EtherREGEN's - A discussion about them and what it is they do....

treitz3

The followup on this thread continues here >>> https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/199802/mutec-ref-10-se-120-master-clock

Tom

treitz3

From Alex -

" * EtherREGEN Gen2 is coming along great but we can not yet pinpoint month/week of the launch.



* We are sitting with stock of nearly $100K worth of chips (and regulators, and magnetics, etc.) for production. Some parts we have enough for 1,250 units, some for 1000, 500, or just 250. Obviously we have to buy more of the parts that we have only enough of for 250. Will do so as we get closer.



* Development of a product as original and sophisticated as the EtherREGEN can not be done all at once. [Sorry, but what we do with this design is NOTHING like our competitors. NOBODY else in the world is putting Ethernet signals through active differential isolator chips and reclocking with a multi-GigaHertz flip-flop. In fact many other brands either just install someone else's cheap stock switch board and embellish with PS and some clocking, or they drop a stock switch design onto a board.]



It is a bit like a chef developing a fine and unique meal: Make and test all the side-dishes, then the main dish, then finally put them all together on one plate (PCB) once they are each perfect.

So already completed and tested separately are the programming and integration of the two new clock synthesizers chosen (much lower jitter than the SiliconLabs/Skyworks used on the first EtherREGEN) and the state-of-the-art ultra-low-jitter sine-to-square wave converter we are adding for the benefit of those using an external reference clock.

The new main Ethernet switch chip we chose (wow that was a search last year!) is working nicely on its own board as well.

Plus the new power supply elements John chose have also been fully tested.



* The biggest delay this year came when the Intel PHY chips we bought proved to not be capable of performing the interface functions they were advertised for (older version, newer version 100% unavailable). Lost about $6K on those we bought as they are not returnable. :mad:

Without going into too much detail, we need PHY chips--to work with the new main Ethernet switch chip we chose--to be capable of both RGMII>fiber (on 'A' side) and SGMII>copper (on 'B' side). MaxLinear, the people who took over the Lantiq/Intel PHYs that we had to abandon--and whose switch chip we are using as the main switch--told us in January about a brand new PHY they were coming out with. We signed the NDAs and they shared all the details. Not only did its capabilities fit our needs perfectly, but it is based on a more modern die, so it is smaller, draws less current, and should have lower jitter. @JohnSwenson was thrilled--as was I because the price on the chip was promised to be about one quarter that of the now $13 Texas Instruments DP83869HM we used in the first EtherREGEN. (Not only was the T.I. part availability terrible for over a year, it was rather current hungry.)

So we said to MaxLinear "Great, get us samples ASAP!" They promised samples for mid-February--they actually supplied them 3-1/2 months late, at end of May!

John already had the first test board ready and waiting--more than a month before the samples finally came.



Now you need to understand that with new chips the documentation is most ALWAYS lacking. And with this one you could drive a truck though the holes in some of the complex programming directions. [Yes, all these logic parts require programming and/or careful "pin-strapping" to make them do what you want. Way over my pay-grade but John lives/breaths this stuff. B|] With some effort John got the SGMII>copper interface working, but despite weeks of back-and-forth with MaxLinear's German application support guy could not get the RGMII>fiber side working. Finally determined it has to be an issue with the soldering of one of the chips--most likely the main Ethernet switch chip as it is an LGA (land-grid-array, I hate those!) so we can not see the pads under the part unless x-rayed.

John was ready to move on to the next round of boards anyway (there were hacks and fixes it would be best to get done right) and there is a circuit for a possible new feature we want to test along with current draw monitoring.



So that is where we are. This next round of test boards (still without the differential isolators, differential flip-flops, or differential clock synthesizers incorporated) will arrive back to us before the end of July. [John did all the placement and soldering--in his own vapor-phase-reflow oven--for all the prior boards, but for this round we decided it would be best to cough up the $$$ to have them populated--with rush service--by our regular board house."

Tom

treitz3

Tom

erniejade

I wonder if the new version will run cooler?

mhardy6647

erniejade wrote: »

I wonder if the new version will run cooler?

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OK, I'll stop.

VR3

The built in space heater of the etheregen keeps the electrons at the correct temperature

pitdogg2

@jameswookyz has been reported

rebelsoul

Uptone site says it has the original one for sale now. Also said still waiting for Regen 2

treitz3

Yeah, the ER2 is definitely behind their anticipated schedule. They are still on it though.

I will probably wait until the ER2 comes out and see how much the price drops on the used, original ER's. I'd like to set up the TV's with the ER as well. We'll see...

Tom

treitz3

I just ran across and update on the ERv2 -

Superdad - AKA, Alex from UpTone Audio wrote:

EtherREGEN Gen2 will absolutely have 2 SFP cages! One one the ‘A’ side—just as in the original model—and the new one on the ‘B’ side (fed directly off of our special ultra-low-jitter differential flip-flops.


So fiber network feed to the ‘A’ side and—if a user has an endpoint with an SFP cage—a direct attach cable from the ‘B’ side will deliver wonderful results.

Tom

treitz3

So, I have an update on the release of the ERv2. It's gonna be some time before it hits the public. He just got a prototype board in (maybe you have seen the photos) and once that is measured and tested, there are still more steps needed to complete the final product.

Alex is hoping to get it released by the start of the year.....but there are plenty of steps yet to finalize and they *may* encounter slight redesigns and further production issues.

Then, you have to realize that when the original ER came out (before anyone really knew what they were or could do) they opened sales up to the public and sold all 250 units on the first run in 9 minutes. The first production run of the ERv2 will be 1K units but now that they are well known, and knowing how many pre-orders emails Alex has received for them? Expect a low percentage of folks who want one to actually get one.

This is his top priority at the moment though....getting the ERv2 wrapped up and ready to rock.

If you haven't done so, go to the Uptone Audio website and contact them to be put on the list for the ERv2.

Future products look to be promising!

Tom

treitz3

erniejade wrote: »

I wonder if the new version will run cooler?

It will. How much cooler depends on the final design/product.

It will also be slightly longer to accommodate the 2 SPF cages.

Tom