[time-nuts] Frequency counter recommendation

Bob Camp lists at rtty.us
Thu Dec 16 20:20:38 UTC 2010


Hi

To get the boards down to a reasonable price, you need to have a project
with broad appeal. Spreading $2K setup charges across four boards isn't
going to work out very well.

The real answer is to find somebody with a good vision system on their
basement pick and place system. 

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
Behalf Of K. Szeker
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 3:16 PM
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Frequency counter recommendation

Hi Bob,

Clear, itsn`t everybodys "thing", but you can belive me, that an BGA, even
with 1mm pitch too, is really nothing for a home lab...
Otherwise, I have in the past years hand soldered lot of 0.5mm pitch
connectors & QFP ICs too, its not the holyday job for me, bud with a litle
experience is doable.
Needs a good solder system with finest tip of less 0.4mm, lot of good
quality flux  & of course magnifying glasses...
My solderstation is over 10 years old, have both handpieces for that,  and
you can order it jet too_in more up to date version:
http://www.jbctools.com/english/tecinfo/tecinfo_Disc.php
For moderner multilayer boartds you must have a  similar heating system so &
so, but it has moderate prices to other "better" brands, which aren`t so
good regulated if you should work on multilayer....

Karesz


2010/12/16 Bob Camp <lists at rtty.us>

> Hi
>
> From what I have seen of hand soldered 0.5 mm spaced / several hundred pin
> packages - not very easy at all, even with pro gear and pro soldering
> people. Based on the adverse reaction on the list to 14 pin 1 mm spaced
> parts, I don't think there's much chance of a big QFP being popular.
>
> Bob
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
> Behalf Of K. Szeker
> Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 2:36 PM
> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Frequency counter recommendation
>
> Hi Bob,
>
> If a 256 ball package is the solution for these FPGA, I would prefer it in
> 256 QFP-package version-if exists.
> These will be solderable for the good "home-specialists", bat a BGA (even
> with "only" 256 balls) is a real problem for home labs...
>
> Karesz
>
> 2010/12/16 Bob Camp <lists at rtty.us>
>
> > Hi
> >
> > Yes indeed, been there done that. Not very hard at all.
> >
> > All you need is the six layer pc board (can be bought), the FPGA
(Digikey
> > has them), a few of these and a couple of those. Spend less than $100
and
> > you are in business if the PC board volume is high enough.
> >
> > In this case the next step in the business is to solder the 256 ball 1
mm
> > spacing BGA package down on the pc board. Not so easy without the right
> > tools...
> >
> > Bob
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
> > Behalf Of Don Latham
> > Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 3:48 PM
> > To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> > Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Frequency counter recommendation
> >
> > OK, time-nuts, here's the gauntlet. can't "we" generate a design for a
> > PC-based FPGA or chip setup that would be generally useful as a counter?
> > We've seen thorough discussions about trigger jitter, which IMHO is the
> > fundamental problem. And isn't the PIC2 Time base from 10 MHz standard,
> > all else should be straightforward.
> > I'm not a designer, just a messer-arounder, or I'd give it a shot. Robot
> > Basic is a nice PC software maybe.
> > Don
> >
> > J. L. Trantham, M. D.
> > > I suspect that this question will lead to a discussion of Dual Mixers
> but
> > > as
> > > far as the counter question goes, I would recommend you consider an HP
> > > 5370B.
> > >
> > > Joe
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com]On
> > > Behalf Of Dave M
> > > Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 1:55 PM
> > > To: TimeNuts
> > > Subject: [time-nuts] Frequency counter recommendation
> > >
> > > I'm a retired electronics tech and computer programmer.  I have a
> pretty
> > > decently equipped shop for almost all of my projects and experiments.
> > > However, my time and frequency equipment is a bit long in the tooth.
I
> > > have
> > > a couple old HP 5328A counters (commercial version; not the military
> > > version), one with a 10544, the other with a 10811 oscillator.
> > > I have an HP Z3801A that has been operating well for several years,
and
> > > recently acquired a TBolt to keep the counters in tune.  I also have a
> > > good
> > > distribution amp and  couple of old Montronics (Fluke) frequency
> > > comparators.
> > > What I'm looking for now, is a recommendation for a good low-cost
> (<$400)
> > > counter that will get me on the way to performing some of the "down in
> > the
> > > grass" noise, jitter and deviation tests that the more learned members
> of
> > > the group discuss.  I know that new equipment is far out of my budget,
> > but
> > > I'm also aware that some of the older, now obsolete (also cheaper)
> > > equipment
> > > is quite capable of doing what I want to do. I prefer HP equipment
> since
> > > manuals are much easier to find than most other brands.
> > > I'd also like recommendation for a good low-cost GPIB controller that
> > > allows
> > > me to write software to control some of my instruments.  I have
> > experience
> > > writing software in BASIC on a Fluke 1722A controller.  I've seen
these
> > > controllers on the Bay and other online vendors, but I've not located
> the
> > > BASIC discs for them.  Any advice?
> > > I realize that a counter is not the only piece that I need, but it's
> > first
> > > on my list.  Other, more applicable equipment is on my want list, but
> > will
> > > have to wait for a bit.
> > >
> > > Thanks for advice,
> > > David
> > > dgminala at mediacombb dot net
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
> > > To unsubscribe, go to
> > > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> > > and follow the instructions there.
> > > -----
> > > No virus found in this message.
> > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> > > Version: 10.0.1170 / Virus Database: 426/3317 - Release Date: 12/15/10
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
> > > To unsubscribe, go to
> > > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> > > and follow the instructions there.
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > "Neither the voice of authority nor the weight of reason and argument
are
> > as significant as experiment, for thence comes quiet to the mind."
> > R. Bacon
> > "If you don't know what it is, don't poke it."
> > Ghost in the Shell
> >
> >
> > Dr. Don Latham AJ7LL
> > Six Mile Systems LLP
> > 17850 Six Mile Road
> > POB 134
> > Huson, MT, 59846
> > VOX 406-626-4304
> > www.lightningforensics.com
> > www.sixmilesystems.com
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
> > To unsubscribe, go to
> > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> > and follow the instructions there.
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
> > To unsubscribe, go to
> > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> > and follow the instructions there.
> >
> _______________________________________________
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.
>
_______________________________________________
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.




More information about the time-nuts mailing list