[time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-18 Thread Adrian

Hello,

I found the 10811 in my 8662A to be quite noisy and was able to trace 
the problem down to the tuning diode.
Actually, the phase noise started to jump when the oven heated up. As a 
quick solution, I replaced it with a SMD type that I had at hands.


I would appreciate any hint where to find an original diode (even though 
I could leave it as is).


As by the manual, the original is a '0122-0244 DIODE-VVC 100PF 5% 
C4/C25-MIN=2 BVR-30V Mfr. 28480'
Mfr. 28480 is listed as HP, but the diode is marked 'M' for Motorola and 
'0244' and '312'.


Adrian

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Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-18 Thread David McGaw
That would be a Motorola MV1650 or equivalent.  You may have to select 
for 100pf +/- 5% @ 4V as the standard spec is 10% but it probably does 
not matter as the tuning ratio will be greater than the >2 spec.


David


On 10/18/12 3:18 PM, Adrian wrote:

Hello,

I found the 10811 in my 8662A to be quite noisy and was able to trace 
the problem down to the tuning diode.
Actually, the phase noise started to jump when the oven heated up. As 
a quick solution, I replaced it with a SMD type that I had at hands.


I would appreciate any hint where to find an original diode (even 
though I could leave it as is).


As by the manual, the original is a '0122-0244 DIODE-VVC 100PF 5% 
C4/C25-MIN=2 BVR-30V Mfr. 28480'
Mfr. 28480 is listed as HP, but the diode is marked 'M' for Motorola 
and '0244' and '312'.


Adrian

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Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-18 Thread Rick Karlquist
Probably unobtainium.

0122-0244 is shown as Motorola SMV315-24 or MSI Electronics SQ529.
For whatever that's worth.  Reminds me of a popular audio amplifier
design that was in Popular Electronics using Motorola SS1122 diodes.
Some special non catalog diode.  Turns out Dan Myers, the designer,
just happened to have these in his junk box.  A gazillion other
diodes would also work.

In the 5071A, we used a 10811 with a different tuning diode that
gives a 10X larger range and is linear tuning (being hyperabrupt).
There is nothing magic about the 0122-0244.  Lots of diodes can work.

Rick Karlquist N6RK


Adrian wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I found the 10811 in my 8662A to be quite noisy and was able to trace
> the problem down to the tuning diode.
> Actually, the phase noise started to jump when the oven heated up. As a
> quick solution, I replaced it with a SMD type that I had at hands.
>
> I would appreciate any hint where to find an original diode (even though
> I could leave it as is).
>
> As by the manual, the original is a '0122-0244 DIODE-VVC 100PF 5%
> C4/C25-MIN=2 BVR-30V Mfr. 28480'
> Mfr. 28480 is listed as HP, but the diode is marked 'M' for Motorola and
> '0244' and '312'.
>
> Adrian
>
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
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Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-18 Thread John Miles
That's extremely interesting, Adrian.  I've never heard of a noisy varactor,
but then I've never looked for one, either.  It'd be great if some of the
problems that have been blamed on jumping crystals were in fact caused by
the tuning diode.  What steps did you take to rule out the crystal and
narrow down the problem to the diode?  

-- john, KE5FX
Miles Design LLC

> -Original Message-
> From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-
> boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Adrian
> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 12:19 PM
> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> Subject: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode
> 
> Hello,
> 
> I found the 10811 in my 8662A to be quite noisy and was able to trace
> the problem down to the tuning diode.
> Actually, the phase noise started to jump when the oven heated up. As a
> quick solution, I replaced it with a SMD type that I had at hands.
> 
> I would appreciate any hint where to find an original diode (even though
> I could leave it as is).
> 
> As by the manual, the original is a '0122-0244 DIODE-VVC 100PF 5%
> C4/C25-MIN=2 BVR-30V Mfr. 28480'
> Mfr. 28480 is listed as HP, but the diode is marked 'M' for Motorola and
> '0244' and '312'.
> 
> Adrian
> 
> ___
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> bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
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Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-18 Thread Tom Curlee
I'll second the interesting part. 

I have a problem with a 10 GHz brick oscillator LO that I converted to GPS 
lock.  I don't remember the instantaneous frequency jumps (around 200 - 400 HZ 
at 10 GHz) before I did the GPS lock (although it's possible).  Please note 
that this is NOT any type of GPS phase shift.  I built a extremely slow 
frequency lock circuit that has a loop time in seconds.  The jump is 
instantaneous and I can then see the control voltage slowly change to correct 
the error.  When the frequency jumps back, the control voltage slowly follows.  
Since this brick has the usual 106.5 MHz crystal (multiplied by 96 to get 
10.224 GHz for the LO), I'm seeing at most 400 HZ / 96 shift in the crystal 
oscillator.

I've wondered if I have a noisy varactor diode.  The diode selected was one I 
had around, selected only because it had a low-ish capacitance value.  I 
haven't gotten around to digging into the problem any farther.

Anyone have any more info or ideas?

73,

Tom  WB6UZZ

--- On Thu, 10/18/12, John Miles  wrote:

From: John Miles 
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode
To: "'Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement'" 

Date: Thursday, October 18, 2012, 8:54 PM

That's extremely interesting, Adrian.  I've never heard of a noisy varactor,
but then I've never looked for one, either.  It'd be great if some of the
problems that have been blamed on jumping crystals were in fact caused by
the tuning diode.  What steps did you take to rule out the crystal and
narrow down the problem to the diode?  

-- john, KE5FX
Miles Design LLC

> -Original Message-
> From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-
> boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Adrian
> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 12:19 PM
> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> Subject: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode
> 
> Hello,
> 
> I found the 10811 in my 8662A to be quite noisy and was able to trace
> the problem down to the tuning diode.
> Actually, the phase noise started to jump when the oven heated up. As a
> quick solution, I replaced it with a SMD type that I had at hands.
> 
> I would appreciate any hint where to find an original diode (even though
> I could leave it as is).
> 
> As by the manual, the original is a '0122-0244 DIODE-VVC 100PF 5%
> C4/C25-MIN=2 BVR-30V Mfr. 28480'
> Mfr. 28480 is listed as HP, but the diode is marked 'M' for Motorola and
> '0244' and '312'.
> 
> Adrian
> 
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-
> bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.


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Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-19 Thread Azelio Boriani
I had a noisy varactor experience too: in my Tek 492 one day I noticed an
increase in the 0 beat noise and the PLL not working. When I replaced the
2.2GHz conversion varactor all was back to normal.

On Fri, Oct 19, 2012 at 6:54 AM, Tom Curlee  wrote:

> I'll second the interesting part.
>
> I have a problem with a 10 GHz brick oscillator LO that I converted to GPS
> lock.  I don't remember the instantaneous frequency jumps (around 200 - 400
> HZ at 10 GHz) before I did the GPS lock (although it's possible).  Please
> note that this is NOT any type of GPS phase shift.  I built a extremely
> slow frequency lock circuit that has a loop time in seconds.  The jump is
> instantaneous and I can then see the control voltage slowly change to
> correct the error.  When the frequency jumps back, the control voltage
> slowly follows.  Since this brick has the usual 106.5 MHz crystal
> (multiplied by 96 to get 10.224 GHz for the LO), I'm seeing at most 400 HZ
> / 96 shift in the crystal oscillator.
>
> I've wondered if I have a noisy varactor diode.  The diode selected was
> one I had around, selected only because it had a low-ish capacitance
> value.  I haven't gotten around to digging into the problem any farther.
>
> Anyone have any more info or ideas?
>
> 73,
>
> Tom  WB6UZZ
>
> --- On Thu, 10/18/12, John Miles  wrote:
>
> From: John Miles 
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode
> To: "'Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement'" <
> time-nuts@febo.com>
> Date: Thursday, October 18, 2012, 8:54 PM
>
> That's extremely interesting, Adrian.  I've never heard of a noisy
> varactor,
> but then I've never looked for one, either.  It'd be great if some of the
> problems that have been blamed on jumping crystals were in fact caused by
> the tuning diode.  What steps did you take to rule out the crystal and
> narrow down the problem to the diode?
>
> -- john, KE5FX
> Miles Design LLC
>
> > -Original Message-
> > From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-
> > boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Adrian
> > Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 12:19 PM
> > To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> > Subject: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > I found the 10811 in my 8662A to be quite noisy and was able to trace
> > the problem down to the tuning diode.
> > Actually, the phase noise started to jump when the oven heated up. As a
> > quick solution, I replaced it with a SMD type that I had at hands.
> >
> > I would appreciate any hint where to find an original diode (even though
> > I could leave it as is).
> >
> > As by the manual, the original is a '0122-0244 DIODE-VVC 100PF 5%
> > C4/C25-MIN=2 BVR-30V Mfr. 28480'
> > Mfr. 28480 is listed as HP, but the diode is marked 'M' for Motorola and
> > '0244' and '312'.
> >
> > Adrian
> >
> > ___
> > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> > To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-
> > bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> > and follow the instructions there.
>
>
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Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-19 Thread Adrian

Rick,

thanks for the hint. I had a 2x 45 pF SOT23 diode at hands that works 
fine. The frequency could be adjusted without any changes to the 
circuit. Now as the 10811 is back in the 8662A, the diode will most 
likely keep living happily in there.


John,

it's a bit tricky. First of all, you need a fast phase noise display 
like the 3048A spot measurement. Otherwise you have no (almost)  
immediate indication of changes and only get the average noise over a 
longer period displayed, which, of course, also indicates that there is 
something wrong.


For intermittent and temperature dependent failures, a little heat plus 
freeze spray can do wonders. I used a SMD hot air soldering tool that 
allows for selective heating.


In this case, the excessive noise was limited to offset frequencies 
below a few kHz. It appeared to be filtered by the crystal. So, there 
wasn't that much circuitry left, mostly the oscillator stage itself, the 
tunig circuit and power supply.


Adrian



John Miles schrieb:

That's extremely interesting, Adrian.  I've never heard of a noisy varactor,
but then I've never looked for one, either.  It'd be great if some of the
problems that have been blamed on jumping crystals were in fact caused by
the tuning diode.  What steps did you take to rule out the crystal and
narrow down the problem to the diode?

-- john, KE5FX
Miles Design LLC


-Original Message-
From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-
boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Adrian
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 12:19 PM
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
Subject: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

Hello,

I found the 10811 in my 8662A to be quite noisy and was able to trace
the problem down to the tuning diode.
Actually, the phase noise started to jump when the oven heated up. As a
quick solution, I replaced it with a SMD type that I had at hands.

I would appreciate any hint where to find an original diode (even though
I could leave it as is).

As by the manual, the original is a '0122-0244 DIODE-VVC 100PF 5%
C4/C25-MIN=2 BVR-30V Mfr. 28480'
Mfr. 28480 is listed as HP, but the diode is marked 'M' for Motorola and
'0244' and '312'.

Adrian

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Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-19 Thread Bob Camp
Hi

Varactors are typically biased through very large decoupling resistors. The
amazing part isn't that they get noisy, it's that they ever are quiet :)..
In most circuits if they ever leaked at the rated "max leakage" spec, you
would see all sorts of trouble. 

Bob

-Original Message-
From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On
Behalf Of John Miles
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 11:55 PM
To: 'Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement'
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

That's extremely interesting, Adrian.  I've never heard of a noisy varactor,
but then I've never looked for one, either.  It'd be great if some of the
problems that have been blamed on jumping crystals were in fact caused by
the tuning diode.  What steps did you take to rule out the crystal and
narrow down the problem to the diode?  

-- john, KE5FX
Miles Design LLC

> -Original Message-
> From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-
> boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Adrian
> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 12:19 PM
> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> Subject: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode
> 
> Hello,
> 
> I found the 10811 in my 8662A to be quite noisy and was able to trace
> the problem down to the tuning diode.
> Actually, the phase noise started to jump when the oven heated up. As a
> quick solution, I replaced it with a SMD type that I had at hands.
> 
> I would appreciate any hint where to find an original diode (even though
> I could leave it as is).
> 
> As by the manual, the original is a '0122-0244 DIODE-VVC 100PF 5%
> C4/C25-MIN=2 BVR-30V Mfr. 28480'
> Mfr. 28480 is listed as HP, but the diode is marked 'M' for Motorola and
> '0244' and '312'.
> 
> Adrian
> 
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-
> bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
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Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-19 Thread Rick Karlquist
I wonder if the glass case got a crack in it or if the kovar seal
was failing.  Maybe a failed solder joint (which gets fixed when you
install the new diode). I've never heard of a noisy varactor before either.

Rick


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Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-19 Thread DaveH
I do not know the circuit in question but could you unsolder the varactor,
solder in a 10pF cap and look at the output?

The frequency would not be stable but if the varactor was the culprit, you
should see less noise.

My 2¢ anyway
DaveH

> -Original Message-
> From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com 
> [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Rick Karlquist
> Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 11:01
> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode
> 
> I wonder if the glass case got a crack in it or if the kovar seal
> was failing.  Maybe a failed solder joint (which gets fixed when you
> install the new diode). I've never heard of a noisy varactor 
> before either.
> 
> Rick
> 
> 
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Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-19 Thread Rick Karlquist
Slightly off topic:  the oscillator transistor has some 1854-
part number, but is actually a 2N5179 selected for some minimum
fT at 30 mADC collector current.  When the oscillator starts up,
before the ALC takes effect, a fairly large DC current can flow
and some 2N5179's don't have enough gain to start oscillating.
The startup current isn't very well controlled.  This info from
one of the 10811 designers.

I have a few 100 pF 10% glass varactors in my junk box if you
can't get them anywhere else.  The spec is the same 2X capacitance
from 4 to 25 V, but a different - number because of the
10%.  They are probably at least 30 years old!

Rick Karlquist N6RK


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Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-19 Thread Adrian

I didn't notice any damage, nor was there a visibly bad solder joint.
However, I couldn't reproduce the excess noise with a quick bench test 
at 30V / 100k neither.

DC-wise there are a few microvolts only. Same with the SMD diode.
Exept, when the original glass diode is exposed to light. With a LED 
Maglite, I got up to 50 mV (across 100 kOhm) out of it!

But there is no light shining inside of a 10811, is there?

I had first suspected a 0.1 ceramic cap, but that didn't cure the phase 
noise desease.

The diode in the original circuit appeared to be heat sensitive,
and the excess phase noise has gone away since I replaced the diode.
The noise was clearly there, and it was also there using a test adapter 
and two lab power supplies.


Adrian

Rick Karlquist schrieb:

I wonder if the glass case got a crack in it or if the kovar seal
was failing.  Maybe a failed solder joint (which gets fixed when you
install the new diode). I've never heard of a noisy varactor before either.

Rick


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Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-19 Thread Bob Camp
Hi

The normal 10811 package has several openings in it. Light *might* get in
there. A "micro volts" level of noise can mess up your phase noise if it's
AC noise at a low frequency. 

Bob

-Original Message-
From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On
Behalf Of Adrian
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 4:10 PM
To: rich...@karlquist.com; Discussion of precise time and frequency
measurement
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

I didn't notice any damage, nor was there a visibly bad solder joint.
However, I couldn't reproduce the excess noise with a quick bench test 
at 30V / 100k neither.
DC-wise there are a few microvolts only. Same with the SMD diode.
Exept, when the original glass diode is exposed to light. With a LED 
Maglite, I got up to 50 mV (across 100 kOhm) out of it!
But there is no light shining inside of a 10811, is there?

I had first suspected a 0.1 ceramic cap, but that didn't cure the phase 
noise desease.
The diode in the original circuit appeared to be heat sensitive,
and the excess phase noise has gone away since I replaced the diode.
The noise was clearly there, and it was also there using a test adapter 
and two lab power supplies.

Adrian

Rick Karlquist schrieb:
> I wonder if the glass case got a crack in it or if the kovar seal
> was failing.  Maybe a failed solder joint (which gets fixed when you
> install the new diode). I've never heard of a noisy varactor before
either.
>
> Rick
>
>
> ___
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> To unsubscribe, go to
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>



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Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-19 Thread David McGaw
As I mentioned, the varactor is equivalent to the Motorola MV1650. I 
have a bunch as well left over from building VCXOs.  :-)


David


On 10/19/12 3:37 PM, Rick Karlquist wrote:

Slightly off topic:  the oscillator transistor has some 1854-
part number, but is actually a 2N5179 selected for some minimum
fT at 30 mADC collector current.  When the oscillator starts up,
before the ALC takes effect, a fairly large DC current can flow
and some 2N5179's don't have enough gain to start oscillating.
The startup current isn't very well controlled.  This info from
one of the 10811 designers.

I have a few 100 pF 10% glass varactors in my junk box if you
can't get them anywhere else.  The spec is the same 2X capacitance
from 4 to 25 V, but a different - number because of the
10%.  They are probably at least 30 years old!

Rick Karlquist N6RK


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Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-19 Thread Alan Melia
Rick, Adrian, I think there are a number of possibly material related areas 
that could cause a varicap to go noisy but I have no experience of them 
First a reversed biased diode makes quite a good particle detector :-)) and 
remanent radioactive atoms in say the glass could cause localised 
avalanches. This would seem unlikely because it would affect a whole batch 
but possible. I also wonder what the effect of strain, crystaline 
dislocations etc might do to the very small current flowing in a very high 
impedance. These can lead to odd effects when they penetrate the junction.. 
It could just be an unfortunate sample. I suspect the level of noise current 
is way below any specified meaured value.


Alan
G3NYK
- Original Message - 
From: "Adrian" 
To: ; "Discussion of precise time and frequency 
measurement" 

Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode



I didn't notice any damage, nor was there a visibly bad solder joint.
However, I couldn't reproduce the excess noise with a quick bench test at 
30V / 100k neither.

DC-wise there are a few microvolts only. Same with the SMD diode.
Exept, when the original glass diode is exposed to light. With a LED 
Maglite, I got up to 50 mV (across 100 kOhm) out of it!

But there is no light shining inside of a 10811, is there?

I had first suspected a 0.1 ceramic cap, but that didn't cure the phase 
noise desease.

The diode in the original circuit appeared to be heat sensitive,
and the excess phase noise has gone away since I replaced the diode.
The noise was clearly there, and it was also there using a test adapter 
and two lab power supplies.


Adrian

Rick Karlquist schrieb:

I wonder if the glass case got a crack in it or if the kovar seal
was failing.  Maybe a failed solder joint (which gets fixed when you
install the new diode). I've never heard of a noisy varactor before 
either.


Rick


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Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode

2012-10-19 Thread DaveH
Back in the dark ages while dinosaurs roamed the earth, I worked for a music
audio company outside of Seattle, WA called Tapco (they are now Mackie).

They were making PA amplifiers and I and three other people were doing final
test and burn-in. 

Had one that had a bit of a 60Hz hum on the output. I took the cover off and
the hum went up. Reached over to grab a scope lead and the hum died back
down.  Turns out one of the plastic transistors had a bubble in the case and
the fluorescent lighting was hitting the junction.

DaveH 

> -Original Message-
> From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com 
> [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On Behalf Of Bob Camp
> Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 13:20
> To: 'Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement'
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode
> 
> Hi
> 
> The normal 10811 package has several openings in it. Light 
> *might* get in
> there. A "micro volts" level of noise can mess up your phase 
> noise if it's
> AC noise at a low frequency. 
> 
> Bob
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com 
> [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On
> Behalf Of Adrian
> Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 4:10 PM
> To: rich...@karlquist.com; Discussion of precise time and frequency
> measurement
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] HP 10811 Tuning Diode
> 
> I didn't notice any damage, nor was there a visibly bad solder joint.
> However, I couldn't reproduce the excess noise with a quick 
> bench test 
> at 30V / 100k neither.
> DC-wise there are a few microvolts only. Same with the SMD diode.
> Exept, when the original glass diode is exposed to light. With a LED 
> Maglite, I got up to 50 mV (across 100 kOhm) out of it!
> But there is no light shining inside of a 10811, is there?
> 
> I had first suspected a 0.1 ceramic cap, but that didn't cure 
> the phase 
> noise desease.
> The diode in the original circuit appeared to be heat sensitive,
> and the excess phase noise has gone away since I replaced the diode.
> The noise was clearly there, and it was also there using a 
> test adapter 
> and two lab power supplies.
> 
> Adrian
> 
> Rick Karlquist schrieb:
> > I wonder if the glass case got a crack in it or if the kovar seal
> > was failing.  Maybe a failed solder joint (which gets fixed when you
> > install the new diode). I've never heard of a noisy varactor before
> either.
> >
> > Rick
> >
> >
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> >
> 
> 
> 
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