Calibration Display for NASA (2019)

#1

Post by omnibrain » Fri, Mar 31, 2023, 1:32 PM UTC

Calibration Display for NASA (2019)
daliborfarny.com

Re: Calibration Display for NASA (2019)

#2

Post by WorldPeas » Fri, Mar 31, 2023, 1:40 PM UTC

Interesting read, I'm surprised these tubes are so fast considering my one remaining filament bulb always takes a few seconds to warm up after being switched on. Do these use a different filament type?

Re: Calibration Display for NASA (2019)

#3

Post by somat » Sat, Apr 01, 2023, 7:10 PM UTC

WorldPeas wrote: post #2

Interesting read, I'm surprised these tubes are so fast considering my one remaining filament bulb always takes a few seconds to warm up after being switched on. Do these use a different filament type?

I think the filament stays on and you switch what cathode is being used.

edit, I just read the wikipedia page on nixie tubes, there is no filament, despite looking like one it is not a thermionic vacuum tube. it is a cold cathode gas discharge lamp. so one anode with many switched cathodes.

Re: Calibration Display for NASA (2019)

#4

Post by undersolved5 » Sat, Apr 01, 2023, 7:13 PM UTC

[flagged]

Re: Calibration Display for NASA (2019)

#5

Post by joezydeco » Sat, Apr 01, 2023, 7:18 PM UTC

I'm curious about the Uncertainty gauge and what measurement drives it.

Re: Calibration Display for NASA (2019)

#6

Post by qwezxcrty » Sat, Apr 01, 2023, 7:28 PM UTC

I don't get it, LEDs can be trivially modulated to MHz, why nixies? April fool?

I would imagine having a couple of FPGAs, toggling 7 segment LED displays can easily do the same thing.

Re: Calibration Display for NASA (2019)

#7

Post by tablespoon » Sat, Apr 01, 2023, 7:42 PM UTC

undersolved5 wrote: post #4

[flagged]

I won't believe it at least until see a reference to this item NASA itself, and even then, I'd still be skeptical. It's getting filed under "April Fools."

Re: Calibration Display for NASA (2019)

#8

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Apr 01, 2023, 7:45 PM UTC

joezydeco wrote: post #5

I'm curious about the Uncertainty gauge and what measurement drives it.

[deleted]

Re: Calibration Display for NASA (2019)

#9

Post by Luc » Sat, Apr 01, 2023, 8:39 PM UTC

I don't think it's an April Fools.

- They have a tiny GPS disciplined timing source by Brandywine Communications sitting next to the display. Brandywine supply very precise timing gadgets.

- They're in Czechia but the box is powered by 110V.

- The camera shooting the sole Nixie tube is a Photron by the looks of it.

- There's a video :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK3E55fytC0

- There's a picture posted by a NASA employee: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=5110589098977129&set...