John, I would be very interested. Planning to set up an NTP Server on the NSLU2. Has anyone attempted something similar, i.e. NTP on Linux running on XScale/ARM, disciplined with PPS?
Regards, Martin - DL2VW ----- Original Nachricht ---- Von: John Ackermann N8UR <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> An: timekeepers@fortytwo.ch,time-nuts@febo.com,[EMAIL PROTECTED],questions@lists.ntp.isc.org,tacgps@lists.tapr.org Datum: 16.08.2006 22:49 Betreff: [time-nuts] Query: Interest in clock synthesizer module -- useful for stabilizing PC timekeeping (among other things) > I'm working on a project for TAPR (http://www.tapr.org) that might be of > interest to the timekeeping community. > > It's a very simple clock synthesizer called the "Clock-Block" that > accepts a reference input in the roughly 2-50MHz range and generates an > output in the 5-250MHz range, programmable by a series of jumpers or > switches. > > My primary inspiration for designing this circuit was Poul-Henning > Kemp's suggestion that it would work nicely to replace the crystal > oscillator on a PC to allow much more stable timekeeping. For example, > it can generate 14.318182MHz or 33.333333MHz from a GPS disciplined > oscillator or other stable reference. A PC with a Clock-Block and > external reference should be able to keep *very* good NTP time. > > But there are likely to be other interesting uses as well; one I'm > considering is replacing the clock in a sound card to get precise sample > rates. > > There's information about my prototype (and a picture) at > http://www.febo.com/time-freq/hardware/ICS525/ > > The prototype works well and we are now ready to move to production. > Before we do that, I'd like to get a sense of the interest level (if > any), and in particular whether there's enough demand to warrant an > semi-kit or assembled version instead of TAPR's usual bag o' parts. > > As a kit, the Clock-Block would be quite inexpensive; we haven't > finalized the BOM yet but I believe TAPR would be able to sell it for > well under $50. > > However, assembly may be problematic for some folks, because the > synthesizer chip is a "SSOP" surface mount package with about 0.5mm lead > pitch. I've had no trouble putting down these chips using a microscope > and small iron but not everyone may be willing to take on that challenge. > > I am guessing that given the likely low volume, a semi-kit (all the > surface mount parts soldered down, but the remaining parts -- two DIP > switches and four 2 pin headers -- left as an exercise for the buyer, > would cost in the range of $80-$100. > > A fully assembled and tested version would probably be $100-120 (most of > the increased cost is testing, not soldering down the few remaining parts). > > I've tried to be conservative in these prices and I hope the actual > price will be lower, but don't know that for sure at this point. A lot > depends on quantity so there's a bit of chicken and egg here. > > I'm hoping to collect no-obligation expressions of interest from this > group, assuming prices in the ranges described above. If you'd be > interested in buying one or more Clock-Blocks, please let me know > privately how many, and what version. > > Thanks! > > John Ackermann > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list > time-nuts@febo.com > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list time-nuts@febo.com https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
