Empathy List Archives

DJ

Didier Juges

Tue, Apr 3, 2012 1:14 AM

I have a Symetricom 58532A which I bought on eBay for $50 with shipping.
That is probably the best antenna you can get, and it won't break the bank.
I also have a Trimble Bullet, the antenna that was designed to go with the
Tunderbolt. It is a very good antenna also, but harder to find, and it has
lower gain than the 58532A, so at my location (under the roof in Florida),
at the end of 50 feet of good quality 75 ohm coax, the Symetricom unit
works better.
I also have several pucks, including very inexpensive Chinese-made ones and
a very nice Trimble mag-mount puck that is the best of all the pucks I have
(in terms of performance and also mechanical design) and which I got for
$15 on eBay also. They all work, but the Trimble puck is the one I take if
I need to go mobile.
Most the pucks I have receive better than the Trimble Bullet. They are
probably not as good as far as multipath rejection for low angle signals,
but they are more sensitive and I see more satellites with them.

Didier KO4BB

On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 4:39 PM, Bill Riches bill.riches@verizon.net wrote:

Hi guys,

I have asked this question several times over the past few weeks and get no
answer. Have I been ostracized??!!

Question is that I am looking for suggestions for GPS antenna for t-bolt.
The antenna that I am using now is a no name and I not know where it came
from! Wonder if a Garman GA-30 will work?

73,

Bill, WA2DVU
Cape May, NJ

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 have a Symetricom 58532A which I bought on eBay for $50 with shipping. That is probably the best antenna you can get, and it won't break the bank. I also have a Trimble Bullet, the antenna that was designed to go with the Tunderbolt. It is a very good antenna also, but harder to find, and it has lower gain than the 58532A, so at my location (under the roof in Florida), at the end of 50 feet of good quality 75 ohm coax, the Symetricom unit works better. I also have several pucks, including very inexpensive Chinese-made ones and a very nice Trimble mag-mount puck that is the best of all the pucks I have (in terms of performance and also mechanical design) and which I got for $15 on eBay also. They all work, but the Trimble puck is the one I take if I need to go mobile. Most the pucks I have receive better than the Trimble Bullet. They are probably not as good as far as multipath rejection for low angle signals, but they are more sensitive and I see more satellites with them. Didier KO4BB On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 4:39 PM, Bill Riches <bill.riches@verizon.net> wrote: > Hi guys, > > I have asked this question several times over the past few weeks and get no > answer. Have I been ostracized??!! > > Question is that I am looking for suggestions for GPS antenna for t-bolt. > The antenna that I am using now is a no name and I not know where it came > from! Wonder if a Garman GA-30 will work? > > 73, > > Bill, WA2DVU > Cape May, NJ > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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. >

CH

Chuck Harris

Tue, Apr 3, 2012 4:11 AM

Hi Didier,

I have one of the Trimble Bullet antennas, that was supposed to be from
a working system, but it is deaf as a post... really dead. Given that
it is supposed to be more than 30db gain, it should do better than any
of the hockey puck antennas.

I wonder if there is a common failure mode in that antenna?

-Chuck Harris

Didier Juges wrote:

I have a Symetricom 58532A which I bought on eBay for $50 with shipping.
That is probably the best antenna you can get, and it won't break the bank.
I also have a Trimble Bullet, the antenna that was designed to go with the
Tunderbolt. It is a very good antenna also, but harder to find, and it has
lower gain than the 58532A, so at my location (under the roof in Florida),
at the end of 50 feet of good quality 75 ohm coax, the Symetricom unit
works better.
I also have several pucks, including very inexpensive Chinese-made ones and
a very nice Trimble mag-mount puck that is the best of all the pucks I have
(in terms of performance and also mechanical design) and which I got for
$15 on eBay also. They all work, but the Trimble puck is the one I take if
I need to go mobile.
Most the pucks I have receive better than the Trimble Bullet. They are
probably not as good as far as multipath rejection for low angle signals,
but they are more sensitive and I see more satellites with them.

Didier KO4BB

On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 4:39 PM, Bill Richesbill.riches@verizon.net wrote:

Hi guys,

I have asked this question several times over the past few weeks and get no
answer. Have I been ostracized??!!

Question is that I am looking for suggestions for GPS antenna for t-bolt.
The antenna that I am using now is a no name and I not know where it came
from! Wonder if a Garman GA-30 will work?

73,

Bill, WA2DVU
Cape May, NJ

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.

Hi Didier, I have one of the Trimble Bullet antennas, that was supposed to be from a working system, but it is deaf as a post... really dead. Given that it is supposed to be more than 30db gain, it should do better than any of the hockey puck antennas. I wonder if there is a common failure mode in that antenna? -Chuck Harris Didier Juges wrote: > I have a Symetricom 58532A which I bought on eBay for $50 with shipping. > That is probably the best antenna you can get, and it won't break the bank. > I also have a Trimble Bullet, the antenna that was designed to go with the > Tunderbolt. It is a very good antenna also, but harder to find, and it has > lower gain than the 58532A, so at my location (under the roof in Florida), > at the end of 50 feet of good quality 75 ohm coax, the Symetricom unit > works better. > I also have several pucks, including very inexpensive Chinese-made ones and > a very nice Trimble mag-mount puck that is the best of all the pucks I have > (in terms of performance and also mechanical design) and which I got for > $15 on eBay also. They all work, but the Trimble puck is the one I take if > I need to go mobile. > Most the pucks I have receive better than the Trimble Bullet. They are > probably not as good as far as multipath rejection for low angle signals, > but they are more sensitive and I see more satellites with them. > > Didier KO4BB > > On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 4:39 PM, Bill Riches<bill.riches@verizon.net> wrote: > >> Hi guys, >> >> I have asked this question several times over the past few weeks and get no >> answer. Have I been ostracized??!! >> >> Question is that I am looking for suggestions for GPS antenna for t-bolt. >> The antenna that I am using now is a no name and I not know where it came >> from! Wonder if a Garman GA-30 will work? >> >> 73, >> >> Bill, WA2DVU >> Cape May, NJ >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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. >

CF

Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX N2469R

Tue, Apr 3, 2012 4:18 AM

I got a mushroom shaped antenna along with my Thunderbolt.
It came with some rg58 terminated in an F connector.
I don't know if it is a timing reference antenna or just a plain
GPS antenna.

Presumably a timing antenna would block low elevation signals
to reduce multipath.

On 04/02/2012 09:11 PM, Chuck Harris wrote:

Hi Didier,

I have one of the Trimble Bullet antennas, that was supposed to be from
a working system, but it is deaf as a post... really dead. Given that
it is supposed to be more than 30db gain, it should do better than any
of the hockey puck antennas.

I wonder if there is a common failure mode in that antenna?

-Chuck Harris

Didier Juges wrote:

I have a Symetricom 58532A which I bought on eBay for $50 with shipping.
That is probably the best antenna you can get, and it won't break the
bank.
I also have a Trimble Bullet, the antenna that was designed to go
with the
Tunderbolt. It is a very good antenna also, but harder to find, and
it has
lower gain than the 58532A, so at my location (under the roof in
Florida),
at the end of 50 feet of good quality 75 ohm coax, the Symetricom unit
works better.
I also have several pucks, including very inexpensive Chinese-made
ones and
a very nice Trimble mag-mount puck that is the best of all the pucks
I have
(in terms of performance and also mechanical design) and which I got for
$15 on eBay also. They all work, but the Trimble puck is the one I
take if
I need to go mobile.
Most the pucks I have receive better than the Trimble Bullet. They are
probably not as good as far as multipath rejection for low angle
signals,
but they are more sensitive and I see more satellites with them.

Didier KO4BB

On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 4:39 PM, Bill Richesbill.riches@verizon.net
wrote:

Hi guys,

I have asked this question several times over the past few weeks and
get no
answer. Have I been ostracized??!!

Question is that I am looking for suggestions for GPS antenna for
t-bolt.
The antenna that I am using now is a no name and I not know where it
came
from! Wonder if a Garman GA-30 will work?

73,

Bill, WA2DVU
Cape May, NJ

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.

--
Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX N2469R caf@omen.com www.omen.com
Developer of Industrial ZMODEM(Tm) for Embedded Applications
Omen Technology Inc "The High Reliability Software"
10255 NW Old Cornelius Pass Portland OR 97231 503-614-0430

I got a mushroom shaped antenna along with my Thunderbolt. It came with some rg58 terminated in an F connector. I don't know if it is a timing reference antenna or just a plain GPS antenna. Presumably a timing antenna would block low elevation signals to reduce multipath. On 04/02/2012 09:11 PM, Chuck Harris wrote: > Hi Didier, > > I have one of the Trimble Bullet antennas, that was supposed to be from > a working system, but it is deaf as a post... really dead. Given that > it is supposed to be more than 30db gain, it should do better than any > of the hockey puck antennas. > > I wonder if there is a common failure mode in that antenna? > > -Chuck Harris > > Didier Juges wrote: >> I have a Symetricom 58532A which I bought on eBay for $50 with shipping. >> That is probably the best antenna you can get, and it won't break the >> bank. >> I also have a Trimble Bullet, the antenna that was designed to go >> with the >> Tunderbolt. It is a very good antenna also, but harder to find, and >> it has >> lower gain than the 58532A, so at my location (under the roof in >> Florida), >> at the end of 50 feet of good quality 75 ohm coax, the Symetricom unit >> works better. >> I also have several pucks, including very inexpensive Chinese-made >> ones and >> a very nice Trimble mag-mount puck that is the best of all the pucks >> I have >> (in terms of performance and also mechanical design) and which I got for >> $15 on eBay also. They all work, but the Trimble puck is the one I >> take if >> I need to go mobile. >> Most the pucks I have receive better than the Trimble Bullet. They are >> probably not as good as far as multipath rejection for low angle >> signals, >> but they are more sensitive and I see more satellites with them. >> >> Didier KO4BB >> >> On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 4:39 PM, Bill Riches<bill.riches@verizon.net> >> wrote: >> >>> Hi guys, >>> >>> I have asked this question several times over the past few weeks and >>> get no >>> answer. Have I been ostracized??!! >>> >>> Question is that I am looking for suggestions for GPS antenna for >>> t-bolt. >>> The antenna that I am using now is a no name and I not know where it >>> came >>> from! Wonder if a Garman GA-30 will work? >>> >>> 73, >>> >>> Bill, WA2DVU >>> Cape May, NJ >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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. > -- Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX N2469R caf@omen.com www.omen.com Developer of Industrial ZMODEM(Tm) for Embedded Applications Omen Technology Inc "The High Reliability Software" 10255 NW Old Cornelius Pass Portland OR 97231 503-614-0430

CH

Chuck Harris

Tue, Apr 3, 2012 5:15 AM

Here is a picture of the guts of the antenna that was made for
the Thunderbolt. They don't appear to have gone to much effort
to have a high horizon.

-Chuck Harris

Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX N2469R wrote:

I got a mushroom shaped antenna along with my Thunderbolt.
It came with some rg58 terminated in an F connector.
I don't know if it is a timing reference antenna or just a plain
GPS antenna.

Presumably a timing antenna would block low elevation signals
to reduce multipath.

Here is a picture of the guts of the antenna that was made for the Thunderbolt. They don't appear to have gone to much effort to have a high horizon. -Chuck Harris Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX N2469R wrote: > I got a mushroom shaped antenna along with my Thunderbolt. > It came with some rg58 terminated in an F connector. > I don't know if it is a timing reference antenna or just a plain > GPS antenna. > > Presumably a timing antenna would block low elevation signals > to reduce multipath. >

B

bg@lysator.liu.se

Tue, Apr 3, 2012 8:03 AM

Chuck,

I got a mushroom shaped antenna along with my Thunderbolt.
It came with some rg58 terminated in an F connector.
I don't know if it is a timing reference antenna or just a plain
GPS antenna.

Presumably a timing antenna would block low elevation signals
to reduce multipath.

One specific thing that separate timing antennas it that they usually have
decent filtering to reject out of band interference, which is likely to be
a problem close to emitters at a cell-site.

--

 Björn

Chuck, > I got a mushroom shaped antenna along with my Thunderbolt. > It came with some rg58 terminated in an F connector. > I don't know if it is a timing reference antenna or just a plain > GPS antenna. > > Presumably a timing antenna would block low elevation signals > to reduce multipath. One specific thing that separate timing antennas it that they usually have decent filtering to reject out of band interference, which is likely to be a problem close to emitters at a cell-site. -- Björn

S

shalimr9@gmail.com

Tue, Apr 3, 2012 7:15 PM

Hi Chuck,

Mine is not dead, just hard of hearing...
Once I realized that, I set it aside and I have not used it in years.

I got it with a red box Thunderbolt I bought from a lit member a long time ago. It has some obvious signs of experience being outside. It is possible that moisture got inside. Maybe I should try to take it apart? Not sure how to open it without breaking the radome. Did you get yours open?

On the other hand, the Symetricom 58532A I got on eBay for $50 was brand new, in original box with original paperwork. It seems like those on eBay now are not new or a lot more expensive.

Didier KO4BB

Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless thingy while I do other things...

-----Original Message-----
From: Chuck Harris cfharris@erols.com
Sender: time-nuts-bounces@febo.com
Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:11:31
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurementtime-nuts@febo.com
Reply-To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
time-nuts@febo.com
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Antenna for t-bolt

Hi Didier,

I have one of the Trimble Bullet antennas, that was supposed to be from
a working system, but it is deaf as a post... really dead. Given that
it is supposed to be more than 30db gain, it should do better than any
of the hockey puck antennas.

I wonder if there is a common failure mode in that antenna?

-Chuck Harris

Didier Juges wrote:

I have a Symetricom 58532A which I bought on eBay for $50 with shipping.
That is probably the best antenna you can get, and it won't break the bank.
I also have a Trimble Bullet, the antenna that was designed to go with the
Tunderbolt. It is a very good antenna also, but harder to find, and it has
lower gain than the 58532A, so at my location (under the roof in Florida),
at the end of 50 feet of good quality 75 ohm coax, the Symetricom unit
works better.
I also have several pucks, including very inexpensive Chinese-made ones and
a very nice Trimble mag-mount puck that is the best of all the pucks I have
(in terms of performance and also mechanical design) and which I got for
$15 on eBay also. They all work, but the Trimble puck is the one I take if
I need to go mobile.
Most the pucks I have receive better than the Trimble Bullet. They are
probably not as good as far as multipath rejection for low angle signals,
but they are more sensitive and I see more satellites with them.

Didier KO4BB

On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 4:39 PM, Bill Richesbill.riches@verizon.net wrote:

Hi guys,

I have asked this question several times over the past few weeks and get no
answer. Have I been ostracized??!!

Question is that I am looking for suggestions for GPS antenna for t-bolt.
The antenna that I am using now is a no name and I not know where it came
from! Wonder if a Garman GA-30 will work?

73,

Bill, WA2DVU
Cape May, NJ

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.

Hi Chuck, Mine is not dead, just hard of hearing... Once I realized that, I set it aside and I have not used it in years. I got it with a red box Thunderbolt I bought from a lit member a long time ago. It has some obvious signs of experience being outside. It is possible that moisture got inside. Maybe I should try to take it apart? Not sure how to open it without breaking the radome. Did you get yours open? On the other hand, the Symetricom 58532A I got on eBay for $50 was brand new, in original box with original paperwork. It seems like those on eBay now are not new or a lot more expensive. Didier KO4BB Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless thingy while I do other things... -----Original Message----- From: Chuck Harris <cfharris@erols.com> Sender: time-nuts-bounces@febo.com Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:11:31 To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement<time-nuts@febo.com> Reply-To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement <time-nuts@febo.com> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Antenna for t-bolt Hi Didier, I have one of the Trimble Bullet antennas, that was supposed to be from a working system, but it is deaf as a post... really dead. Given that it is supposed to be more than 30db gain, it should do better than any of the hockey puck antennas. I wonder if there is a common failure mode in that antenna? -Chuck Harris Didier Juges wrote: > I have a Symetricom 58532A which I bought on eBay for $50 with shipping. > That is probably the best antenna you can get, and it won't break the bank. > I also have a Trimble Bullet, the antenna that was designed to go with the > Tunderbolt. It is a very good antenna also, but harder to find, and it has > lower gain than the 58532A, so at my location (under the roof in Florida), > at the end of 50 feet of good quality 75 ohm coax, the Symetricom unit > works better. > I also have several pucks, including very inexpensive Chinese-made ones and > a very nice Trimble mag-mount puck that is the best of all the pucks I have > (in terms of performance and also mechanical design) and which I got for > $15 on eBay also. They all work, but the Trimble puck is the one I take if > I need to go mobile. > Most the pucks I have receive better than the Trimble Bullet. They are > probably not as good as far as multipath rejection for low angle signals, > but they are more sensitive and I see more satellites with them. > > Didier KO4BB > > On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 4:39 PM, Bill Riches<bill.riches@verizon.net> wrote: > >> Hi guys, >> >> I have asked this question several times over the past few weeks and get no >> answer. Have I been ostracized??!! >> >> Question is that I am looking for suggestions for GPS antenna for t-bolt. >> The antenna that I am using now is a no name and I not know where it came >> from! Wonder if a Garman GA-30 will work? >> >> 73, >> >> Bill, WA2DVU >> Cape May, NJ >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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.

HM

Hal Murray

Tue, Apr 3, 2012 8:28 PM

shalimr9@gmail.com said:

I got it with a red box Thunderbolt I bought from a lit member a long time
ago. It has some obvious signs of experience being outside. It is possible
that moisture got inside. Maybe I should try to take it apart? Not sure how
to open it without breaking the radome. Did you get yours open?

I'm not sure what sort of antenna you are talking about. I got one open the
easy way. I just removed the screws and pulled the top off. There was an
o-ring that made a very good fit.
http://www.megapathdsl.net/~hmurray/time-nuts/Lucent-Antenna.jpg

It took me two tries. The first time I didn't pull hard enough, but then
somebody reported that theirs came apart without any dynamite so I tried
again and it worked.

That was all part of an antenna discussion back in Aug 2009
http://www.mail-archive.com/time-nuts@febo.com/msg21726.html

--
These are my opinions, not necessarily my employer's. I hate spam.

shalimr9@gmail.com said: > I got it with a red box Thunderbolt I bought from a lit member a long time > ago. It has some obvious signs of experience being outside. It is possible > that moisture got inside. Maybe I should try to take it apart? Not sure how > to open it without breaking the radome. Did you get yours open? I'm not sure what sort of antenna you are talking about. I got one open the easy way. I just removed the screws and pulled the top off. There was an o-ring that made a very good fit. http://www.megapathdsl.net/~hmurray/time-nuts/Lucent-Antenna.jpg It took me two tries. The first time I didn't pull hard enough, but then somebody reported that theirs came apart without any dynamite so I tried again and it worked. That was all part of an antenna discussion back in Aug 2009 http://www.mail-archive.com/time-nuts@febo.com/msg21726.html -- These are my opinions, not necessarily my employer's. I hate spam.

time-nuts@lists.febo.com

Re: [time-nuts] Antenna for t-bolt