[time-nuts] Odetics 325 - 865

Roy Phillips phill.r1 at btinternet.com
Mon Feb 11 09:29:36 EST 2008


Robert
I think I am getting to the bottom of some of the questions   - the Rx 
(internal) is the same as yours -the last digit is also hand written and is 
probably a 2 so we are talking the same animal. And you are almost certainly 
correct in that I did not detect the 10 MHz signal because the 'Scope was 
set to DC input, and I remember a very tiny signal showing through (you cant 
fool a Tek.a scope!).
I have put the 325 to one side for the moment, and returned to the task 
which I had in hand prior to this acquisition. - restoring a EIP 575 Source 
Locking Microwave Counter. Do you know this item of equipment - it counts to 
18 GHz, and despite its age (1983), its beautifully built, fairly easy to 
repair, and works very well. All I am doing is to return it to its original 
AC input wiring and front panel ON/OFF switch. This item I understand was 
part of the failed "airborne early warning system" that never was. The MoD 
had the conversion done I understand,  in the UK-- the modification was to 
change the power transformer to a 400 Hz type (aircraft installation), the 
power switch was moved to the rear and military spec. power connectors were 
fitted. All I can say is it was an example of the worst kind of workmanship. 
As for the SMPS in the Wavtek 395 - this was made for Wavetek by a Taiwan 
specialist SMPS manufacturer. The UK Agents , or the US agents were never 
able to provide, -  (special order for Wavetek) and to date I have not had 
the information I need from the factory in Taiwan. It looks like a PSU from 
the standard PC, but it has different outputs. As I told you, I connected 
the supplies from external sources - and presto it worked !  What are you 
struggling with ? or is it my luck to have all these items in need of repair 
or incomplete ? Finally, no the 325 was not from Longleat  (I thought that 
was a place to see the animals?). I would assume that they were all part of 
a consignment from a MoD sale ?
Will keep in touch re the 325 - thanks again.

Roy


 ---- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Atkinson" <robert8rpi at yahoo.co.uk>
To: "Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement" 
<time-nuts at febo.com>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 9:48 AM
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Odetics 325 - 865


> Hi Roy,
>  The receiver you have is the one requiring a down converter antenna. You 
> should see a 10MHz signal on the antenna, but it's low level. Make sure 
> the 'scope is on AC coupling or the 12V DC supply will swamp the 10MHz. 
> The part numer on my receiver is 330-102. the 2 is hand written so could 
> be a build number. If you don't see the 10MHz signal it's possible that 
> someone has put another GPS RX in the box but I doubt it. The Odetics RX 
> is two boards and does not have any L-Band of UHF components at the input, 
> fairly obviously a down converter type.
>  These units had a range of oscillator options, one of mine has a 
> Rubidium, the other an OXCO with no obvious makers mark.
>  The lock-out is not something I've seen. The simplest solution is to 
> remove the back-up battery and leave the unit for a while for the CMOS 
> memory to clear. The only setting you might want to take note of is the 
> ADC value for the oscillator tuning.
>  You can use the unit to compare it's oscillator with an external 1PPS but 
> I don't think you can get it to discipline from the external signal. As 
> far as I recall the information about this aspect is unclear. Did you pick 
> the unit up at Longleat a few years ago?
>  Shame about the Wavetek unit. Sometimes the PSU's are standard types and 
> you can get an alternative from another manufacturer.
>  Regards,
>  Robert.
>
>
>  Robert
>
> Thank you for your information. First of all I am located in West Sussex -
> not so far from you ! This is not a good location for Radio signals
> generally. Back to the 325-865, I have checked the antenna socket and it 
> is
> giving a 12 volt output - but my 'scope fails to see any sine wave output 
> !!
> The actual label on the receiver states : ODETICS GPStar Receiver Model
> 330-10Q Rev N/C, is this in keeping with your comments on the antenna
> requirements ? It also has a Vectron Model 247-8566 Oscillator - - is this
> the basic standard ?
> Rob has kindly supplied me with a copy of the Model 425 which I understand
> is very similar - despite wading through it I cannot find the way to clear
> the *FRONT PANEL LOCKOUT* this occurs when I attempt to initiate "cold
> start".Any ideas on this problem.
> On the "Built in test" readout, all but the SnstOpr return a NRM 
> (?normal),
> but SnstOpr is FLT -what is this about?
> As for SMPS - what a curse these things can be - I found a Wavetek 395
> Function Generator (currently sells S/H for US $3500), which has a
> failed(blown up) SMPS - and to date I have not been able to get info from
> the Taiwan manufacturers (burnt out resistors, blown up power transistor). 
> I
> have connected external power to it - and it works! - I am tempted to 
> build
> a linear PSU if I cannot repair the SMPS.!!
> Look forward to hearing more from you
> Thanks and best wishes
>
> Roy
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Robert Atkinson"
> To: "Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement"
>
> Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2008 6:04 PM
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Odetics 325 - 865
>
>
>> Hi Roy,
>> Welcome to the group.
>> I've a couple of the sat-sync 325 receivers. Rob has covered the basics
>> of the antenna question, the best way to determine if you need a down
>> converter antenna is to put a 'scope on the antenna connector and see if
>> there is a sine wave 10MHz signal as well as the 12VDC. An "R" suffix to
>> the part number indicates a retrofitted L1 (standard 12V antenna) GPS RX.
>> Some also have a label stating a 3rd party retrofit GPS has been fitted.
>> The original downconverter GPS is a Magellen OEM in a big (about 8" 
>> square
>> by 3" high) box in the bottom of the unit.
>> At least you don't have the common problem with these units, a failed
>> switch-mode power supply.
>> Where in the UK are you located? I'm in Dorset on the south coast.
>>
>> Robert G8RPI.
>>
>>
>> Roy Phillips
> wrote:
>> Gentlemen
>>
>> Pleased to join you - I major in "high-end" test equipment, and have
>> recently added a couple of Watkins-Johnson Rx's -- Dual 8607 (20 - 2032
>> MHZ) ,and a WJ 8700 again dual LF/HF (to 32 MHZ). But I have now gathered
>> a couple of items of "Time & Frequency" . The first one is a Radio Code
>> Clock RCC 8000, this receives the 60 Khz Standard frequency transmissions
>> from our UK transmitter. This is fine - works OK. Now I have a bigger
>> challenge - I found a ODETICS Model 325-865 SatSync which has been
>> gathering dust since 1998 (last date it was active).
>> It was switched on (and no antenna was connected), I don't have one. It
>> came to life and scrolling its menu it shows a date in 1998 and a set of
>> co-ordinates which suggests it was probably a ship installation. I found
>> my way to your site through searching for info on this item, and I gather
>> that some of you have this item of equipment - can you help - I gather
>> that it requires an active antenna - what can be found or built to meet
>> this need?
>> Also the system is "Locked" - what do I do to clear this problem ( the
>> menu display suggests I refer to the manual !!) Is it possible to obtain 
>> a
>> manual or copy of such. I must admit that it is a very well made item and
>> must be worthwhile to re-establish. looking forward to any help you may
>> offer.
>>
>> Roy
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