We report on the characteristics of active‐passive mode‐locked phosphate‐glass oscillators. These highly reliable oscillators operate at 1.054 &mgr;m and are characterized by the absence of satellite pulses for pulse durationstp≳80 psec. They have very high peak‐to‐background contrast of 107to 108. Transform‐limited pulse widths between 80 and 600 psec are reliably generated using a pair of intracavity etalons. The reproducibility of the pulse durations is better than ±10&percent;, that of the pulse‐train maximum about ±10 to 20&percent;. Single‐pulse selection with ±5&percent; amplitude fluctuation has been achieved with threshold‐pulse selectors. For pulses shorter than 50 psec, satellite pulses are occasionally observed. A theoretical explanation for this observation is given.