[time-nuts] Bye-Bye Crystals

Bob Camp kb8tq at n1k.org
Tue Mar 14 08:06:30 EDT 2017


Hi

> On Mar 14, 2017, at 3:19 AM, Chris Albertson <albertson.chris at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I think what he means is that the typical device sold today has four
> terminals not two.  It looks like a crystal because it is inside a
> little silver can but has four lead wires Power, ground and "output"
> and the fourth lead might not be used.  It is an "XO" not an "X".
> 
> But I argue that every one of these device has a crystal inside.  So
> they still make crystals, just you don't see them

These days, they may well have a MEMS resonator in them. No quartz and
no crystal. Good luck on the close in noise if that’s what they are doing ….

Bob

> 
> On Mon, Mar 13, 2017 at 12:07 AM, Bryan _ <bpl521 at outlook.com> wrote:
>> sorry, what do you mean by "complete oscillator" have outnumbered loose crystals?
>> 
>> 
>> -=Bryan=-
>> 
>> 
>> ________________________________
>> From: time-nuts <time-nuts-bounces at febo.com> on behalf of Richard (Rick) Karlquist <richard at karlquist.com>
>> Sent: March 12, 2017 4:38 PM
>> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
>> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Bye-Bye Crystals
>> 
>> I got a job in 1975 to design Konel's first synthesized radio, which
>> was to obsolete their crystal controlled radios.  That's over 40 years
>> ago.  The other trend (not mentioned) is that since 20 years ago or
>> so, complete oscillator sales have vastly outnumbered sales of loose
>> crystals.
>> 
>> Rick N6RK
>> 
>> On 3/11/2017 8:51 PM, Bob Camp wrote:
>>> Hi
>>> 
>>> International’s main business  was re-channeling non-synthesized radios and replacing
>>> broken crystals in various pieces of com gear. It’s been a *lot* of years since the last of the
>>> non-synthesized radios came out. The business probably has been dropping off pretty steadily
>>> for many years …
>>> 
>>> Bob
>>> 
>>>> On Mar 11, 2017, at 10:39 PM, jimlux <jimlux at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> On 3/11/17 4:30 PM, Scott McGrath wrote:
>>>>> From the tone of the letter it sounds like the bank cancelled line of credit,
>>>> 
>>>> Or, he wants to retire and nobody wants to carry it on.  His dad started it in 1950, the son picked it up in 1970.  It's 47 years later.
>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Which is stupid given that much of their line is military which is getting a huge boost in spending
>>>> 
>>>> Plenty of other crystal and oscillator manufacturers around.
>>>> 
>>>> There's also a change in what kinds of crystals are needed.   I suspect most things being built and designed today use the crystal as a "master oscillator" that is used to drive some sort of synthesis chain. The need for "I have to have a 12.345,324 Hz crystal" is going away.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Mar 11, 2017, at 4:56 PM, Bryan _ <bpl521 at outlook.com> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Disappearing or manufacturing just moving overseas?. Video at the bottom is interesting, classic.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> http://hackaday.com/2017/03/11/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-crystals/
>> [https://www.bing.com/th?id=OVF.LElrlkkbByR3K%2f6qfaeHjg&pid=Api]<http://hackaday.com/2017/03/11/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-crystals/>
>> 
>> So Long, and Thanks for all the Crystals<http://hackaday.com/2017/03/11/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-crystals/>
>> hackaday.com
>> There was a time when anyone involved with radio transmitting -- ham operators, CB'ers, scanner enthusiasts, or remote control model fans -- had a collection of ...
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> -=Bryan=-
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> 
> Chris Albertson
> Redondo Beach, California
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