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Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement

Re: [time-nuts] Ashtech Z-12 firmware?

Sat, Aug 27, 2016 5:44 AM

Hi Gregory,
For a long time ftp://ftp.ashtech.com was useful.

Björn

Sent from my smartphone.
-------- Original message --------From: Gregory Maxwell gmaxwell@gmail.com Date: 27/08/2016 01:34 (GMT+01:00) To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement time-nuts@febo.com Subject: [time-nuts] Ashtech Z-12 firmware?
I recently picked up a couple non-functional Ashtech Z-12 receivers
with the external frequency input (these appear to PLL an internal
TCXO; I understand there are other models where they replace the TCXO
completely).

I was hoping to use them both better data sources for common view time
transfer with better performance than the GPS L1/CA that I've been
using; as well as using them for ground truth data for a SDR
semi-codeless CRPA receiver I'm slowly building.

These units were hanging at startup at "Downloading channel". I
determined that they would work a single time if the memory were
cleared (by holding an arrow, right for external up for internal,
during start). Because the internal 3.6v primary cell batteries were
reading about 40mv I took a guess that the low battery was causing
memory corruption across restarts.

New batteries and a bit of soldering later, and they are working
reliably across restarts, locking sats on L1/L2, talking on RS232,
etc. (hurrah). Hopefully this message in the archives is useful if
someone else encounters similar symptoms.

Before I go further I was wondering if anyone knew of a source for
firmware for these old units? One of mine is marked "Z-12 700751-6
(b)", unfortunately it seems ashtech has been sold many times, and the
old web/ftp sites have been scattered to the wind.

The nearest I was able to find was this page
http://kb.unavco.org/kb/article/astech-micro-z---firmware,-firmware-release-notes,-firmware-upload-programs-and-how-to-use-them-368.html
with micro-Z firmware.

[If there is a relevant GNSS nuts list, I'd be glad to hear about it--
my interest is in CVTT but perhaps somewhere else there is a den of
people obsessed with old survey hardware that would prefer these
questions.]

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Hi Gregory, For a long time ftp://ftp.ashtech.com was useful. -- Björn Sent from my smartphone. -------- Original message --------From: Gregory Maxwell <gmaxwell@gmail.com> Date: 27/08/2016 01:34 (GMT+01:00) To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement <time-nuts@febo.com> Subject: [time-nuts] Ashtech Z-12 firmware? I recently picked up a couple non-functional Ashtech Z-12 receivers with the external frequency input (these appear to PLL an internal TCXO; I understand there are other models where they replace the TCXO completely). I was hoping to use them both better data sources for common view time transfer with better performance than the GPS L1/CA that I've been using; as well as using them for ground truth data for a SDR semi-codeless CRPA receiver I'm slowly building. These units were hanging at startup at "Downloading channel". I determined that they would work a single time if the memory were cleared (by holding an arrow, right for external up for internal, during start). Because the internal 3.6v primary cell batteries were reading about 40mv I took a guess that the low battery was causing memory corruption across restarts. New batteries and a bit of soldering later, and they are working reliably across restarts, locking sats on L1/L2, talking on RS232, etc. (hurrah). Hopefully this message in the archives is useful if someone else encounters similar symptoms. Before I go further I was wondering if anyone knew of a source for firmware for these old units? One of mine is marked "Z-12 700751-6 (b)", unfortunately it seems ashtech has been sold many times, and the old web/ftp sites have been scattered to the wind. The nearest I was able to find was this page http://kb.unavco.org/kb/article/astech-micro-z---firmware,-firmware-release-notes,-firmware-upload-programs-and-how-to-use-them-368.html with micro-Z firmware. [If there is a relevant GNSS nuts list, I'd be glad to hear about it-- my interest is in CVTT but perhaps somewhere else there is a den of people obsessed with old survey hardware that would prefer these questions.] _______________________________________________ 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.