[time-nuts] TS2100 OCXO Conversion: Command exploration

[Bob kb8tq]

Hi

Piezo was in Carlisle rather than Carlyle PA. It was absorbed into the Corning / Oak
empire almost 20 years ago. Corning / Oak amalgamated with Vectron a bit over ten
years ago. 

Piezo was the original OCXO supplier on the TBolt boards. If it is a TBolt part, just like
the later OCXO’s it will have a pretty large EFC range. That may or may not make the
TS2100 happy. 

Bob

> On Apr 7, 2018, at 2:46 PM, Bruce Lane <kyrrin at bluefeathertech.com> wrote:
> 
> Fellow Time-Tickers,
> 
> 	I'm still experimenting with conversion of the TS2100 from standard TTL
> oscillator to OCXO. More specifically, the OCXO I'm trying is made by
> the now-defunct Piezo Crystal Company, Carlyle, PA. It's their model
> 2900082-47, and from what little I've been able to discover, it seems to
> match the large 'U56' pattern in the 2100. It is said to be a direct
> replacement for the Trimble-branded 37266, so I'm hoping its EFC voltage
> is in the 0-5V range.
> 
> 	I've made much progress in deciphering the menu structure of the 'root
> eng' section, thanks to past posts from Greg Dowd and others. Permit me
> to explain, for the benefit of those who may be having trouble making
> the 'intuitive leap,' as it were. Please note, everything I'm describing
> here is done with a hardware RS232 connection directly to the unit, on
> P4 - Serial port B. Comm parameters used were 9600-8-N-1, no flow control.
> 
> 	Symmetricom, apparently, used single words as commands. Anything
> following the first word in a command list, unless clearly called out by
> an underscore (as in the command 'eeprom_select') is merely descriptive
> commentary for the command itself.
> 
> 	Here's some examples. We'll start with the command 'root' (minus the
> quotes, of course). If you type 'root' and simply hit enter, nothing
> appears to happen. However, if you type 'root ?' and hit enter, you get
> this:
> 
> Commands
> --------------------------------
> network /
> timing /
> serial /
> utility /
> intrinsic help
> --------------------------------
> 
> 	This is indeed the visible 'root' level of the command directory. Note
> the valuable (to techies) 'root eng' is hidden. Type that command, add a
> question mark at the end, hit enter, and you get this:
> 
> --------------------------------
> Commands
> --------------------------------
> start net interface
> timing tools /
> serial tools /
> eeprom tools /
> spi tools /
> flash tools /
> display tools /
> memory tools /
> intrinsic help
> --------------------------------
> 
> 	Type 'root eng eeprom ?' and hit enter, and you get:
> 
> --------------------------------
> Commands
> --------------------------------
> ethernet address
> board serial number
> gain default
> filter constant
> low filter constant
> precision
> set eeprom
> get eeprom
> read serial eeprom
> write serial eeprom
> tx 16 bits to eeprom
> location for image
> info value
> eeprom_select
> intrinsic help
> --------------------------------
> 
> 	Do you see the pattern? The first word, and only the first word, is the
> command and whatever you type after that is what value you want entered
> as part of the command. The question mark shows a list of commands
> available under whatever section you're in.
> 
> 	Example: Type 'root eng eeprom gain' and the far left column will show
> you what the current gain setting is. Type something like 'root eng
> eeprom gain -20' and your gain will be set to -20 and the value stored
> in the EEPROM.
> 
> 	Now, here's the fun part. Remember how I'd originally asked about
> changing the D/A value, and I couldn't seem to get the syntax right? As
> I recall, other list members have had similar issues.
> 
> 	Check this out: Type 'root timing utils ?' and hit enter. You get:
> 
> --------------------------------
> Commands
> --------------------------------
> tfp data
> jam sync
> force jam
> phase on
> adjust time
> generator offset
> gain adjust
> filter constant
> low filter constant
> diff value
> d/a load
> leap second utc
> reference time
> cmp delay
> intrinsic help
> --------------------------------
> 
> 	Now, try this one: 'root timing utils d/a' and hit enter. Here's what I
> gor:
> 
> D/A value (0x0000 - 0xffff) now:0x178
> 
> 	Next, I tried: 'root timing utils d/a 0x180' and hit enter. Lo and
> behold, when I queried the value again, I got:
> 
> D/A value (0x0000 - 0xffff) now:0x180
> 
> 	So -- That's how to set the D/A constant in the beastie!
> 
> 	Now, with all this said: I'm still waiting for a 'Lock' indicator on
> the front. It's tracking, and the D/A value certainly has changed from
> what I had it at last night, but I'm still not getting a lock. Here are
> my current numbers:
> 
> root timing utils tfp 0 -- returned 0x00f2
> root timing utils tfp 6 -- returned KM = 0.9994965
> root timing utils tfp 7 -- returned KO = 0.9994965
> root timing utils gain -- returned gain now:20 (There seems to be a
> difference of opinion as to whether -20 or 20 should be used. At this
> point, I'm tempted to just set it to zero and see what happens).
> 
> root eng eeprom info -- returned 00000024
> 
> 	Any thoughts on why I don't have a lock as yet?
> 
> 	And -- I hope this helps out others. Thanks much!
> 
> 
> -- 
> ---
> Bruce Lane, ARS KC7GR
> http://www.bluefeathertech.com
> kyrrin (at) bluefeathertech dot com
> "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (Red Green)
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