From: Ed Palmer ed_palmer@sasktel.net
Sent: May 14, 2009 8:49 PM
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement time-nuts@febo.com
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Help ID 5 MHz Distribution Box

Pinout is as follows - I think - remember that this is a work in
progress
1 - no connection
2 - alarm output - High = alarm, low = normal  (TTL)
3 - probably 'reference fail' - High = fail, low = normal (TTL)
4 - EFC okay - High if  4V8 < EFC < 7V5 else low (TTL)
5 - no connection
6 - buffered EFC voltage for oscillator
7 - no connection
8 - +10V reference output from oscillator - doesn't seem to be used for
anything
9 - +5V supply (input)
10 - External EFC input - only used when reference fails
11 - ground
12 -    "
13 -    "
14 - +24V supply (input) for oscillator
15 - +15V supply (input)
You talked about BNC.  Did you mean TNC?  My unit has TNC and SMA
connectors.  The SMA connectors are all outputs from the oscillator.
J3 (TNC) is the input from an external 5 MHz reference.  J4 (TNC) is
another output from the oscillator.  Approximate output levels are as
follows:
J2 - +7 dbm
J4 - 0 dbm
J5 - 0 dbm
J6 - +7 dbm
The purpose of the box is to discipline the internal oscillator to an
external reference and then distribute the oscillator's signal to four
outputs.  The level of the external reference can vary over an unknown
range because there's an internal AGC circuit.  I haven't figured out
the parameters of the low pass filter used on the output of the phase
detector.  Just for laughs I took the 10 MHz output of a Navsync CW-12
GPS board, divided it by 2, and fed it into the reference input.  The
result wasn't pretty.  Obviously, the circuit wants a smoother source.
On mine, the oscillator was defective.  I had to hack into it to fix a
broken wire on the output transformer.  I started a message thread a
few months back about how to hack into an oscillator - check the
archive if you need to.
Remember Engineering Rule #1 - Tune for minimum smoke!
Ed
Richard W. Solomon wrote:

Was it that good a deal ?? I'll share my secret, I use Gixen to snipe
on e-Pay. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

Do you know the connections for the DB-15 connector ? Then I can do the
smoke test !!
Also what are the BNC and SMA connectors for ? Basically, I know nothing
but would appreciate any help. I will likewise share my findings.

73, Dick, W1KSZ

-----Original Message-----

From: Ed Palmer [1]ed_palmer@sasktel.net
Sent: May 14, 2009 1:10 PM
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement [2]time-nuts@febo.com
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Help ID 5 MHz Distribution Box

Since you beat me by THREE SECONDS I shouldn't help you, but I have
one of these boxes and have partially figured it out.  What do you want
to know?

Ed

Richard W. Solomon wrote:

I picked up a box from "over there" that says ..."5 MH REF DISTRIB"... ,
which I assume stands for 5 MHz Reference Distribution. It was made
by Satellite Transmission Systems of Hauppagge, NY. 2 BNC connectors
on one end, 3 SMA's a Red LED Alarm light and a DB-15 connector.

A real long shot, I know, but on the off-chance, does anyone know
anything about this ? Anyone know if the company still exists ?

Thanks, Dick, W1KSZ

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So, the output levels looked good?  Then you were luckier than me.
I think I tried a fast and dirty divider off of a 10 MHz signal and it
worked very nicely.  I wasn't trying for 'time-nuts' quality, just
confirming basic functionality.  I used a 'scope in X-Y mode to view
both signals.  It's nice to see a Lissajous figure that doesn't make
you dizzy. :-)
Do you have a mixer kicking around?  Mix a 10 MHz and 15 MHz signal and
dump the results into the ref input.  I don't know if the output will
be at a high enough level, but it can't hurt!
Ed
Richard W. Solomon wrote:

After numerous diversions, I got back to the box and got it working.
Just as an experiment I stuck 10 MHz in the Reference Input, nada.

So, I need to find a divider to get 5 MHz. I got lots of 10 MHz signals,
even a 15 MHz but no 5 MHz. I really don't want another project just to
build a divider. I'll look around.

As she stands, it is pretty stable. But it would be nice to lock it to
a GPDSO.

Thanks again for the help,

73, Dick, W1KSZ

-----Original Message-----

From: Ed Palmer [1]ed_palmer@sasktel.net
Sent: May 14, 2009 8:49 PM
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement [2]time-nuts@febo.com
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Help ID 5 MHz Distribution Box

Pinout is as follows - I think - remember that this is a work in
progress
1 - no connection
2 - alarm output - High = alarm, low = normal  (TTL)
3 - probably 'reference fail' - High = fail, low = normal (TTL)
4 - EFC okay - High if  4V8 < EFC < 7V5 else low (TTL)
5 - no connection
6 - buffered EFC voltage for oscillator
7 - no connection
8 - +10V reference output from oscillator - doesn't seem to be used for
anything
9 - +5V supply (input)
10 - External EFC input - only used when reference fails
11 - ground
12 -    "
13 -    "
14 - +24V supply (input) for oscillator
15 - +15V supply (input)
You talked about BNC.  Did you mean TNC?  My unit has TNC and SMA
connectors.  The SMA connectors are all outputs from the oscillator.
J3 (TNC) is the input from an external 5 MHz reference.  J4 (TNC) is
another output from the oscillator.  Approximate output levels are as
follows:
J2 - +7 dbm
J4 - 0 dbm
J5 - 0 dbm
J6 - +7 dbm
The purpose of the box is to discipline the internal oscillator to an
external reference and then distribute the oscillator's signal to four
outputs.  The level of the external reference can vary over an unknown
range because there's an internal AGC circuit.  I haven't figured out
the parameters of the low pass filter used on the output of the phase
detector.  Just for laughs I took the 10 MHz output of a Navsync CW-12
GPS board, divided it by 2, and fed it into the reference input.  The
result wasn't pretty.  Obviously, the circuit wants a smoother source.
On mine, the oscillator was defective.  I had to hack into it to fix a
broken wire on the output transformer.  I started a message thread a
few months back about how to hack into an oscillator - check the
archive if you need to.
Remember Engineering Rule #1 - Tune for minimum smoke!
Ed
Richard W. Solomon wrote:

Was it that good a deal ?? I'll share my secret, I use Gixen to snipe
on e-Pay. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

Do you know the connections for the DB-15 connector ? Then I can do the
smoke test !!
Also what are the BNC and SMA connectors for ? Basically, I know nothing
but would appreciate any help. I will likewise share my findings.

73, Dick, W1KSZ

-----Original Message-----

From: Ed Palmer [1][3]ed_palmer@sasktel.net
Sent: May 14, 2009 1:10 PM
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement [2][4]<time-nuts@febo.c
om>
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Help ID 5 MHz Distribution Box

Since you beat me by THREE SECONDS I shouldn't help you, but I have
one of these boxes and have partially figured it out.  What do you want
to know?

Ed

Richard W. Solomon wrote:

I picked up a box from "over there" that says ..."5 MH REF DISTRIB"... ,
which I assume stands for 5 MHz Reference Distribution. It was made
by Satellite Transmission Systems of Hauppagge, NY. 2 BNC connectors
on one end, 3 SMA's a Red LED Alarm light and a DB-15 connector.

A real long shot, I know, but on the off-chance, does anyone know
anything about this ? Anyone know if the company still exists ?

Thanks, Dick, W1KSZ