM, Artek Manuals <manuals at artekmanuals.com> wrote:
> 
> As noted in the earlier post my earlier I had a Z3801A in which the receiver would err out after as little as 20 min. this was 6CH Motorola Oncore which had I guess reached end of life after 20 years and 15,000 hours. A friend offered me a used 8CH Motorola VP-Oncore on the condition I report out on what was involved in using the newer receiver in my older Z3801A.
> 
> Here is what I have observed so far. The 8CH VP Oncore version is pin and command compatible with the Z3801A ( and likely other 6CH Oncore based GPSDO's)  and the three (apparently) more popular  programs ( HP SatStat, Z38xx, and GPSCon).talk to the receiver so far without error I have not tested all the commands but all of the standard stuff seems to work. Basically this was a plug-n-play-n-survey upgrade.
> 
> The only question mark so far is the software does not report all 8CH being tracked? Not sure yet if that is just a software limitation or if there is a command I need to send the receiver to enable the other two channels.
> 
> More positives . the VP receiver was billed as having a better front end and seems to be living up to that ..SS reports are on average at least 20 points higher First time I ever saw all 6 channels with SS above 150 at the same time and occasional SS's above 200. The receiver PPS comparisons to GPS are much less variable and erratic than the old 6CH receiver was.
> 
> More of the used 8CH VP Oncore receivers may become available in the next year. Not sure what the etiquette is here about posting things but if there are no objections I will let everyone know. These are pulls from  older handheld units and apparently USA built complete with full up serial number tags and version 10 firmware.
> 
> Insight on enabling and showing all 8 channels in the receiver status window appreciated.
> 
> Dave
> NR1DX
> 
> -- 
> Dave
> Manuals at ArtekManuals.com
> www.ArtekManuals.com
> 
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
> 
> _______________________________________________
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.