I want to know if what I have is useful for anything in particular or just be certain that I have a 'incomplete device'. I know you can do it, but I am curious if anyone has academic answers.
Like others said: with a Rubidium reference you don't need to wait for a GPS lock (and have a place of an antenna). If you put a cleanup oscillator behind a Rubidium reference then you'll get a very stable frequency reference. But you still don't know if the frequency from the Rubidium clock is accurate while a GPSDO output is -sort of- synchronised with the clocks at (IIRC) the US Naval observatory.
Tcxo, Ocxo, rubidium, GPS disciplined and all combinations thereof.
I can really see the use in having a frequency standard on the bench. The problem for me is what level and cost is right for me? I know it is whatever you are working on will dictate it, but I'd rather just buy what I need for future uses now.
I'm studying now for ham, and am looking to start repairing various things for resale. Older radios, test equipment, the odd repairable tv, God knows what. Calibrating test equipment is a good reason, too.
What is a good balance type standard that is good for the medium beginner and will still be useful a ways down the road and not break the bank?
This has been a very informative thread. I really appreciate the replies.
It looks like I'll find a GPSDO and just use that. Probably way more than I'll ever need, but I'll just consider it TEA.
I see from what you guys are saying is that if I ever need to distribute the signal, it is best to use Sine wave. Interestingly, the RF generator I'm working on now has a sine wave on the INT Ref OUT line, but uses a square wave internally. I'm thinking that a reference that puts out both would be useful. Thoughts?
This has been a very informative thread. I really appreciate the replies.
It looks like I'll find a GPSDO and just use that. Probably way more than I'll ever need, but I'll just consider it TEA.
I see from what you guys are saying is that if I ever need to distribute the signal, it is best to use Sine wave. Interestingly, the RF generator I'm working on now has a sine wave on the INT Ref OUT line, but uses a square wave internally. I'm thinking that a reference that puts out both would be useful. Thoughts?The link I posted earlier to Leo's GPSDO offers a US seller:
https://v3.airspy.us/product/lb-gpsdo-1/
$219, two configurable outputs, antenna and all ready to go !
The two options are to replace the 75 ohm resistors with 50 ohm ones, or do as ArthurDent posted above and parallel them with 150 ohms.
The Leo Bodnar unit doesn't have an oven, right?
What makes it different than, say a ublox timing GPS, some of which can be found on ebay for $20.
They have two internal user programmable square wave outs which can be adjusted typically one is set to 1 pps and the other is set to 10 MHz.
I think with adjustable duty cycle.
One could slap one of them in a box with a Raspberry Pi and a screen or a serial port and have a standalone adjustable DDS.
It has the expected amount of jitter.
Am I wrong about something here?
The Leo Bodnar unit doesn't have an oven, right?
What makes it different than, say a ublox timing GPS, some of which can be found on ebay for $20.
The two options are to replace the 75 ohm resistors with 50 ohm ones, or do as ArthurDent posted above and parallel them with 150 ohms.