What's a good entry-level time reference system? 
 

John, What do you do with the time interval function? I have an Advantest (actually Takeda Riken) TR 5823H counter that has time interval functionality with 0.1nS resolution. How can I use that to sync an HP 10811-60102 VOCXO to a Jupiter GPS receiver? The TakedaRiken manual is pretty useless, but it seems to say the minimum time interval that can be measured is 50nS, even though it has 0.1nS resolution. It does not have GPIB. This model had a D/A output option, but my unit does not have it. Thanks Didier KO4BB John Ackermann N8UR wrote: > Keith E. Brandt, M.D. said the following on 05/24/2006 06:06 PM: > >> What's a good entry-level time reference system? >> > > Interesting question! > > Assuming you mainly want to have a test-bed for learning and > experimentation, I'd say you want three things: 1) a local frequency > standard, 2) a frequency/time interval counter, and 3) a GPS or other > radio reference. > ... > Hope this helps. > > 73, > John >

I use time interval to compare frequency offset and stability by feeding the unknown signal into the start input, and the reference into the stop input. The actual time interval doesn't matter, but by tracking the delta in time interval you can determine offset and drift. Typically, you use 1pps to do this, but there are ways to use higher frequencies, though they run into problems with cycle slip if the two sources aren't very close to each other. John ---- Didier Juges said the following on 05/27/2006 12:23 PM: > John, > > What do you do with the time interval function? > > I have an Advantest (actually Takeda Riken) TR 5823H counter that has > time interval functionality with 0.1nS resolution. How can I use that to > sync an HP 10811-60102 VOCXO to a Jupiter GPS receiver? > > The TakedaRiken manual is pretty useless, but it seems to say the > minimum time interval that can be measured is 50nS, even though it has > 0.1nS resolution. It does not have GPIB. This model had a D/A output > option, but my unit does not have it. > > Thanks > > Didier KO4BB > > John Ackermann N8UR wrote: > >>Keith E. Brandt, M.D. said the following on 05/24/2006 06:06 PM: >> >> >>> What's a good entry-level time reference system? >>> >> >>Interesting question! >> >>Assuming you mainly want to have a test-bed for learning and >>experimentation, I'd say you want three things: 1) a local frequency >>standard, 2) a frequency/time interval counter, and 3) a GPS or other >>radio reference. >>... >>Hope this helps. >> >>73, >>John >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list > time-nuts@febo.com > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > >

Thanks John, That makes sense. I tried feeding the 10 MHz of two HP synthesizers and got useless results. Now I see why. I understand that using the 1 pps output makes more sense. If my counter had the a/d output, I would be very close to having all I need to synchronize the VCXO to GPS... Didier KO4BB John Ackermann N8UR wrote: > I use time interval to compare frequency offset and stability by feeding > the unknown signal into the start input, and the reference into the stop > input. The actual time interval doesn't matter, but by tracking the > delta in time interval you can determine offset and drift. Typically, > you use 1pps to do this, but there are ways to use higher frequencies, > though they run into problems with cycle slip if the two sources aren't > very close to each other. > > John > ---- >