[time-nuts] Housing LPRO and Thunderbolt together

[g4gjl at btopenworld.com]

I have a dilemma and wish to access the collective wisdom of the group to advise 
a solution.

I am building a clock generator based on a Thunderbolt. I have an LPRO and would 
also locate this in the same enclosure. I will also add a distribution amp and a 
divide chain in due course.

The ultimate purpose of the set up is to provide a self contained clock 
generator set for my other test equipment, and also an experimental workstation 
for Rubidium and GPS disciplined experiments.


Most of my other equipment is for 19-inch rack mounting.

I have two potential solutions for housing the timing kit:

1. An old dismantled HP 4U scope chassis which will fit in with my other 
equipment physically, and can be racked if necessary. The PSU would have to be 
built into the same enclosure.

2. A pair of Anritsu instrument cases which once house a bit error test set. The 
two units clip together beautifully, and are free standing. As there are two 
units, this solution would allow me to build the PSUs in one case and the more 
sensitive timing electronics in the other. These units cannot be racked on 
account of their form factors.

Both solutions will require me to do some bespoke metalwork, but that is no 
problem for me and amounts to about the same amount of work for either solution.


So what does the group advise? Is it vitally important to keep PSU components 
isolated from the timing electronics? I want to create the least noisy clock 
source given the components I have.

Looking forward to hearing some opinions...

Pete
G4GJL