[time-nuts] Re: Software for Agilent 58503a

[Tom Van Baak]

 > Does anyone have newer links to SatStat?

Archived from the original floppy disk: 
http://leapsecond.com/museum/hp58503a/

 > Is there any other software out there other than ...

You actually don't need "software" to run old gear like this. They talk 
plain old ASCII two-wire RS232 so anything from a vintage mainframe to a 
modern Arduino will work. Those hp GPSDO have lots of cool commands, but 
if nothing else, just send a "SYST:STAT?" string and you get back a 
nicely formatted full screen status report.

If after trying you can't get the original s/w or stuff like Heather or 
GPScon to work, let us know. The problem is often not with the old 
program but the new operating system on the new computer.

 > I am about to embark in taking apart a pair of 10811 double ovens as 
found in the Z3801A & Z3805A.

Before resorting to drilling into an oscillator like that, I'd triple 
check that the problem is really quartz tuning and not something else, 
like power supply(s) or fuse or oven temperature.

For example, you could post frequency, voltage or current plots of the 
first ~2 hours of warm-up and we can help you guess what the problem is. 
Manually sweeping EFC voltage over the full range is also sometimes a 
good clue.

/tvb