NEW Spectracom 8183 Netclock GPS Disciplined 10MHz Oscillator LED Clock IRIG-B [Used]

NEW OLD STOCK • Tested/Guaranteed • Fully Working • Bright Clear Red LED Time Display • GPS Disciplined 10MHz Oscillator • Includes New Test Antenna • IRIG-B Timecode Output

Photos show the actual item for sale

Overview

Here's a brand new, old stock 8183 GPS-Synced digital clock. The clock comes with everything you need to receive accurate time from the GPS system, including the OEM power supply (connector is center negative) and a set of rear panel connector blocks. The unit has been tested to confirm that it works as it should. A basic test antenna is included. The only change that has been made to the clock is to replace the old expired Oncore GPS receiver card with a brand new replacement unit based on a modern day ublox receiver which syncs to GPS much faster than the original. Note however that operating the clock in the current GPS epoch results in the unit reporting a Minor Alarm from the Smartwatch module. This is the battery-powered internal Real Time Clock that was needed to help the old GPS card re-achieve sync after a power loss. My guess is that this is a function of the original firmware not being compatible with today's date being reported by the GPS card. I have tried swapping the RTC module (M48T08-150PCI) for a new module with a fresh lithium battery and this has not changed the Smartwatch alarm condition so I believe that this may not be something that can be changed via hardware or config changes. With a minor alarm active the 'TIME SYNC' LED will show red. In reality with the new card installed the Smartwatch features is probably unnecesary. The new card syncs very quickly and reports the correct time and date, so keeping this information in memory when the unit is powered down is no longer required. If you want a timezone other than UTC to show on the LED display then you can program an offset, plus you can define DST rules so that it tracks the time for your location. These settings are retained during power outages so once the clock is setup and configured, you won't need to make further changes. A hard copy of the manual is not included, however this may be downloaded from https://www.prostudioconnection.net/0912/8183_Manual.pdf.

The basic antenna is included to allow you to test it straight out of the box, but for a permanent installation a professional grade outdoor antenna (with a gain of at least 26dB) with a full view of the sky is required. I usually have some suitable antennae listed, and a downlead can be obtained from a cable fabricator.

The unit's home timezone and other parameters can easily be changed by using Windows Hyperterminal (or similar) via the serial management port (serial cable not included). You will therefore need a computer with a serial port and appropriate cable if you want to change the unit's configuration from the current default settings. A copy of the results I obtained from the console port is provided below. Note that you can speed up the 10Mhz disciplining process after a reset by manually entering a previously-noted DAC value using tha DA command.

Description

The Spectracom NetClock/GPS Master Clock is a precise, traceable time provider. The NetClock/GPS receives and recovers time information from the Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation of satellites. The GPS constellation consists of 24 satellites placed in 6 orbital planes spaced equally around the equator and inclined at a 55-degree angle. This design assures reliable worldwide coverage 24 hours a day. Each satellite contains a redundant system of highly accurate and stable atomic clock sources. The satellites timing, orbital position and other system parameters are monitored and controlled by ground stations maintained by the US Department of Defense and US Naval Observatory.

The NetClock/GPS Master Clock provides timing outputs accurate to within 100 microseconds of UTC. Standard Master Clock outputs include RS-232, RS-485, IRIG B/E and a one pulse per second. The NetClock/GPS is ideally suited as a Master Clock in all applications requiring an accurate and traceable time source. Typical applications include computer network timing, utility billing, financial transactions, public safety and transportation

Console Output
??
SPECIAL TEST-MODE ONLY COMMANDS
DA [HHHH]= D/A FREQUENCY CONTROL SETTING
SHI= SET D/A TO MAX, SLO= SET D/A TO MIN
HR [XXX.XX]= HERTZ RANGE OF OSCILLATOR
DMI= DISPLAY INTERNAL RAM
DMX [PP]= DISPLAY EXTERNAL RAM PAGE
DEF= SET PARAMETERS TO FACTORY DEFAULTS
FPT [ON|OFF|PICT]= FRONT PANEL TEST
GQA [1|2]= GPS QUALIFYING ALGORITHM
LB [REM1|REM2|SER1|SER2]= PERFORM LOOP BACK TEST
LS [NONE|POS|NEG]= LEAP SECOND STATUS
PHO [AUTO|ON|OFF]= POSITION HOLD OPTION
PHL [D DD MM SS.SSS D DDD MM SS.SSS sHHHHH.HH]= POSITION HOLD LOCATION
RGPS= RESET GPS RECEIVER
RKEY= CLEAR NVR KEY
VER= SPECIAL TEST MODE DISPLAY OF ADDITIONAL VERSION INFORMATION
TSO [ON|OFF]= TIME SYNC OVERRIDE
SWITCH FLASH= CHANGES PROGRAM SELECTION FOR NEXT POWER CYCLE

VER
Spectracom Corporation Netclock/GPS Model 8183
Software Version 2.07 Date: September 02, 2000 14:31:28
Unit Started 16:21:51 2026-10-20
Front Panel Version 1.02
IRIG Version 1.02
Serial Port 1 Version 2.03
Serial Port 2 Version 2.03
Remote Port 1 Version 2.03
Remote Port 2 Version 2.03
GPS Receiver = 8 Channel UT Version 3

COPYRIGHT 1991-1997 Synergy LLC
SFTW P/N # 98-P36848P
SOFTWARE VER # 3
SOFTWARE REV # 2
SOFTWARE DATE Aug 23 2000
MODEL # R5 SSR-6Tf+
HWDR P/N # 5
SERIAL # SSG0228063
MANUFACTUR DATE 0G06
OPTIONS LIST

GSS
TRACKING 8 SATELLITES
GPS STATE= 3D-FIX DOP= 01.8
LATITUDE= N 28 32 11.012 LONGITUDE= W 081 33 09.698 HEIGHT= +00008.36 METERS
QUALITY= PASSED
CHAN VID MODE STREN STAT
01 31 08 051 A0
02 26 08 050 A0
03 32 08 050 A0
04 03 08 049 A0
05 03 08 048 A0
06 16 08 048 A0
07 28 08 048 A0
08 28 08 047 A0

VER
Spectracom Corporation Netclock/GPS Model 8183
Software Version 2.07 Date: September 02, 2000 14:31:28
Unit Started 16:21:51 2026-10-20
Front Panel Version 1.02
IRIG Version 1.02
Serial Port 1 Version 2.03
Serial Port 2 Version 2.03
Remote Port 1 Version 2.03
Remote Port 2 Version 2.03
GPS Receiver = 8 Channel UT Version 3

COPYRIGHT 1991-1997 Synergy LLC
SFTW P/N # 98-P36848P
SOFTWARE VER # 3
SOFTWARE REV # 2
SOFTWARE DATE Aug 23 2000
MODEL # R5 SSR-6Tf+
HWDR P/N # 5
SERIAL # SSG0228063
MANUFACTUR DATE 0G06
OPTIONS LIST
TIME= 16:40:30 DATE= 2026-10-20 STATUS CHANGE
EVENT RELAY = OFF
ALARM RELAYS: MAJOR= ON MINOR= ON
ACTIVE ALARMS: MINOR
SWARTWATCH INVALID
TIME= 17:34:17 DATE= 2026-10-20 STATUS CHANGE
EVENT RELAY = OFF
ALARM RELAYS: MAJOR= ON MINOR= ON
ACTIVE ALARMS: MAJOR AND MINOR
IN TEST MODE
SWARTWATCH INVALID

END OF LOG
DOL
Spectracom Corporation Netclock/GPS Model 8183
Software Version 2.07 Date: September 02, 2000 14:31:28
Unit Started 16:21:51 2026-10-20
Front Panel Version 1.02
IRIG Version 1.02
Serial Port 1 Version 2.03
Serial Port 2 Version 2.03
Remote Port 1 Version 2.03
Remote Port 2 Version 2.03
GPS Receiver = 8 Channel UT Version 3

COPYRIGHT 1991-1997 Synergy LLC
SFTW P/N # 98-P36848P
SOFTWARE VER # 3
SOFTWARE REV # 2
SOFTWARE DATE Aug 23 2000
MODEL # R5 SSR-6Tf+
HWDR P/N # 5
SERIAL # SSG0228063
MANUFACTUR DATE 0G06
OPTIONS LIST
TIME= 17:24:47 DATE= 2026-10-20 D/A= 679C FREQ ERROR= -2.10E-08
FREQ CNT= 999,999,979
TIME= 17:24:47 DATE= 2026-10-20 AUTOMATIC D/A ADJUSTMENT
MATCH CNT= 00007 FREQ ADJ CNT= 00007
AVG FREQUENCY ERROR= -1.30E-08 NEW D/A= 67BE
TIME= 17:26:29 DATE= 2026-10-20 D/A= 67BE FREQ ERROR= -6.00E-09
FREQ CNT= 999,999,994
TIME= 17:28:11 DATE= 2026-10-20 D/A= 67BE FREQ ERROR= -1.50E-08
FREQ CNT= 999,999,985
TIME= 17:29:53 DATE= 2026-10-20 D/A= 67BE FREQ ERROR= -1.90E-08
FREQ CNT= 999,999,981
TIME= 17:29:53 DATE= 2026-10-20 AUTOMATIC D/A ADJUSTMENT
MATCH CNT= 00008 FREQ ADJ CNT= 00008
AVG FREQUENCY ERROR= -1.30E-08 NEW D/A= 67E0
TIME= 17:31:35 DATE= 2026-10-20 D/A= 67E0 FREQ ERROR= -3.00E-09
FREQ CNT= 999,999,997
TIME= 17:33:17 DATE= 2026-10-20 D/A= 67E0 FREQ ERROR= -4.00E-09
FREQ CNT= 999,999,996
TIME= 17:34:59 DATE= 2026-10-20 D/A= 67E0 FREQ ERROR= -1.40E-08
FREQ CNT= 999,999,986
TIME= 17:34:59 DATE= 2026-10-20 AUTOMATIC D/A ADJUSTMENT
MATCH CNT= 00009 FREQ ADJ CNT= 00009
AVG FREQUENCY ERROR= -7.00E-09 NEW D/A= 67F2

END OF LOG

TM OFF
TIME= 17:35:40 DATE= 2026-10-20 STATUS CHANGE
EVENT RELAY = OFF
ALARM RELAYS: MAJOR= ON MINOR= ON
ACTIVE ALARMS: MINOR
SWARTWATCH INVALID

DST
DST RULE #1
INTO DATE= 1RST SUN APR TIME= 02:00 ADJ= 01:00
OUT-OF DATE= LAST SUN OCT TIME= 02:00

DST RULE #2
INTO DATE= LAST SUN MAR TIME= 02:00 ADJ= 01:00
OUT-OF DATE= LAST SUN OCT TIME= 02:00

DST RULE #3
INTO DATE= LAST SUN MAR TIME= 02:00 ADJ= 01:00
OUT-OF DATE= LAST SUN SEP TIME= 02:00

DST RULE #4
INTO DATE= 04-12 TIME= 02:00 ADJ= 01:00
OUT-OF DATE= 09-12 TIME= 02:00

DST RULE #5
INTO DATE= LAST SUN OCT TIME= 02:00 ADJ= 01:00
OUT-OF DATE= LAST SAT MAR TIME= 02:00

DST RULE #6
INTO DATE= LAST SUN OCT TIME= 02:00 ADJ= 01:00
OUT-OF DATE= 1RST SAT MAR TIME= 02:00