Empathy List Archives

JG

Joseph Gray

Thu, Feb 25, 2016 4:37 AM

I just took a look at my Z3801A that has been in holdover for some
time. I have been too busy to do anything about it until now.

Before looking at the receiver stats just now, my first guess was that
the Oncore GPS board went bad. However, I see that it is currently
tracking 4 sats. I also see that the 1pps is invalid. Does this still
point to a failed Oncore board?

Attached is a screenshot showing the receiver stats.

I will open this thing up over the weekend to check voltages and such.
Until then, any tips on where to look are appreciated.

Joe Gray
W5JG

I just took a look at my Z3801A that has been in holdover for some time. I have been too busy to do anything about it until now. Before looking at the receiver stats just now, my first guess was that the Oncore GPS board went bad. However, I see that it is currently tracking 4 sats. I also see that the 1pps is invalid. Does this still point to a failed Oncore board? Attached is a screenshot showing the receiver stats. I will open this thing up over the weekend to check voltages and such. Until then, any tips on where to look are appreciated. Joe Gray W5JG

AM

Artek Manuals

Thu, Feb 25, 2016 8:54 AM

On 2/24/2016 11:37 PM, Joseph Gray wrote:

I just took a look at my Z3801A that has been in holdover for some
time. I have been too busy to do anything about it until now.

Before looking at the receiver stats just now, my first guess was that
the Oncore GPS board went bad. However, I see that it is currently
tracking 4 sats. I also see that the 1pps is invalid. Does this still
point to a failed Oncore board?

Attached is a screenshot showing the receiver stats.

I will open this thing up over the weekend to check voltages and such.
Until then, any tips on where to look are appreciated.

Joe Gray
W5JG

Joe

I'm no expert since I've only just begun playing with my Z3801A for the
last 6 weeks after having it in mothballs for 15 years but having just
gone through a Oncore failure on the surface it seems unlikely I would
wish for slightly better signal strengths but I dont know what you
experienced in the past.

I am led to believe that EFC errors are typically associated with the
Oscillator unit itself rather than the Oncore receiver,My first guess
after that is the 10811 oscillator has "aged" out of a correctable
range. In Z38xx program open the the graph window and send us a screen
shot of that window, this should give us and idea of what the actual EFC
value and behavior was just before things died.

My next instinct ( but wait for a few other more experienced comments
come out) is to turn the unit off and let it cool down for a day then do
a cold start :SYSTEM:PRESET followed by a GPS:POS;SURV:ONCE command and
see if it re-initializes. Takes about 2 hours typically since you have
known good position data.

There is a description of the power supply and oven control circuitry
for the oven on KO4BB.com .search for Z3801A in the MANUALS section You
are basically looking to see if +/- 15VDC and +5VVDC lines are correct

Dave
NR1DX

--
Dave
Manuals@ArtekManuals.com
www.ArtekManuals.com

This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus

On 2/24/2016 11:37 PM, Joseph Gray wrote: > I just took a look at my Z3801A that has been in holdover for some > time. I have been too busy to do anything about it until now. > > Before looking at the receiver stats just now, my first guess was that > the Oncore GPS board went bad. However, I see that it is currently > tracking 4 sats. I also see that the 1pps is invalid. Does this still > point to a failed Oncore board? > > Attached is a screenshot showing the receiver stats. > > I will open this thing up over the weekend to check voltages and such. > Until then, any tips on where to look are appreciated. > > Joe Gray > W5JG Joe I'm no expert since I've only just begun playing with my Z3801A for the last 6 weeks after having it in mothballs for 15 years but having just gone through a Oncore failure on the surface it seems unlikely I would wish for slightly better signal strengths but I dont know what you experienced in the past. I am led to believe that EFC errors are typically associated with the Oscillator unit itself rather than the Oncore receiver,My first guess after that is the 10811 oscillator has "aged" out of a correctable range. In Z38xx program open the the graph window and send us a screen shot of that window, this should give us and idea of what the actual EFC value and behavior was just before things died. My next instinct ( but wait for a few other more experienced comments come out) is to turn the unit off and let it cool down for a day then do a cold start :SYSTEM:PRESET followed by a GPS:POS;SURV:ONCE command and see if it re-initializes. Takes about 2 hours typically since you have known good position data. There is a description of the power supply and oven control circuitry for the oven on KO4BB.com .search for Z3801A in the MANUALS section You are basically looking to see if +/- 15VDC and +5VVDC lines are correct Dave NR1DX -- Dave Manuals@ArtekManuals.com www.ArtekManuals.com --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

BC

Bob Camp

Thu, Feb 25, 2016 12:27 PM

Hi

The TRAIM error will happen with a small number of sats and a location
estimate that is less than perfect. I would not go to crazy about that part.

First question — why so few sats? You really need to have full screen of
locked sats. That can be a feed line / antenna issue. The old Oncore boards
are pretty deaf. A setup that works fine with other stuff … maybe not so much
with one of them.

Second question — did the unit get moved from somewhere else and still
thinks it is in the other location? If so it would struggle just like the screen shows.

I’d get those two out of the way first.

Bob

On Feb 24, 2016, at 11:37 PM, Joseph Gray jgray@zianet.com wrote:

I just took a look at my Z3801A that has been in holdover for some
time. I have been too busy to do anything about it until now.

Before looking at the receiver stats just now, my first guess was that
the Oncore GPS board went bad. However, I see that it is currently
tracking 4 sats. I also see that the 1pps is invalid. Does this still
point to a failed Oncore board?

Attached is a screenshot showing the receiver stats.

I will open this thing up over the weekend to check voltages and such.
Until then, any tips on where to look are appreciated.

Joe Gray
W5JG
<ScreenClip.png>_______________________________________________
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Hi The TRAIM error will happen with a small number of sats and a location estimate that is less than perfect. I would not go to crazy about that part. First question — why so few sats? You really need to have full screen of locked sats. That can be a feed line / antenna issue. The old Oncore boards are pretty deaf. A setup that works fine with other stuff … maybe not so much with one of them. Second question — did the unit get moved from somewhere else and still thinks it is in the other location? If so it would struggle just like the screen shows. I’d get those two out of the way first. Bob > On Feb 24, 2016, at 11:37 PM, Joseph Gray <jgray@zianet.com> wrote: > > I just took a look at my Z3801A that has been in holdover for some > time. I have been too busy to do anything about it until now. > > Before looking at the receiver stats just now, my first guess was that > the Oncore GPS board went bad. However, I see that it is currently > tracking 4 sats. I also see that the 1pps is invalid. Does this still > point to a failed Oncore board? > > Attached is a screenshot showing the receiver stats. > > I will open this thing up over the weekend to check voltages and such. > Until then, any tips on where to look are appreciated. > > Joe Gray > W5JG > <ScreenClip.png>_______________________________________________ > 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.

JG

Joseph Gray

Thu, Feb 25, 2016 2:09 PM

Dave,

Thanks for the tips. I also got a message off list telling me about
the EFC issue and that I missed this discussion recently on the list.

Last night, I power cycled the Z3801A. It has been running all night.
Attached is the graph you requested. If I read this correctly, yes, it
looks like the unit has maxed out the EFC voltage one way.

Joe Gray
W5JG

On Thu, Feb 25, 2016 at 1:54 AM, Artek Manuals Manuals@artekmanuals.com wrote:

On 2/24/2016 11:37 PM, Joseph Gray wrote:

I just took a look at my Z3801A that has been in holdover for some
time. I have been too busy to do anything about it until now.

Before looking at the receiver stats just now, my first guess was that
the Oncore GPS board went bad. However, I see that it is currently
tracking 4 sats. I also see that the 1pps is invalid. Does this still
point to a failed Oncore board?

Attached is a screenshot showing the receiver stats.

I will open this thing up over the weekend to check voltages and such.
Until then, any tips on where to look are appreciated.

Joe Gray
W5JG

Joe

I'm no expert since I've only just begun playing with my Z3801A for the last
6 weeks after having it in mothballs for 15 years but having just gone
through a Oncore failure on the surface it seems unlikely I would wish for
slightly better signal strengths but I dont know what you experienced in the
past.

I am led to believe that EFC errors are typically associated with the
Oscillator unit itself rather than the Oncore receiver,My first guess after
that is the 10811 oscillator has "aged" out of a correctable range. In Z38xx
program open the the graph window and send us a screen shot of that window,
this should give us and idea of what the actual EFC value and behavior was
just before things died.

My next instinct ( but wait for a few other more experienced comments come
out) is to turn the unit off and let it cool down for a day then do a cold
start :SYSTEM:PRESET followed by a GPS:POS;SURV:ONCE command and see if it
re-initializes. Takes about 2 hours typically since you have known good
position data.

There is a description of the power supply and oven control circuitry for
the oven on KO4BB.com .search for Z3801A in the MANUALS section You are
basically looking to see if +/- 15VDC and +5VVDC lines are correct

Dave
NR1DX

--
Dave
Manuals@ArtekManuals.com
www.ArtekManuals.com

This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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.

Dave, Thanks for the tips. I also got a message off list telling me about the EFC issue and that I missed this discussion recently on the list. Last night, I power cycled the Z3801A. It has been running all night. Attached is the graph you requested. If I read this correctly, yes, it looks like the unit has maxed out the EFC voltage one way. Joe Gray W5JG On Thu, Feb 25, 2016 at 1:54 AM, Artek Manuals <Manuals@artekmanuals.com> wrote: > On 2/24/2016 11:37 PM, Joseph Gray wrote: >> >> I just took a look at my Z3801A that has been in holdover for some >> time. I have been too busy to do anything about it until now. >> >> Before looking at the receiver stats just now, my first guess was that >> the Oncore GPS board went bad. However, I see that it is currently >> tracking 4 sats. I also see that the 1pps is invalid. Does this still >> point to a failed Oncore board? >> >> Attached is a screenshot showing the receiver stats. >> >> I will open this thing up over the weekend to check voltages and such. >> Until then, any tips on where to look are appreciated. >> >> Joe Gray >> W5JG > > > > Joe > > I'm no expert since I've only just begun playing with my Z3801A for the last > 6 weeks after having it in mothballs for 15 years but having just gone > through a Oncore failure on the surface it seems unlikely I would wish for > slightly better signal strengths but I dont know what you experienced in the > past. > > I am led to believe that EFC errors are typically associated with the > Oscillator unit itself rather than the Oncore receiver,My first guess after > that is the 10811 oscillator has "aged" out of a correctable range. In Z38xx > program open the the graph window and send us a screen shot of that window, > this should give us and idea of what the actual EFC value and behavior was > just before things died. > > My next instinct ( but wait for a few other more experienced comments come > out) is to turn the unit off and let it cool down for a day then do a cold > start :SYSTEM:PRESET followed by a GPS:POS;SURV:ONCE command and see if it > re-initializes. Takes about 2 hours typically since you have known good > position data. > > There is a description of the power supply and oven control circuitry for > the oven on KO4BB.com .search for Z3801A in the MANUALS section You are > basically looking to see if +/- 15VDC and +5VVDC lines are correct > > Dave > NR1DX > > > -- > Dave > Manuals@ArtekManuals.com > www.ArtekManuals.com > > --- > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > https://www.avast.com/antivirus > > _______________________________________________ > 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. >

AM

Artek Manuals

Thu, Feb 25, 2016 3:38 PM

Joe

It would have been helpful to see the graph BEFORE you power-cycled if
you still have that data stream

I would not jump to any conclusions at this point until the power supply
voltages have been checked . Downloading the schematics from KO4BB.com
of the power supply and oven control circuits will give you some insight
. There are numerous test points on the power supply board which make
reading the various voltages a snap.

The 1 PPS being invalid I believe points to the fact that the DO is out
of whack not the receiver.

I see your unit now has 28,000 hours on it so it is no longer a spring
chicken for sure
Dave

On 2/25/2016 9:09 AM, Joseph Gray wrote:

Dave,

Thanks for the tips. I also got a message off list telling me about
the EFC issue and that I missed this discussion recently on the list.

Last night, I power cycled the Z3801A. It has been running all night.
Attached is the graph you requested. If I read this correctly, yes, it
looks like the unit has maxed out the EFC voltage one way.

Joe Gray
W5JG

On Thu, Feb 25, 2016 at 1:54 AM, Artek ManualsManuals@artekmanuals.com wrote:

On 2/24/2016 11:37 PM, Joseph Gray wrote:

I just took a look at my Z3801A that has been in holdover for some
time. I have been too busy to do anything about it until now.

Before looking at the receiver stats just now, my first guess was that
the Oncore GPS board went bad. However, I see that it is currently
tracking 4 sats. I also see that the 1pps is invalid. Does this still
point to a failed Oncore board?

Attached is a screenshot showing the receiver stats.

I will open this thing up over the weekend to check voltages and such.
Until then, any tips on where to look are appreciated.

Joe Gray
W5JG

--
Dave
Manuals@ArtekManuals.com
www.ArtekManuals.com

This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus

Joe It would have been helpful to see the graph BEFORE you power-cycled if you still have that data stream I would not jump to any conclusions at this point until the power supply voltages have been checked . Downloading the schematics from KO4BB.com of the power supply and oven control circuits will give you some insight . There are numerous test points on the power supply board which make reading the various voltages a snap. The 1 PPS being invalid I believe points to the fact that the DO is out of whack not the receiver. I see your unit now has 28,000 hours on it so it is no longer a spring chicken for sure Dave On 2/25/2016 9:09 AM, Joseph Gray wrote: > Dave, > > Thanks for the tips. I also got a message off list telling me about > the EFC issue and that I missed this discussion recently on the list. > > Last night, I power cycled the Z3801A. It has been running all night. > Attached is the graph you requested. If I read this correctly, yes, it > looks like the unit has maxed out the EFC voltage one way. > > Joe Gray > W5JG > > > On Thu, Feb 25, 2016 at 1:54 AM, Artek Manuals<Manuals@artekmanuals.com> wrote: >> >On 2/24/2016 11:37 PM, Joseph Gray wrote: >>> >> >>> >>I just took a look at my Z3801A that has been in holdover for some >>> >>time. I have been too busy to do anything about it until now. >>> >> >>> >>Before looking at the receiver stats just now, my first guess was that >>> >>the Oncore GPS board went bad. However, I see that it is currently >>> >>tracking 4 sats. I also see that the 1pps is invalid. Does this still >>> >>point to a failed Oncore board? >>> >> >>> >>Attached is a screenshot showing the receiver stats. >>> >> >>> >>I will open this thing up over the weekend to check voltages and such. >>> >>Until then, any tips on where to look are appreciated. >>> >> >>> >>Joe Gray >>> >>W5JG >> > -- Dave Manuals@ArtekManuals.com www.ArtekManuals.com --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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Z3801A holdover