The Well Tempered Master Clock - Building a low phase noise/jitter crystal oscillator

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Hi both ...

I think R2 and R7 are correct. 102 both reads which is 1000. Could also be 200 but I reckon this is not likely ;-) ... The only ideas I get is if you have checked all the via plate throughs for connection; if R3 and R5 may be interchanged (no values shown - same color); or if the IC may be rotated 180 degrees. Otherwise I have no further suggestions ...

Jesper
 
The resistors are the correct value. Also the blue ones are on the correct spot. I keep all components in the labeled mouser bags and take them out one by one while soldering. The ic has the same orientation as on the other pcb (that is regulating correctly).

I was thinking that I might have some shorts due to solder flux sitting below the components but when measuring the resistors there is no indication of a short. The pcb is cleaned with alcohol.
 
have you checked R5? Is it possible the left side not connecting to the pad?

Otherwise everything looks fine from the pic.

Thanks Jesper. I never realized how the 3 digit marking on the resistor works. Learn something new every day.
Check rather R4, as the component is bigger than the pad itself. It is hard to solder it properly in this situation.

The resistor shall be one physical size smaller. (0805 instead of 1206)
 
Just checking: you have used "normal" solder to splder the parts on the board?

E.g. bismuth based solder melts at around 180 degrees C, if you did use that and the parts get really hot it's easy to desolder.

I used smd solder flux, no low temperature solder. The input resistor gets really hot that is why I took it off.

I changed the sensing resistor for a new one, still running hot.

I will double check the resistors.



Regards,
 
When the crystal makes the difference

This is the first measurement of the new oscillator prototype with the Laptech SC 3rd overtone crystal at 5.6448 MHz.

The plot compares the phase noise performance of the new oscillator (green plot) against the Crystek CCHD-957 at 22.5792 MHz (blue plot) and a custom made OCXO from HCD at 11.2896 MHz (pink plot).

The Crystek was powered by Lifepo4 battery supply, while the other 2 oscillators was powered by standard regulators (this explains the spurs in the plot).

There is still improvement margin, since the power supply is not the best (to be measured with Lifepo4 batteries), it was measured on the fly in air without any shielding box, there isn't an oven.

Hope this was a Christmas gift.

Andrea
 

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