Another 10MHz source

M0RVB January 30, 2026

I seem to be gathering 10MHz stuff for some reason - but there is a plan. The latest toy to arrive is this BG7TBL 10MHz / 1pps GPSDO which arrived very quickly from China via Aliexpress.

A photo of a BG7TBL GPSDO with a green facia, two BNC connectors, a D-type connector and three LEDs.

The primary role for this will be to feed the 10MHz distribution amplifier which in turn drives a few bits of equipment, plus give a 1pps signal to the rubidium oscillator (just for fun really!). My previous 10MHz source was the DX Patrol GPSDO which has been retired.

Now I need to arrange all this frequency stuff somewhere rather than it being spread about. It's a pity this and the distribution amplifier need a maximum of 12.9V so the make shack PSUs are out and I set up a 12V SMPSU (which seems RF quiet fortunately) specifically for these plus the 12V for the Winterhill box.

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M0RVB December 3, 2025

Rubidium source

Finally I have a rubidium 10MHz oscillator to play with. It is a Symmetricom X72 that needs between 10 and 32V input, so the shack supply will be fine. It came built into a case which also has a power and unlock LED on the front plus a fan. Why you ask? Well, I do not really know but I wanted one! Once it arrived I checked it over and powered it up. It took aroud 4 minutes for the unlock LED to go out and it has been giving a constant 10MHz sinewave frequency output since then. The unit has a 1pps input and output plus a serial interface which I have yet to investigate. It is also apparently controllable with the Lady Heather control program, something else I have yet to play with.

M0RVB November 27, 2025

10MHz++

I finally got myself one of the BG7TBL 10MHz distribution amplifiers. I (will) have a few devices that need a 10MHz input for frequency stability so this is handy. It actually came from China via Aliexpress a lot cheaper than similar (and rare) offerings on eBay, and it only took 5 days. Anyway, here it is: The 10MHz source is coming from the DX Patrol GPSDO and as a test one output is to a 'scope and one to a counter. Rather unexpectedly (to me) it takes a square wave feed from the DX Patrol but gives out 8 separate sinewaves. Of note, the voltage input is specified as 11.7 to 12.9V, not the usual 13.8V. But as I need 12V for the Winterhill and the 13cm transverter I already have 12V around the place. Although this one says it has an OXCO this one does not - it is an option but I decided against it. I have a decent 10MHz OXCO if I ever need it.

M0RVB July 10, 2022

Yet another new toy

I acquired a DTX1 DATV transmitter. Although this is rather dated now it is still a useful tx capable of transmitting between 350 and 1350MHz. As a test setup over my usual 6" or so transmission path here it is on 437MHz transmitting a test card (yes the test card is all wrong but at least has the callsign and it is unlikely to propagate beyond the garden). The test card is coming from a little device that reads an SD card (and other formats) and sends a selected image. I did try an old digital camera I have which has video output but which refused to do anything, not even when plugged into a TV. Anyway it proves the DTX1 works.