Random time nuttery fun this evening which will result in more test gear being purchased but only if it has a 10MHz reference input. Ooh need a distribution amp then too. DG1022Z and the TF930 have reference inputs.
Firstly box arrived (Takachi YM-180) and parts chucked in. Made a little crappy 7805 power supply for the digital boards. Rough parts placement. Plan is to have external GPS antenna, QRP labs clock kit as front end + display and the PLL board at the rear will use the 1pps to derive a 10MHz reference which will be farted out the back. Most of the bits are still on the slow boat from China though ![ThumbsDown :--](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/icon_thumbsdown.gif)
![](https://i.imgur.com/Btwh8Ey.jpg)
That only took a few minutes. Next toy was evaluation of VCTCXO blocks to see if they are any good for this application. Metcal+X-Acto+FR4+SMD = best protoyping method ever. Managed to squeeze an MCP1700 LDO and some caps on there too as the rest of the system is 5V and this is a 3.3V part.
Unfortunately it looks like the initial accuracy plus pulling range isn't quite good enough for this to cover a reasonable span BECAUSE I MISREAD THE DATASHEET
. Ergo back to the drawing board. £5 down the shitter as always but it'll do reasonably well as a quick 10MHz calibration ref for scopes. All is not lost.
Specmaster: btw the wires on that are legs off the ones in those big boxes of resistors we ripped RS off for
(found a use!)
Metcal is amazing for this stuff. You can literally touch one end of a wire and be done before the other end gets hot. Plus groundplanes? Pah. I remember getting my Antex C15 stuck to FR4 many years ago and having to snap it off. This thing stays hotter than satan's bollocks.
Edit: also have discovered 62/36/2 silver solder. The stuff is amazing.
Anyway going to bed as it feels like my eyeballs are going to fall out after staring at that for the last hour.
Yup. I use this technique all the time with my MetCal and my big Weller GT7. It's how I fixed the shaft on that Hitachi V212 as well. I've gotten used to working hot & fast; I weld the same way too.
Well, not hotter... it just delivers MORE HEAT. Big difference. I can turn my T12 up to 480 degrees and it still won't do half what my MetCal can do. I'm pretty sure you know the difference; it's just that if we who know don't use the right terms, how can we expect the noobs to learn?
Yes... "silver bearing solder" is magical. I've kept some in my toolbox ever since I discovered the stuff at Radidio Shack as a teen. (Back when they got all their solder from Kester) The lead-free stuff is a pain in the testes to work with, but once you get the right amount of heat on the work so you get decent wetting, all the impurities burn off and what's left can be shaped & polished into ornamental-quality finished product.
In other news...Since $15 HP laptop has been running continuously in PERFORMANCE Power Profile with Sleep/Hibernate turned OFF for 24 hours without issue, it has now become a $40 HP laptop. New keyboard & battery from slAmazon will be here Monday; $25.41 delivered.
In OTHER, other news...Bunk Fluke 189 was delivered today; refund is in my account. Finished my list of local pawn shops; almost bought a rebranded Vici VC97 for $15, but decided I'd rather spend the extra 15 for a new V99. Otherwise, nothing better than that 179 for $220. I must have lost my mind; I'm seriously considering going back there after the 1st, when it supposedly will drop to $180.
![Face Palm :palm:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/facepalm.gif)
mnem
now what?