Oscilloquartz 8600-3 OCXO internal photos..

[cdev]

As seen on Time-nuts mailing list (and associated with this thread  "End of Range Oscilloquartz 8600-3"  https://www.febo.com/pipermail/time-nuts/2017-December/108090.html  )

Interesting construction detail description and photos of an old Oscilloquartz 8600-3 GPSDO . It really is quite interesting how its constructed.

http://www.efos3.com/osa8600-3/

(non-temperature environmental conditions such as barometric pressure influence OXCO accuracy. So it is sort of encapsulated.)

[Vgkid]

I have been following this for the last couple of days.

[texaspyro]

The 8600 is an OCXO, not a GPSDO.  It uses their electode-less BVA crystal technology in a double oven.

If you have to ask how much one costs, you can't afford it.  There's lots 'o zeros on that price tag.  The manufacturing yield on the highest spec BVA units is reported be be less than a dozen a year.

[cncjerry]

Mark - does lady heather support it?

If Mark doesn't have one it's not worth having...

Jerry

[texaspyro]

Mark - does lady heather support it?

If Mark doesn't have one it's not worth having...

Jerry

Eeets no goode... I throw it in de booshes.

Alas, it's just a bare OCXO... nothing to talk to.

[edpalmer42]

Well, I guess you could talk to it, but that would be kinda sad.

And if I EVER hear about you throwing a BVA oscillator in the bushes, we will have very serious words.        Is that clear.

Ed

[texaspyro]

I did buy a BVA on Ebay for around $500 once upon a time (nobody else bid!), but the guy then said it was stolen/lost/whatevered.  A couple of months later one of his alter egos was selling it for $5000... bastardo.

[texaspyro]

And if I EVER hear about you throwing a BVA oscillator in the bushes, we will have very serious words.        Is that clear.

But... but... they are very nice bushes.   

[edpalmer42]

I did buy a BVA on Ebay for around $500 once upon a time (nobody else bid!), but the guy then said it was stolen/lost/whatevered.  A couple of months later one of his alter egos was selling it for $5000... bastardo.

The biggest problem is the damn Dewar.  One hard thump and it shatters.  It wasn't a BVA oscillator, but I almost had to threaten a seller if he didn't pack an oscillator properly.  I told him that the last time a seller ignored my instructions, he had to refund both purchase price & shipping - which was true.  He followed my instructions and the oscillator arrived safely.  Since it was 'new, old stock', I really wanted it.

Ed

[John Heath]

The 8600 is an OCXO, not a GPSDO.  It uses their electode-less BVA crystal technology in a double oven.

If you have to ask how much one costs, you can't afford it.  There's lots 'o zeros on that price tag.  The manufacturing yield on the highest spec BVA units is reported be be less than a dozen a year.

If the 8600 is wireless then a good guess is the mounts for this crystal are also unconventional. If so then maybe a repeat of Dave's experiment is in order.



If the 8600 has the same frequency change , 5 mHz at 10 MHz , with a change in orientation to gravity then the finger of blame can no longer  pointed at the crystal mounts. This leaves only orientation to gravity as odd as that sounds.

[texaspyro]

If the 8600 is wireless then a good guess is the mounts for this crystal are also unconventional.

Pretty much everything about a BVA oscillator is unconventional...