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Re: [TenTec] Orion/O2 Drift Problem-who is interested in a fix?

To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion/O2 Drift Problem-who is interested in a fix?
From: "Ron Castro" <ronc@sonic.net>
Reply-to: Ron Castro <ronc@sonic.net>, Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:21:00 -0800
List-post: <mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
Looks interesting and one that might be worthy of consideration. Here's a question: is the phase noise specification of the Orion dependant *only* on the phase noise characteristic of the TCXO, or are there other contributing factors? IOW would reducing the phase noise of the current TCXO improve the final phase noise spec of the radio?

     Ron Castro
Chief Technical Officer
 Results Radio, LLC
         N6IE
www.N6IE.com
(Formerly N6AHA)

----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Christensen" <w9ac@arrl.net>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 7:50 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion/O2 Drift Problem-who is interested in a fix?


expensive! The 10 MHz GPS stabilized part is a no-brainer and
the parts are
cheap and available.  It's the rest that's a challenge.

I am using an HP 58540A GPS-disciplined OCXO with another brand of
transceiver. Of course, stability is excellent but even the best GPS-based
OCXOs are phase-noise-limited to about -145 dBc @ 1kHz.  Not bad, but not
great.

For use on general coverage rigs, the performance is probably acceptable. On
the Orions, I suspect that these units will become a limiting performance
factor.  However, Jackson Labs has recently introduced a low-noise
GPS-Disciplined OCXO with phase noise performance about 10 dB better than
that of the HP units:

http://www.jackson-labs.com/docs/Fury_Flyer.pdf

Probably a better solution for Orion owners who demand exceptional accuracy and noise performance is to consider retrofitting a high-stability OCXO with
an SC cut:

http://www.wenzel.com/datasheets/streamline/501-04608.htm

Note that specified phase noise at 1 kHz from carrier is down about -165 dBc with the Wenzel OCXO. Although they're not GPS-locked, stability is so good
that they need no ongoing locking mechanism.  It's been a while since I've
checked on pricing, but none of these options are cheap. Plan on spending ~
$200-$300 USD or even more for any good OCXO.

Paul, W9AC


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