[Premium-Rx] use of precision time base

[Dan Rae]

David F. Reed wrote:

>
> I am interesting in getting a very accurate time base (maybe a used 
> rubidium standard?) and using it to act as a "master oscillator" for 
> various pieces of gear in the shack.
>
> Ideally, my first two objects to drive would be my Icom IC-7800 and my 
> Colling HF-2050.  I would intend to use it for my planned VHF / UHF 
> and microwave work as well.

Rb is a bit overkill for HF use, and if you want high accuracy for use 
up to 1 GHz, it will need to be calibrated against something. It is not 
an absolute standard, unlike Cesium.

>
> Have any of you undertaken this or looked into this, and if so, what 
> have you found?

I would guess that a lot of folk do this and in as many different 
ways.   In my receiver rack I have a 40 plus year old Sulzer 5 MHz 
standard that drives all the (HF) receivers. This shows remarkably low 
ageing, I set it maybe once a year and it almost never needs any 
adjustment to speak of.   I also have a couple of gps standards which I 
use with distribution amplifiers to drive just about every piece of test 
equipment that needs an accurate frequency input.  Of these the hp 3801A 
GPS unit at $200 and change was the bargain of the (last) century.  The 
"Shera" gps unit from QST is a good homebrew version of a GPS standard, 
almost all of which use the 1 Hz gps signal to discipline a good quality 
ovened crystal oscillator at 5 or 10 MHz. There are others...

>
> Is anyone familiar with the MS-1003B Multiple Output Rubidium Standard 
> Calibrator, and if so, would it be applicable to the task? 


Applicable indeed but at $1,000 plus, is it necessary or cost effective 
for you?  It's just a boxed up surplus telecom Rb unit that you can get 
on ebay for maybe $300.

You will get a lot of differing opinions on this, I'm sure.  For the 
requirements of HF, I think a good crystal oven ( like an hp 10811 for 
maybe $100) will be more than adequate, but you will need to find a way 
of setting it.  WWV doesn't quite cut it, unless you live next door...

I'll now don my flak jacket and wish you good luck...
73
Dan
ac6ao / g3ncr