[ntp:questions] Installing more stable oscillator?

David J Taylor david-taylor at blueyonder.not-this-part.nor-this-bit.co.uk
Mon Jul 16 06:38:08 UTC 2007


Pete Stephenson wrote:
[]
> Very promising indeed. I presume the GPS 18 is rated for outdoor
> service in all weather? Here in Tucson, AZ, we can have a wide range
> of temperatures (usually from "hot" to "make the giant ball of
> nuclear fire in the sky go away") and it can rain from time to time
> (as I type this, it's pouring rain outside).
>
> I have zero familiarity with FreeBSD, but a fair degree of patience
> and a goodly amount of beer in the fridge. The configuring of NTP
> itself shouldn't be a problem, and the hardware issues relating to
> getting the GPS unit wired up and connected should be reasonably
> easy[1].
>
> I'm ashamed to admit that the bulk of my computer experience is with
> Windows and Mac OS systems, and I've only recently begun to tinker a
> bit with Debian and Ubuntu linux (specifically with the apt-get
> method of software installation). FreeBSD looks a bit scary and
> different.
>
> This'll be fun.
>
> [1] I have some friends at the chemistry department electronics shop
> at the University of Arizona who said I can use their stuff at no
> cost, and can pester them for knowledge as needed. Hooray for
> previously working in the Computer & Graphics Facility right above
> them.

As far I know, the GPS 18 is rated for outdoor use, but if you get high 
temperatures you would be wise to check the specs.

  http://www8.garmin.com/products/gps18oem/spec.html

  http://www8.garmin.com/manuals/425_TechnicalSpecification.pdf

Is +80C enough for you?  <G>

I also had little familiarity with FreeBSD, which is why the instructions 
on my Web page are so detailed!  Probably noddy-level to everyone else! 
Wiring up is not a significant problem, but it's a little more than just 
fitting the connector.

I'm mainly a Windows user as well - it does everything I need and is easy 
to program.  I've used UNIX in the past, and it used to be true that you 
could do more from the command-line, but that graphics was a pain. 
X-windows only offered 256 colours.  Things have moved on now for both 
operating systems and they are equally capable, but my familiarity with 
Windows makes it much easier for me, and my OS of choice.  Most of my 
users want to simply double-click a setup.exe to install, and to see 
results right away.

Cheers,
David 





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