Brian, Have you measured the voltages with a scope to see if it may not be a compliance problem ? Bill....WB6BNQ "bjones0@mindspring.com" wrote: > Nic - I have tried several of each... and even tried using the breakout > box to create a crossover/null modem but no luck. > > Brooke - > Thanks for the insight. I will tear in to it this weekend and see what > I can find. > > Thanks. > > -Brian > > On Fri, 2009-02-20 at 15:33 +1100, Nic McLean wrote: > > Are you using a straight through or crossover serial cable? > > Nic > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: time-nuts-bounces@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces@febo.com] On > > Behalf Of Brooke Clarke > > Sent: Friday, 20 February 2009 2:35 PM > > To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement > > Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Thunderbolt serial port > > > > Hi Brian: > > > > There have been a small number of problems related to poor solder joints on > > U9 > > (RS-232 chip) or the serial connector. see: > > http://www.prc68.com/I/ThunderBolt.shtml#Maint > > > > Have Fun, > > > > Brooke Clarke > > http://www.prc68.com > > > > bjones0@mindspring.com wrote: > > > I'm tired of banging my head against the wall so I think it is time to > > > ask.. Is there a way to test if the serial port on the Thunderbolt > > > works? I know the Thunderbolt itself powers up and works (I get a > > > 9.9999978 Mhz signal out of the 10Mhz output when it is on) but I have > > > been unable to talk/listen to it in Windows (tboltmon or Lady Heather) > > > or in Linux (even looking at the raw serial port state). I stuck my > > > breakout box on the line but I get no lights on the Thunderbolt side. > > > > > > Thanks, > > > Brian > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > > > To unsubscribe, go to > > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > > > and follow the instructions there. > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > > To unsubscribe, go to > > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > > and follow the instructions there. > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > > To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > > and follow the instructions there. > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there.

I got around to tearing into the Thunderbolt this afternoon and after testing the serial port and traces in every way I could I found the problem... The power supply (which got with it in the TAPR buy) went south apparently. I got a 24v difference between pins 1 & 6 but when you checked them against the common the +12v line was @ +6v and the -12v line was -18v. The 5v line did not even register. I pulled a computer power supply and modified it slightly and once I was providing proper voltage it works like a champ. I never thought to suspect the power supply because when I added the plug it tested (voltages) okay and once I hooked up the Thunderbolt the first time it exhibited the same behavior (no serial and the 9.9999978 Mhz on the 10Mhz output). Is there anything wrong with running the Thunderbolt from a Computer PSU? Thanks for all the help! Brian And just passing some unrelated info along... While looking for some weather related info I ran across someone who was selling new Trimble active GPS antennas w/ a nice long cable (PN 40767-40) for $15 and now that my Thunderbolt works I was able to test it and it seems to work fine (even indoors!). If anyone want to contact him: Eric Wolf eric.n5ebw@gmail.com . Also he emailed me this after I told him it was working: "I wanted to pass along something that I have had in my inventory for about 6 months but cannot find the use for. It's an AVCOM Microwave Distribution Module that basically splits a 1575 MHz GPS signal, and amplifies it to 8 different antennas. The exact model is MDM-1575-8 and the description reads: "The MDM-1575-8 is an 8-way, amplified, 1575 MHz power divider. The INPUT port has +5VDC on connector and the 8 OUTPUT ports are DC Blocked." " > -----Original Message----- > From: time-nuts-bounces@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces@febo.com] On > Behalf Of Brooke Clarke > Sent: Friday, 20 February 2009 2:35 PM > To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement > Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Thunderbolt serial port > > Hi Brian: > > There have been a small number of problems related to poor solder joints on > U9 > (RS-232 chip) or the serial connector. see: > http://www.prc68.com/I/ThunderBolt.shtml#Maint > > Have Fun, > > Brooke Clarke > http://www.prc68.com > > bjones0@mindspring.com wrote: > > I'm tired of banging my head against the wall so I think it is time to > > ask.. Is there a way to test if the serial port on the Thunderbolt > > works? I know the Thunderbolt itself powers up and works (I get a > > 9.9999978 Mhz signal out of the 10Mhz output when it is on) but I have > > been unable to talk/listen to it in Windows (tboltmon or Lady Heather) > > or in Linux (even looking at the raw serial port state). I stuck my > > breakout box on the line but I get no lights on the Thunderbolt side. > > > > Thanks, > > Brian > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > > and follow the instructions there. > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > > > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there.