From the outset the FireFox synthesizers were designed for the lowest cost
possible while still beating competitive units in quality. They eliminate
unnecessary features the competition may offer, yet focus on providing the
best quality essential features that customers need. The FireFox synthesizers
use the latest RF chips, Microprocessors, PLD's and discrete components
available on the market to significantly reduce the component count and
thus cost, while simultaneously increasing the units' reliability. Other
reasons are that Jackson Labs offers and supports these units directly from
the factory, and does not have to maintain a bloated administrative, or
advertising overhead.
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A team of engineers each with decades of development experience designed
the FireFox synthesizers. The engineers asked themselves what features they
would like to see and use on a laboratory bench-top instrument most. The
requirements' documents were thus designed with real-life applications in
mind, and not with a focus on making marketing documents look good. Extensive
customer feedback was then incorporated to fine-tune the instruments' performance,
features, and firmware. Feel free to contact Jackson Labs to offer your
feedback, requirements, suggestions, and questions.
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The FireFox system typically warms up to within 10-8 within
15 minutes. Its specified operating parameters and GPS lock are typically
achieved in less than 5 hours from a cold start when receiving satellites
in position hold mode.
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The FireFox is designed for permanent power-on to achieve its rated accuracy.
Cold power-on requires ca. 5 hours of operation to achieve UTC lock, and
the unit is kept operating to avoid this initial delay. In order to stay
locked to UTC, the OCXO oscillator receives constant drift corrections from
the GPS timing receiver. Over time the drift errors of the OCXO and the
GPS receiver will decrease, and the system errors that need to be corrected
will thus decrease as well. The unit only has to lock to UTC once after
power-up, and will remain locked as long as GPS signals are received and
power is supplied. Power consumption is typically low at 18W when operating
from 110V AC, and less than 10W when running from a 12V DC supply.
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