Bert Very attractive price. They appear to be on a cut out circuit board.
How are you connecting to them please?
Regards
Paul.
WB8TSL

On Mon, Dec 7, 2020 at 9:14 AM ew via time-nuts time-nuts@lists.febo.com
wrote:

OK I was wondering how to handle that.
Thank you.
Regards
Paul.

On Mon, Dec 7, 2020 at 10:22 AM ew ewkehren@aol.com wrote:

Agree
But considering you mentioned it, thats very attractive. Considering a
couple just to play with.
Regards
Paul

On Mon, Dec 7, 2020 at 10:33 AM ew ewkehren@aol.com wrote:

Dear all,

If you go shopping for existing breakout boards:

The ebay listing is for the LEA-M8T. It is mechanically and electrically
different from the NEO-M8T.

BR,
Matthias

On Montag, 7. Dezember 2020 14:25:35 CET ew via time-nuts wrote:

Many thanks to all the timenuts for these interesting informations
concerning M8T and for all other good ideas.

My bad, I did not look careful enough to realize that in the ebay
offer mentioned is not a NEO M8T but a LEA and I did order 2 units
... Fortunately that is not expensive. (Thank you Matthias, I did not
know the difference before!).

No I do not want to build my own module, I do have another problem.
When I bought years ago a professional replacement board from a well
known US-company equipped with the LEA-M8T I got it delivered with the
1st firmware which is not yet capable to work correct with GALILEO
Satellites which I want to receive as well.

The next bad point is, here in Germany I cannot get the new firmware to
update the module (I had asked the representative for M8T). Sending it
back and forth to the US-Company (insured an then on top the customs
problem) is far out to be interesting ... so I falled into the trap with
this offer. I thought to exchange just the receiver on the boards ...
Perhaps somewhen I will find the correct new firmware to load onto the
old original NEO-M8T ...

In meantime I will continue working with my good old Thunderbolt.

Many thanks to everybody
and good and healthy Xmas Time
and good luck for all your projects!

Arnold, DK2WT

Am 10.12.2020 um 10:04 schrieb Matthias Welwarsky:

Arnold,

if you're looking for a Galileo capable firmware for the NEO-M8T:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/metrology/u-blox-m8t-firmware-fw-3-01-tim-1-10/
msg2528250/#msg2528250

BR,
Matthias

On Freitag, 11. Dezember 2020 23:08:38 CET Arnold Tibus wrote:

First we do not know how old the units are on ebay, second  you say your board has LEA and what does NEO have to do with it. If we find out that these units are old I am sure time nuts will find an answer and you will be able to update the units you bought.                                                                                                                                                                  Bert Kehren                                                                                                                                                                    In a message dated 12/11/2020 5:24:56 PM Eastern Standard Time, arnold.tibus@gmx.de writes: 
Many thanks to all the timenuts for these interesting informations
concerning M8T and for all other good ideas.

My bad, I did not look careful enough to realize that in the ebay
offer mentioned is not a NEO M8T but a LEA and I did order 2 units
... Fortunately that is not expensive. (Thank you Matthias, I did not
know the difference before!).

No I do not want to build my own module, I do have another problem.
When I bought years ago a professional replacement board from a well
known US-company equipped with the LEA-M8T I got it delivered with the
1st firmware which is not yet capable to work correct with GALILEO
Satellites which I want to receive as well.

The next bad point is, here in Germany I cannot get the new firmware to
update the module (I had asked the representative for M8T). Sending it
back and forth to the US-Company (insured an then on top the customs
problem) is far out to be interesting ... so I falled into the trap with
this offer. I thought to exchange just the receiver on the boards ...
Perhaps somewhen I will find the correct new firmware to load onto the
old original NEO-M8T ...

In meantime I will continue working with my good old Thunderbolt.

Many thanks to everybody
  and good and healthy Xmas Time
and good luck for all your projects!

Arnold, DK2WT

Am 10.12.2020 um 10:04 schrieb Matthias Welwarsky:

time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to http://lists.febo.com/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts_lists.febo.com
and follow the instructions there.

What is the difference between the LEA vs NEO variants other than mechanical, electrical specifications. Is one better for using as a GPSDO.

-=Bryan=-

From: time-nuts time-nuts-bounces@lists.febo.com on behalf of Arnold Tibus arnold.tibus@gmx.de
Sent: December 11, 2020 2:08 PM
To: time-nuts@lists.febo.com time-nuts@lists.febo.com
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Ublox 8T

Many thanks to all the timenuts for these interesting informations
concerning M8T and for all other good ideas.

My bad, I did not look careful enough to realize that in the ebay
offer mentioned is not a NEO M8T but a LEA and I did order 2 units
... Fortunately that is not expensive. (Thank you Matthias, I did not
know the difference before!).

No I do not want to build my own module, I do have another problem.
When I bought years ago a professional replacement board from a well
known US-company equipped with the LEA-M8T I got it delivered with the
1st firmware which is not yet capable to work correct with GALILEO
Satellites which I want to receive as well.

The next bad point is, here in Germany I cannot get the new firmware to
update the module (I had asked the representative for M8T). Sending it
back and forth to the US-Company (insured an then on top the customs
problem) is far out to be interesting ... so I falled into the trap with
this offer. I thought to exchange just the receiver on the boards ...
Perhaps somewhen I will find the correct new firmware to load onto the
old original NEO-M8T ...

In meantime I will continue working with my good old Thunderbolt.

Many thanks to everybody
and good and healthy Xmas Time
and good luck for all your projects!

Arnold, DK2WT

Am 10.12.2020 um 10:04 schrieb Matthias Welwarsky:

time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to http://lists.febo.com/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts_lists.febo.com
and follow the instructions there.

Sorry Bert, sorry for the confusion,
that is a typing error on my side, the replacement-board I have from the
US company is equipped with NEO-M8T !

Arnold, DK2WT

Am 12.12.2020 um 00:31 schrieb ew via time-nuts:

Hi

The LEA footprint is what uBlox sold as “T” variants in previous generations.
The NEO footprint is sorta kinda the “consumer” footprint. My guess is that
they decided to begin the process of moving everything over to a single
footprint. The LEA is there to drop into older designs. The NEO is what
you probably should use on new designs.

Spec wise (other than the footprint related stuff) there is no reason to prefer
the LEA over the NEO.

Bob

Thanks Bob, for what the seller is asking might be worth picking one up to play with.

-=Bryan=-

From: time-nuts time-nuts-bounces@lists.febo.com on behalf of Bob kb8tq kb8tq@n1k.org
Sent: December 11, 2020 5:08 PM
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement time-nuts@lists.febo.com
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Ublox 8T

Hi

The LEA footprint is what uBlox sold as “T” variants in previous generations.
The NEO footprint is sorta kinda the “consumer” footprint. My guess is that
they decided to begin the process of moving everything over to a single
footprint. The LEA is there to drop into older designs. The NEO is what
you probably should use on new designs.

Spec wise (other than the footprint related stuff) there is no reason to prefer
the LEA over the NEO.

Bob

time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to http://lists.febo.com/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts_lists.febo.com
and follow the instructions there.

On Samstag, 12. Dezember 2020 00:42:11 CET Bryan _ wrote:

The LEA module has a built-in antenna bias circuit, you get a simple antenna
supervisor with just two external components. Apart from that they're using
the same core chipset.

I've attached the schematic for the LEA-M8 breakout board I'm doing for my own
purposes, the PCB is mostly ready, I'm just touching it up a bit to make it
look more tidy.

I plan to have it assembled using JLCPCBs SMT service, if any of you want to
tug along, I'll provide the BOM and part placement file together with the
gerbers so that it can be easily ordered.

I have some constraints regarding the connectors and some mounting holes and
overall size, but there's some space on the PCB left for small additions
should any of you have sensible suggestions.

About the only task left is to find a suitable LDO in their catalog. JLC have
recently up'd MOQ for many of their parts and they're also charging for
attrition. The LDO I was using before suddently costs $5 in small quantities.
I'll have to find a replacement.

BR,
Matthias

May I suggest adding another SMA connector for the timepulse signal.
Perhaps route the timepulse trace to the SMA first then to the DIP
header.   This would allow you to cut the trace to the DIP header. This
might improve signal integrity.

Pete.

On 12/12/2020 3:49 AM, Matthias Welwarsky wrote:

Hi

If you are going to drive much with the timepulse output, you will need to
buffer it. This is true for just about any practical length of coax. It also applies
to other cables once they get past the “few inches” range.

Ideally the coax buffer would be something like 4 or so ‘125 buffers in parallel,
each with a 200 ohm resistor in series with their output. Is it going to put out
3.3V or 5V logic? ….

Lots of things to think about.

Bob

On Samstag, 12. Dezember 2020 14:40:11 CET Bob kb8tq wrote:

A HCT125 should have 3.3V logic compatible inputs and TTL outputs. There are
nice dual-instance buffers available, 74AHCT2G125 for example. But this is not
"breakout board" material any more.

Hi

The issue with coax becomes:

Do you want to drive a terminated line?

On a board built for a single application, you likely know the answer to that and can
design appropriately. On a general purpose board, you probably need to allow for
the “worst case” configuration ( = terminated). No, that’s not a recommendation that
one operate that way, only a recognition that a lot of people do operate that way.

Bob

Since the proposed board is not too dense you can provide the pads
for the SMA connector and driver circuitry and don't populate them
if you don't need that feature.   But this is the time-nuts group so I
think that a lot of people would be interested in the PPS output.
Why would you get a uBlox "T" device if not for the timing?

Pete.

On 12/12/2020 12:12 PM, Bob kb8tq wrote:

That's excellent, will you by chance be making the printed circuit board design public?

-=Bryan=-

From: time-nuts time-nuts-bounces@lists.febo.com on behalf of Matthias Welwarsky time-nuts@welwarsky.de
Sent: December 12, 2020 12:49 AM
To: time-nuts@lists.febo.com time-nuts@lists.febo.com
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Ublox 8T - breakout board

On Samstag, 12. Dezember 2020 00:42:11 CET Bryan _ wrote:

The LEA module has a built-in antenna bias circuit, you get a simple antenna
supervisor with just two external components. Apart from that they're using
the same core chipset.

I've attached the schematic for the LEA-M8 breakout board I'm doing for my own
purposes, the PCB is mostly ready, I'm just touching it up a bit to make it
look more tidy.

I plan to have it assembled using JLCPCBs SMT service, if any of you want to
tug along, I'll provide the BOM and part placement file together with the
gerbers so that it can be easily ordered.

I have some constraints regarding the connectors and some mounting holes and
overall size, but there's some space on the PCB left for small additions
should any of you have sensible suggestions.

About the only task left is to find a suitable LDO in their catalog. JLC have
recently up'd MOQ for many of their parts and they're also charging for
attrition. The LDO I was using before suddently costs $5 in small quantities.
I'll have to find a replacement.

BR,
Matthias

Time-nuts,

I've updated the repository on github with the latest design files. The
breakout board is now final as far as I'm concerned.

I managed to implement all the requested features, this includes the backup
battery and also the buffered PPS output with SMA footprint.

Next step on my side will be to order a small batch of PCBs. There's not much
on them and I guess I will end up with around 25€ for 5 boards fully
assembled, shipping not included.

I eventually removed the I2C pull-ups again, thanks to Patrick Tudor for the
hint. The footprints are still there, I only removed them from the BOM.

Schematic and a screenshot of the top and bottom sides attached.

BR,
Matthias

On Montag, 14. Dezember 2020 10:16:32 CET Matthias Welwarsky wrote:

May I suggest not populating the DIP header.   If it is put on top of
the board then that prevents it from being plugged into another
board, the SMA connectors get in the way.

If you want to use the board separately then the DIP can be put on
the top.   If you want to plug your board into another board then
you would put the DIP header on the bottom.

DIP headers are easy to solder in but hard to remove.   Let the
customer put it in as they may choose.

Pete.

On 12/15/2020 7:57 AM, Matthias Welwarsky wrote:

On Dienstag, 15. Dezember 2020 14:21:07 CET Peter Reilley wrote:

No worries, the assembly process, if done by JLCPCB, only involves SMT parts.

BR,
Matthias

On Dienstag, 15. Dezember 2020 13:57:48 CET Matthias Welwarsky wrote:

Common wisdom: nothing is ever "final". After some off-list discussion, I
changed the backup battery circuit to prevent inverse current into the battery
if it's really, really drained. I also added a small tantalum bulk capacitor
to the 5V rail and added a footprint (some tiny scratches in the solder mask,
actually) for a ESD protection diode for the antenna input.

Order to JLCPCB is out. I doubt I will get the boards before Christmas,
though. Github repository has been updated.

BR,
Matthias

Quick vote of confidence in case anyone's still considering buying any of
these (and in case there are any left - I haven't checked): I ordered two
on December 8th; they shipped with a tracking number on the 9th; and they
arrived in excellent condition on the 24th. Won't have a chance to play
with them for ages but they'll be useful. Thanks Bert!

On Tue, 8 Dec 2020 at 03:14, ew via time-nuts time-nuts@lists.febo.com
wrote:

I ordered some too for reduced offer price.  BTW the seller is a she not a
he in case you're interested.  QUEEN*S_LAND is definitely a girl.  I've
seen her picture before.  I'm interested in what you all come up with using
these.  I've bought a lot of stuff from her and she ships quickly.

Bill

On Wed, Dec 23, 2020, 8:18 PM Lloyd Blythen lblythen@gmail.com wrote:

Quick heads-up for everyone who might have ordered the breakout board based on
design files I uploaded to github before Dec. 28th.

As Peter Bell found out, the voltage divider that provides VDD_USB to the LEA
module is not adequate, the impedance is way too high and since the current
drawn by the VDD_USB pin is quite variable, there is little chance to
dimension it correctly. However, it might still be possible to salvage the
boards. I suggested, and Peter verified it, that replacing R7 with a red LED
(0603 footprint), oriented such that the cathode connects to VDD_USB, will
provide an adequate supply to the pin and might even double as an USB
indicator light.

I've updated the files on github on Dec. 28th and added a 3.3V LDO regulator
instead of the resistor divider. This is the solution recommended in the
hardware integration manual for the LEA-M8.

My own boards still haven't arrived.

BR,
Matthias

On Samstag, 26. Dezember 2020 10:06:11 CET Peter Bell wrote: