[time-nuts] Question about FTS 1050A

[Tom Knox]

Hi Bob;
I was wondering who won the unit. They are very nice oscillators. With noise on older equipment like the 1050A I would check  and/or replace caps.
I am about to do that to my own 1050A. It may not resolve the problem, but it will eliminate that possibility. I look forward to hearing how the problem is resolved. 
Best Wishes;
Thomas Knox



> Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2013 14:53:55 -0400
> From: bobdarby at triad.rr.com
> To: time-nuts at febo.com
> Subject: [time-nuts] Question about FTS 1050A
> 
> I purchased an FTS 1050 recently and after a cursory inspection of the 
> interior powered it up to see if it's functional.
> 
> This particular unit is a bit odd; it has the optional battery back-up, 
> no PPS, and instead of the usual 1Mhz, 5Mhz, 10Mhz it has four 10Mhz 
> outputs with tnc female connectors.
> 
> The tnc connectors are a bit of a bother but I found that the scope 
> probe sleeve that fits a bnc also fits into a tnc so I'm able to view 
> the outputs.  They are not pretty, lots of hash, particularly at the 
> zero crossings and only about 15 to 20mV rms.  That's the case for all four.
> 
> The oscillator is an FTS 1000B-503 which is supposed to have four 
> buffered outputs at 5MHz; two at 1.0 V rms and two at 0.5 V rms. Two 
> outputs each drive a pair of frequency doublers that thus provide the 
> four 10Mhz outputs.  I got a connector on one of the spare outputs to 
> see if the problem might lie in the oscillator. What I see there is a 
> very stable clean sine wave at 5MHz at about 660mV rms so I'm assuming 
> the 1000B is not my problem.
> 
> The doublers are housed in a tidy box adjacent to the oscillator with 
> 22V and ground, two 5MHz inputs and four 10MHz outputs all in the top 
> cover.  There is a stone cold 7818 in a TO-3 metal can mounted on one 
> side of the box but no external connections other than those previously 
> noted.  It seems to me my problem must lie in this area and, since all 
> four circuits are similarly affected, is probably related to the power 
> supply housed therein.
> 
> This is probably obvious to all of you but I'm a toolmaker by trade so 
> this is all new to me and second opinions will not hurt my feelings.  
> Also does anyone have any experience inside of the doubler box or a 
> schematic of the standard (or any other version) doubler/divider for 
> these things?
> 
> Thanks for any insight anyone can offer.
> 
> Bob Darby
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