Engineer Reports -170 dBc/Hz Phase Noise from a PCB-Mountable OCXO

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A precision timing engineer claims to have benchmarked an oven-controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) achieving -170 dBc/Hz phase noise at 1kHz offset, significantly quieter than the typical -155 to -160 dBc/Hz range for high-performance OCXOs. This level of phase noise is usually associated with rubidium atomic references, which are far larger and more expensive. The device reportedly comes in a standard DIP package that can be soldered directly onto a PCB, offering a cost- and size-efficient alternative. The engineer expressed initial disbelief at the measurements, given the performance level is unusual for a crystal-based oscillator. The post invites other engineers to share their own experiences with low-phase-noise OCXOs and the applications they were designed for.

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