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Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement

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Re: [time-nuts] MCXO and dual mode

HM
Hal Murray
Wed, Jun 7, 2017 5:04 AM

Let’s say both modes are running into a 32 pf load and it is a single
capacitor.

I'm missing the big picture.

Can I run both modes at the same time?  Or do I switch between them?

The beat frequency shifts since the two modes do not tune identically.

That sounds like they are running at the same time.

What does the output look like?  I'd expect beats so the signal would drop
out for many cycles if I looked at the right place in time.  Is that sort of
signal good for anything other than being a thermometer?

--
These are my opinions.  I hate spam.

kb8tq@n1k.org said: > Let’s say both modes are running into a 32 pf load and it is a single > capacitor. I'm missing the big picture. Can I run both modes at the same time? Or do I switch between them? > The beat frequency shifts since the two modes do not tune identically. That sounds like they are running at the same time. What does the output look like? I'd expect beats so the signal would drop out for many cycles if I looked at the right place in time. Is that sort of signal good for anything other than being a thermometer? -- These are my opinions. I hate spam.
BK
Bob kb8tq
Wed, Jun 7, 2017 2:36 PM

Hi

Yes, you run both modes at the same time. You wire up two oscillator circuits to the
same crystal. One runs at the fundamental and the other runs at the third overtone.
The two have a different temperature coefficient. (yes, that’s a bit weird, but it is true).
The “offset” between the two modes lets you read out the temperature.

If you build it properly, each oscillator will have a spur at the “other”
frequency. That may or may not be an issue. If you use the fundamental output,
the third looks a lot like a third harmonic (but not quite ….).  Using the third
overtone is a bit more problematic since the harmonic of the fundamental
will create a close in spur.

Bob

On Jun 7, 2017, at 1:04 AM, Hal Murray hmurray@megapathdsl.net wrote:

kb8tq@n1k.org said:

Let’s say both modes are running into a 32 pf load and it is a single
capacitor.

I'm missing the big picture.

Can I run both modes at the same time?  Or do I switch between them?

The beat frequency shifts since the two modes do not tune identically.

That sounds like they are running at the same time.

What does the output look like?  I'd expect beats so the signal would drop
out for many cycles if I looked at the right place in time.  Is that sort of
signal good for anything other than being a thermometer?

--
These are my opinions.  I hate spam.


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Hi Yes, you run both modes at the same time. You wire up two oscillator circuits to the same crystal. One runs at the fundamental and the other runs at the third overtone. The two have a different temperature coefficient. (yes, that’s a bit weird, but it is true). The “offset” between the two modes lets you read out the temperature. If you build it properly, each oscillator will have a spur at the “other” frequency. That may or may not be an issue. If you use the fundamental output, the third looks a lot like a third harmonic (but not quite ….). Using the third overtone is a bit more problematic since the harmonic of the fundamental will create a close in spur. Bob > On Jun 7, 2017, at 1:04 AM, Hal Murray <hmurray@megapathdsl.net> wrote: > > > kb8tq@n1k.org said: >> Let’s say both modes are running into a 32 pf load and it is a single >> capacitor. > > I'm missing the big picture. > > Can I run both modes at the same time? Or do I switch between them? > >> The beat frequency shifts since the two modes do not tune identically. > > That sounds like they are running at the same time. > > What does the output look like? I'd expect beats so the signal would drop > out for many cycles if I looked at the right place in time. Is that sort of > signal good for anything other than being a thermometer? > > -- > These are my opinions. I hate spam. > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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.