I’m planning a project that I could need some help and advice with. I’m building a programmable gps disciplined “frequency standard/reference”. It uses one of those Ublox gps boards and a microcontroller to be able to program what frequency it should put out. Fun little project. In itself maybe not something you would use every day so I’m thinking of adding a counter function to it, using the gpsdo as a reference and a pic chip for the counting.
It will probably be housed in an old chassi from a tube power supply from late 60’s that I salvaged, you know, rounded nice corners, hammered nice paint job. Even though the circuits are going to be quite modern I’m going for a more vintage look. I’m building a 4×4 keypad using keycaps from an old mechanical calculator/adding machine as the input.
For the display for the counter I want to use a board for 6 nixie tubes I have lying around waiting for a project. I’m mostly interested in audio so will mostly work in lower frequency ranges. So 6 digits will be enough.
To set the frequency for the “reference” output from the gps board I’m looking for a display with a few more digits that will also complement the nixies and not look totally out of place. A standard small lcd display will look way off for example.
I came across these neat little 7 segment display units, NOS from the 70’s I think (?), USSR. Not super cheap though.
But I’m still looking for other options. I’ve even been thinking of building a led matrix displaying the number in binary format (I think Paul showed that in one of his videos). I’m thinking 10 digits in total.
Ideas and tips welcome! 🙂 It’s hard finding something (besides more nixies) that will fit the “look” so to speak, and to have everything in nixies will just be too pricey. What other nice display options are there? Could be unconventional and weird too.
Binary display, picture from Wikipedia
Future keypad for the device.
See what you think of this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/122010995836?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=tvXEVDI3RHm&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=c6yaczhwqqc&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY but some digging might be required regarding how to drive it. There are variations of it, too.
For real old time charm….. Nixie tubes.
See what you think of this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/122010995836?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=tvXEVDI3RHm&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=c6yaczhwqqc&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY but some digging might be required regarding how to drive it. There are variations of it, too.
Yes! I recently looked into VFD’s and will again! Pretty cool! But yes, driving it could be a bit more complex than a led matrix. But thanks for reminding me of these!
For real old time charm….. Nixie tubes.
For sure. And I’ll have a 6 digit display on this device with nixies. But I want a secondary 8-10 digit display and using 16 nixies for this project is a bit too pricey for me lol.
@gbfreeman123 it doesn’t end there. Soon you’ll be on a Fran-tastic trip down the memory lane! VFDs, numitrons and minitrons, panaplex displays (planar segmented), flip dot, edge-lit, projection… There were soooooo many kinds of them.
@gbfreeman123 it doesn’t end there. Soon you’ll be on a Fran-tastic trip down the memory lane! VFDs, numitrons and minitrons, panaplex displays (planar segmented), flip dot, edge-lit, projection… There were soooooo many kinds of them.
A small split flap display would be so cool but would take up too much space I think.
I’ve seen some really nice panaplex displays in old calculators that size would be perfect. And other kind of displays, old table calculators usually had really nice displays. And you can sometimes see them for pretty cheap.
Some people even went to the length of producing a Nixie like appearance on a color LCD screen. Have seen them on YouTube at some point last year.
Found these old calculator displays that look promising. Soviet clone of a HP display. Small domed lenses over every symbol that enlarges them.
They are nice with a really nice bright “red ruby type colour” Long time ago, I’ve actually owned 2 of this soviet pocket calculators (really old school) that had those exact same looking (9 digits) displays with a really nice glow to it, but one was actually green (not red). I have since long forgotten about them and probably still have them somewhere but, having tons of junk stuff surely would take me weeks to find them… 🤡
They are nice with a really nice bright “red ruby type colour” Long time ago, I’ve actually owned 2 of this soviet pocket calculators (really old school) that had those exact same looking (9 digits) displays with a really nice glow to it, but one was actually green (not red). I have since long forgotten about them and probably still have them somewhere but, having tons of junk stuff surely would take me weeks to find them… 🤡
Yea they are nice! I’m getting a pair, you can always find use for a display. And compared to the original hp display units they are dirt cheap.
Absolutely!
Started to sketch out layout and features and working out the schematics.
The chips I’ll use for the 7 segment displays can only handle 8 digits so the 9th digit of the small calculator display won’t be used and it will instead switch to show the frequency in different units. Led will light up to show what unit is displayed.
Two smaller 7 segment display will show the number of satellites locked and a larger 5 mm led or jewel light will blink red or be static green showing if the gps is locked or not.
The 6 nixies will show the output frequency of the signal generator.
Looks to be an interesting design. Very nice. One question: what would the “Signal IN” ( I assuming is a BNC ) socket stand for? Would that be an external aerial to better capture the GPS signal or…?