Welcome to the new FlexRadio Community! Please review the new Community Rules and other important new Community information on the Message Board.
If you are having a problem, please refer to the product documentation or check the Help Center for known solutions.
Need technical support from FlexRadio? It's as simple as Creating a HelpDesk ticket.

What is the GPSDO and what benefit does it provide?

Tim - W4TME
Tim - W4TME Administrator, FlexRadio Employee admin
First, an explanation of what a GPSDO is: Most oscillators that are used as the frequency reference for a radio will drift over time. If you purchase a radio with a crystal oscillator, a temperature controlled crystal oscillator (TCXO) or an ovenized crystal oscillator (OCXO), you will notice that over time these will drift. An adjustment is required every six to twelve months to keep them on frequency. ALl these crystal oscillators have excellent short term stability but poor long term stability. The GPS system is designed to keep time very accurately, but at the multi-nanosecond range. Over time, GPS has perfect stability (long term), but in the short term it is a fairly poor reference. A GPSDO combines the best of both of these worlds: It uses a base oscillator with good short-term stability (a TCXO) and then uses a GPS to adjust it over time, or discipline it, to stay on frequency. With a GPSDO you have excellent short and long term stability. The optional GPSDO in the FLEX-6000 Signature Series radios provides both frequency and time information to the radio. The 10MHz output of the GPSDO is used as the reference for the master clock in the FLEX-6000 ensuring the radio is always on frequency. The time information can be used in the future for a number of situations where time information is important in communications and station operation.

Answers

  • James Kennedy-WU5E
    James Kennedy-WU5E Member ✭✭
    edited June 2020
    can the GPSDO be installed my 6500 after I get it by me?
  • Tim - W4TME
    Tim - W4TME Administrator, FlexRadio Employee admin
    edited March 2017
    Yes, the GPSDO is an option that can be installed by the user.

Leave a Comment

Rich Text Editor. To edit a paragraph's style, hit tab to get to the paragraph menu. From there you will be able to pick one style. Nothing defaults to paragraph. An inline formatting menu will show up when you select text. Hit tab to get into that menu. Some elements, such as rich link embeds, images, loading indicators, and error messages may get inserted into the editor. You may navigate to these using the arrow keys inside of the editor and delete them with the delete or backspace key.