I forgot to mention, I have a scan of the manual, it's around 7 MB. The manual came in pretty poor shape, hence the scan.
73, Dick, W1KSZ -----Original Message----- >From: John Ackermann N8UR <j...@febo.com> >Sent: Mar 17, 2011 1:22 PM >To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement <time-nuts@febo.com> >Cc: David Olean K1WHS <k1...@metrocast.net> >Subject: Re: [time-nuts] HP106B crystal oscillator > >Dave, I haven't seen an actual Manson standard, but I do recall that one >was listed in an ancient Tucker catalog (from the early 80s). I'm just >now unpacking my library after our move, and should soon uncover that >catalog if I still have it. Let me know if you'd like me to scan the >Manson info for you -- it's only a picture and a few words, plus >Tucker's used price. > >73, >John >---- >On 3/17/2011 3:34 PM, David Olean K1WHS wrote: >> >> I have a vintage HP 106B crystal oscillator. It has been sitting around for >> a few years and I just recently found a schematic for it. It was enough so I >> could dig in and check things out. The first thing I tried when I got it was >> to run the unit on external power as the internal PS seemed to be hosed. The >> oscillator fired up and stabilized at something very close to 5 MHz so I >> suspected that the ovens were working properly. There it sat for a few >> years until I found a schematic so I could fix the power supply. >> The first chore was to remove the old and defunct NiCd battery pack and >> I discovered that it was causing the power supply to be NG. I ordered some >> new D Cell NiCDs (20 in fact) and rebuilt the NiCd pack. Once the shorted >> cells were removed the supply started working again and all voltages are >> within range. I was thrilled to get it working. With the new cells in place, >> they trickle charge and will run the unit for many hours during power >> failures and moves. >> This HP106B was in the cal lab at Sanders Associates at Nashua, NH. It >> was apparently scrapped around 2006, and ended up out in the weather in a >> metal scrap yard in Northwood, NH where my brother found it and then he gave >> it to me. He knew I liked precision things so figured I would like the >> HP106B. (Good thinking!) At present there are only two issues with the unit. >> The meter face is cracked and partially broken. But what do you expect from >> getting thrown in a dump anyway? The fine tuning gear train has a problem >> and seems to be binding up with only a limited range of travel. I hope I can >> find a new meter cover. The movement is perfectly fine. >> Now that it is working, I plugged it in and it has been running for >> about 2 weeks. Initial results are encouraging. I set freq with the coarse >> adjustment and so far it seems to be quite stable when compared to a Z3801. >> My initial setting produced results within 4 parts in 10-9 of the Z3801, and >> that has remained pretty much constant these last two weeks. (I compare >> frequencies on 10,368 MHz to see how close the counters are) To get the >> initial setting, I used an oscilloscope to freeze the two traces (Z3801& >> HP106B) I was not too careful but I am encouraged that the drift over 2 >> weeks seems to be non existent as far as I can see. Eventually, I will get >> up my nerve and attack the fine tuning gear train. First I need to run >> things for a few months and try to get a feel for how well the oscillator is >> working. Then I have to figure out the best way to calibrate it! >> I also have a pair of old tube type Manson proportional oven >> oscillators. Part #s are RD-140 and RD-146. They are 1 MHz units. I have >> one of those running but suspect that they are not very good performers. I >> just turned it on, and after a few days still see fluctuations of +/- 0.2 >> Hz. Maybe I need to DC regulate the filament of the oscillator tube? That is >> an obvious source of error. Possibly I could run it on a constant voltage >> transformer to test my theory. These old klunker oscillators are fun. So >> much labor went into their construction etc, that I feel it is a sacrilege >> to ignominiously heave them into the dumpster. They deserve better! Has >> anyone else ever seen these Manson oscillators? >> >> Dave Olean K1WHS >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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. > > >_______________________________________________ >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. _______________________________________________ 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.
