Rubidium Frequency Standard, Part 1

Some time ago I bought a Rubidium Frequency Standard.

I guess I had too much time or maybe I spent too much time reading old posts from the time-nuts mailing list archive (which, by the way, is always a fascinating read and quite useful even if time is not the core of what you are doing).

So, back to the standard. It is a FE-5680B. Cheaper than a FE-5680A, not a lot of documentation on it and it usually doesn’t have all the nice things a FE-5680A may (or may not) give you. Have I told you that it is cheaper?

Anyway, my FE-5680B works.

I tested it with an oscilloscope and my bench power supply after it was delivered to me. Then I powered it down.

The FE-5680B has a DB-15 connector. I have the pinout of this connecter. What I didn’t have until yesterday was a suitable power supply.

The FE-5680B needs 15V 2A. With a power supply that gives 15V 6A I think I will be able to power the FE-5680B just fine.

A step closer to a functioning Rubidium Frequency Standard.

What worries me is that I also bought a timing GPS and that now I feel that I have to have an OCXO…

A.C.