[Test-Equipment] HP Z3816 question

[L. Mark Pilant]

Hello all.

I finally managed to collect all the pieces about the GPS unit I
received.

First, it is indeed a Z3816A; well, actually one of the variants
as there appear to be more than one.  The Z in the model number
indicates an OEM application, so this makes sense.  (Although the
basic features remain the same; just the package is different.)

First the bad news:

   1)   I was able to locate a copy of the User's Guide from
        Symmetricom, but it is only the first two sections.
        The section describing the GPS commands is missing. :-(
        I'm going to contact Symmetricom and see what's up.

   2)   The software used by this unit is an application called
        "s2.exe" which I don't have.  It is specific to the Z3816A.

Now for the good news:

   1)   There is enough information in the portion of the manual
        I have to be able to reverse engineer a functional equivalent
        of the "s2" application.  (Which I have just finished.  I
        also added a couple of features to my version as well.)

        Using the "s2" (or my) application allows you to use the
        normal SatStat application used by many of the other
        HP/Symmetricom GPS receivers.

   2)   The Z3816A uses much of the same GPS (SCPI) commands used
        by the Z3801A and 58503A/B units.  I have a copy of the
        50503B programming manual, so I have a reasonably complete
        set.  (This used to be on the Symmetricom site, but I can't
        locate it right now.)

I'll be gathering all the various pieces I have and creating a web
site for reference in case anyone needs this information in the
future.

73

- Mark  N1VQW