Information on a Lucent RFTG? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: Oldtest2
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 20, 2025, 10:48:16 pm
content: List, would anybody know of a source for I/O connections, control interface for the Lucent RFTG in the picture? I have found a lot of of information on similar units, but all appear to be maybe a older generation? Not sure. This RFTG has 15 pin D connectors, not 9. I was able to trace out a power connection to one of the connectors, brought up +24v, a GPS LED lights, no 15 MHz Red LED on, that is as much as I know so far. I assume there is software control that needs to happen for control Looks like these would be good 10Mhz reference for use with amateur microwave stations.Thanks,Gary

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 01:29:34 am
content: Give it a few minutes and see if ON light comes on and/or monitor the output. My Lucent has an internal timer that allows the rubidium unit to warm up before it brings up the outputs.

author: squadchannel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 02:27:49 am
content: http://bee.mif.pg.gda.pl/ciasteczkowypotwor/Lucent/Some documents and software. 15 pins rare?

author: squadchannel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 02:42:24 am
content: more documents on xdevs, but many of them seem to be duplicates.

author: Oldtest2
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 01:11:55 pm
content: I have another unit, not opened, I will try and leave power on and see what happens. I did see the GPS light blink with no antenna, and on solid with a antenna connected. Have not looked at the document links yet, later today. There is a board in the GPS unit on the right, that appears to have a 15 MHz source with MMIC amplifiers, the amplifiers have no bias so that leads me to think there is some software or handshake command necessary to turn everything on. The amplifier bias appears to be controlled through a transistor.Thanks for everything so far.

author: Oldtest2
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 09:23:28 pm
content: Some success, yes, after leaving the unit on for about 10 min, the GPS light went out and the Green LED came on. There is 15 MHz present at the TNC connectors across the top. Nothing from the 10 MHz test point on the left side of the unit. Starting to look like this a dual reference source, GPS on the right and Rubidium on the left. Switching the REF 0 or 1 switch appears to have no effect. Starting to trace out power connections to the left side, must be separate pins.Thanks for the suggestion to leave the unit on. Maybe the software documentation that exists for similar units is the same if the I/O pins can be identified.Gary

author: Oldtest2
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 21, 2025, 10:40:28 pm
content: Thanks for the document links, maybe with a scope I can cross the pins from 15 pin to the signals listed.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2025, 04:43:55 pm
content: I think when you will identify the power line pin for the left unit (rubidium) , you will get the 10MHz test point signal. Do check its waveform though on a scope, This may be an ugly one and may need conditioning. The unit I have has the 15 MHz signal cleaned with a crystal filter, where the 10 MHz one is simply coming out from the PAL chip via an emitter follower.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2025, 01:36:29 pm
content: Here is a reversed engineered schematic for my Lucent RFG-M-RB , which only has a rubidium reference. Supposedly it takes 1pps GPS discipline signal from an external source. There may be some schematic similarities with your left unit.