Very interesting... is it using the binary protocol? Maybe a serial link error, the binary protocol has a checksum (yes, NMEA too). Check the serial link levels with a 'scope, maybe that the Z3801 firmware waits to see some consecutive errors before actually reporting that something is wrong, meanwhile the satellite number is set to 0.
On Mon, Nov 5, 2012 at 10:38 PM, Ed Palmer <ed_pal...@sasktel.net> wrote: > I've had a Z3801A for about a year. It's always had an issue where the > number of satellites tracked will drop to zero for one or two readings and > then jump right back where it was ( often at 5 or 6 satellites ). This > often (but not always) affects the EFC and/or PPS and/or HUP. My Tbolt is > running on the same antenna via an HP58536A splitter with no problems. > I've changed cables and splitter ports with no improvement. I've also > checked the power supply voltages and the frequencies of the two crystals > on the Z3801A board. All are fine. > > I assumed that the VP was flaky so I recently pulled it out for testing > and found no problems. I then tapped into the link between the VP and the > Z3801A and found that the number of tracked satellites reported by the > Z3801A is often less than the number reported by the VP. Specifically, > I've seen the VP report 6 satellites tracked at the exact same second that > the Z3801A is claiming that there are no (zero) satellites tracked. > > Does anyone know if there are any hidden parameters that the Z3801A is > using to decide if a satellite is acceptable? I looked through the manual > but I couldn't find anything. Is there a command I'm missing? > > Thanks, > > Ed > > > _______________________________________________ > 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.
