[Lowfer] Cheap up-converter kit?

Sun, 12 Oct 2003 19:58:39 -0700 (PDT)

In 1996 I never dreamed that LowFERs would need the degree of stability demanded by QRSS 120........ what's a milliHertz ?!!!  ;-)    But several evenings of looking for VA3LK a few years ago made the drift in my LO pretty easy to see.
In comparison to a converter its certainly not cheap, but is anyone out there using a GPS-disciplined oscillator in any way for LowFER activities?  
I just did a quick web search, and found a source for a surplus HP Z3801A GPS frequency standard with a 10 MHz, on sale for only $249 at www.buylegacy.com. 
Also an article about using this box at http://www.realhamradio.com/GPS_Frequency_Standard.htm
This would eliminate your converter LO drift pretty handily! Of course next there's the local oscillators in your receiver:  Bill Cantrell once modified his TS-850 to be clocked entirely from his surplus rubidium frequency standard.

Tim Brannon  KF5CQ

Message: 9
To: [email protected]
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 12:43:20 -0400
Subject: Re: [Lowfer] Cheap up-converter kit?
From: [email protected]
Reply-To: [email protected]

On Sat, 11 Oct 2003 01:10:59 -0400 "Bill Ashlock" 
<[email protected]>
writes:
> >Also have built the excellent low frequency converter as shown in 
> Lowdon,
> >"A High Performance Low Frequency Converter for 1996" by Tim 
> Brannon, 
> >KF5CQ.
> >Definitely one of the best I have used - right down to DC - but 
> again, I
> >have had trouble stabilizing the oscillator for real QRSS.
>

I was really surprised to have the stability from a cheap clock Osc
It square waved ( verb ) out at 4 Mhz and was on freq and no drift
Mouser,, Digikey one of them as I forget. If anyone is really 
interested
I can pull the converter apart . Problem is ,  I was either really 
lucky
and is the same device still made by the same people.  

Bob  K3DJC

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