Author Topic: Jim Williams pulse generator is still strategic military or dual-use technology  (Read 11533 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Leo BodnarTopic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 801
  • Country: gb
I have decided to check (on unrelated subject) and this is what I have found...
Executive summary:
Jim Williams avalanche pulser is still classified as nukular military or dual-use technology and cannot be legally exported from UK without export licence.

https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/export-controls
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/626629/controllist20170713.pdf

"[N]"   designation means that the restriction has originated from Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) dual-use list, probably in 1970's.

Quote
UK Strategic Export Control Lists
The consolidated list of strategic military and dual-use items that require export authorisation.
JULY 2017

3A002   General purpose "electronic assemblies", modules and equipment, as follows:
...
3A230   High-speed pulse generators, and 'pulse heads' therefor, having both of the following    characteristics:
[N5B6]   a. Output voltage greater than 6 V into a resistive load of less than 55 Ohms,
      and
      b. 'Pulse transition time' less than 500 ps.

Technical Notes:
      1. In 3A230, 'pulse transition time' is defined as the time interval between 10% and 90% voltage amplitude.
      2. 'Pulse heads' are impulse forming networks designed to accept a voltage step function and shape it into a variety of pulse forms that can include rectangular, triangular, step, impulse, exponential, or monocycle types. 'Pulse heads' can be an integral part of the pulse generator, they can be a plug-in module to the device or they can be an externally connected device.

Stay legal, stay safe!
Leo
« Last Edit: October 21, 2017, 02:24:32 pm by Leo Bodnar »
 

Offline Leo BodnarTopic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 801
  • Country: gb
It does look like this is internationally accepted restriction.

USA have the same entry in Commerce Control List, Supplement No. 1 to Part 774, Category 3 on page 24.

Is this restricted for export to certain countries or anywhere?

Leo
« Last Edit: October 21, 2017, 02:44:57 pm by Leo Bodnar »
 

Offline HighVoltage

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 5453
  • Country: de
So, if I understand this right, your new fast pulse generator is allowed to be exported because it is lower than 6V in the output level?
There are 3 kinds of people in this world, those who can count and those who can not.
 

Offline Leo BodnarTopic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 801
  • Country: gb
So, if I understand this right, your new fast pulse generator is allowed to be exported because it is lower than 6V in the output level?
I wasn't specifically concerned about my pulser because it is 1V max into 50R but I wanted to know where the line in the sand is...

Story time:
10 years ago I have worked with a guy who found, read [and misunderstood] the UK export regulations list and decided that sub-heading "3A002 General purpose "electronic assemblies", modules and equipment..." means that any electronics requires export licence.  He was very law abiding guy and decided that we are engaging in criminal activity by literally selling USB joystick controllers to France and that "all of eBay will sooner or later be in jail." Nothing could reason with him.  I suggested him to ring export control group at department for international trade and get us a licence.  So he rang them and asked to get an export licence for a USB joystick game controller.  Obviously they had no idea what he was on about and told our guy [probably collectively folding in half] that he needs to present his case to a panel of experts but attack weapons specialist is booked for the next 3 weeks.  He got off the phone and demanded that we shut down our website for 3 week until we get the export licence.  You can probably guess what I said.  Next day he rang and said that he is leaving the company because he is not a criminal and that was the end of our partnership.

Leo
« Last Edit: October 21, 2017, 03:17:05 pm by Leo Bodnar »
 

Offline Jay_Diddy_B

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 2731
  • Country: ca
Leo,

You will know if it is illegal if you get an inquiry from 'Little_Rocket_Man'.  >:D

Jay_Diddy_B
 

Offline Leo BodnarTopic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 801
  • Country: gb
You will know if it is illegal if you get an inquiry from 'Little_Rocket_Man'.  >:D
:D In 2014 I have launched a small amateur radio balloon that  on its second circumnavigation leg flew through North Korean airspace at 14km altitude.  It was a bit tense but nothing happened.
Leo
 

Offline HighVoltage

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 5453
  • Country: de
About 1 year ago I tried to import a old Fluke 731B DC reference standard from the USA to Germany and the seller referenced the US export law and would not send me the 731B.

So, some people take the law it little too far.



 
There are 3 kinds of people in this world, those who can count and those who can not.
 

Offline Jay_Diddy_B

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 2731
  • Country: ca
Hi,

Sometimes this happens through association. If you have a hammer that is used to break open a packing crate containing an XYZ restricted system the hammer becomes a key component in the XYZ system and adopts the restrictions of that system.

You get screwdrivers becoming F14 spares etc.

The other scenario is that the government liquidates obsolete material through an auction. They lump everything together and place export restrictions on everything. This is to prevent mistakes. If they break the terms of the export restrictions and get caught it is a disaster. There are fines, they may be banned from future transacations....

So you get the situation, like you describe, where a harmless piece of equipment can not be exported. It makes no sense, but when did governments ever make sense  :-//

Jay_Diddy_B
 

Offline tggzzz

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 19281
  • Country: gb
  • Numbers, not adjectives
    • Having fun doing more, with less
I once had to go through the "export and import munitions" paperwork for a glorified DDS.

The glorification was that it could be programmed to generate an arbitrary waveform; reputedly it could establish communications with some fighter aircraft :)
There are lies, damned lies, statistics - and ADC/DAC specs.
Glider pilot's aphorism: "there is no substitute for span". Retort: "There is a substitute: skill+imagination. But you can buy span".
Having fun doing more, with less
 

Online David Hess

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 16546
  • Country: us
  • DavidH
The statute is less important than an interpretation which cannot be challenged.

One case I know of involved someone trying to import Tektronix tunnel diodes from Italy to the US from and for equipment that was 40+ years old.  They had to give up.
 

Offline Gyro

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 9410
  • Country: gb
Executive summary:
Jim Williams avalanche pulser is still classified as nukular military or dual-use technology and cannot be legally exported from UK without export licence.

Aarrgh!
What side of the Atlantic do you live on?  |O

The correct spelling - and pronunciation is Nuclear  :box:

(Sorry - pet peeve, as in: If you can't pronounce it then you shouldn't be allowed to have it!  :rant:)

P.S.  ... and that applies to Soldering Irons too!  :P
« Last Edit: October 21, 2017, 05:24:53 pm by Gyro »
Best Regards, Chris
 

Online ataradov

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 11228
  • Country: us
    • Personal site
Aarrgh![/b] What side of the Atlantic do you live on?  |O

The correct spelling - and pronunciation is Nuclear  :box:
And now you are in a huge government database of potential terrorists :)
Alex
 

Online T3sl4co1l

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 21608
  • Country: us
  • Expert, Analog Electronics, PCB Layout, EMC
    • Seven Transistor Labs
Executive summary:
Jim Williams avalanche pulser is still classified as nukular military or dual-use technology and cannot be legally exported from UK without export licence.

Aarrgh!
What side of the Atlantic do you live on?  |O

Thatsthejoke.png



;D
Tim
Seven Transistor Labs, LLC
Electronic design, from concept to prototype.
Bringing a project to life?  Send me a message!
 
The following users thanked this post: Gyro

Online T3sl4co1l

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 21608
  • Country: us
  • Expert, Analog Electronics, PCB Layout, EMC
    • Seven Transistor Labs
[N5B6]   a. Output voltage greater than 6 V into a resistive load of less than 55 Ohms,

Hmm, so if you do it with AV cable (75 ohm), or you attenuate it enough, you're fine?

The direct output is quite 'hot' (about 100V for a 2N3904 avalanche), but that's almost useless for most applications as input voltage ranges tend to be quite small on sampling scopes.

Do they define how risetime must be measured?  If I accidentally export a stack of 74LVC1G14 gates, am I screwed?  If I measure with my Tek 475 and it says 2ns, who's to say I'm wrong?  Are they going to crack open the crate, figure out how to power up and measure it, and ding me for it?

Tim
Seven Transistor Labs, LLC
Electronic design, from concept to prototype.
Bringing a project to life?  Send me a message!
 
The following users thanked this post: not1xor1

Offline Gyro

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 9410
  • Country: gb
Aarrgh![/b] What side of the Atlantic do you live on?  |O

The correct spelling - and pronunciation is Nuclear  :box:
And now you are in a huge government database of potential terrorists :)

Well I'm already on their database of proven pedants!  :)

I once emailed President Obama in protest at an American owned high street retailers banning its staff from wearing Rememberance poppies to commemorate Armistice day, so I'm doubtless on some troublemaker database. They did reversed their decision the next day though!  :D  In my defence I was in the middle of chemo at the time and in a bad mood, resembling Victor Meldrew even more than usual! That's my cast Aluminium excuse anyway.

P.S. It's worth it to stop you lot 'soddering around' with the English language anyway.  :P

(Sorry Leo, didn't mean to derail the topic).
« Last Edit: October 21, 2017, 07:31:27 pm by Gyro »
Best Regards, Chris
 

Offline Leo BodnarTopic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 801
  • Country: gb
Hmm, so if you do it with AV cable (75 ohm), or you attenuate it enough, you're fine?
This is what makes it dual-use.  You pick up the wrong cable and - boom - you are in trouble.
Drop in 7806 instead of 7805 and the game is over.
Leo
 


Share me

Digg  Facebook  SlashDot  Delicious  Technorati  Twitter  Google  Yahoo
Smf