Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

[Ken Arck]

I calibrate all my rigs with the WWV/spectrum display software method 
and it's never gotten me in trouble! From my K3s to my TS2000 to my 
FTDX3000, they all are dead nuts on thanks to this easiest of methods!


Ken


At 01:22 PM 12/18/2016, ab2tc wrote:

Hi,

Boy, this thread is now incredibly long and I am not sure it if I want to
risk sticking my neck out with another entry. But I will.

There has been an intense debate for at least the past 8 years as to what
constitutes the "best" way to adjust the reference oscillator to the best
accuracy. Why not just stick with the "Zero beating" (Method 2) described in
the manual? All it requires is clear reception of WWV at the highest
frequency possible. No other instrumentation like a PC spectrum analyzer
program or frequency counter is needed. As for accuracy, the only possible
weakness I can see is the accuracy of the K3 audio side tone, but there is
no reason why this should not be accurate to a fraction of the Hz. Barring
that the method is perfect. (The expectation that the PC spectrum analyzer
is any more accurate is dubious). Aw, forget about Doppler shift in the WWV
signal. Under normal ionospheric conditions it's negligible.

AB2TC - Knut

PS. I would also describe the sound heard at near zero beat as
"whump-whump-whump" or "wow-wow-wow", but certainly not "chirp-chirp-chirp".
And I agree with the comments below.


k6dgw wrote
> There are a myriad of ways to do it if you're interested, however don't
> underestimate the accuracy you can achieve with your ears and ability to
> count when you get the levels equalized.  If you count 6 noise peaks in
> 60 sec, you're within 0.1 Hz.
>
> Something that hasn't been mentioned [and that I only alluded to in a
> previous post] is doing this during the tone-free minutes on WWV.  The
> tone modulation can make it very difficult, and in some cases your
> result can be off by the frequency of the tone.
>
> 73,
>
> Fred K6DGW
> Sparks NV USA
> Washoe County DM09dn
> 





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Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

[ab2tc]

Hi,

Boy, this thread is now incredibly long and I am not sure it if I want to
risk sticking my neck out with another entry. But I will.

There has been an intense debate for at least the past 8 years as to what
constitutes the "best" way to adjust the reference oscillator to the best
accuracy. Why not just stick with the "Zero beating" (Method 2) described in
the manual? All it requires is clear reception of WWV at the highest
frequency possible. No other instrumentation like a PC spectrum analyzer
program or frequency counter is needed. As for accuracy, the only possible
weakness I can see is the accuracy of the K3 audio side tone, but there is
no reason why this should not be accurate to a fraction of the Hz. Barring
that the method is perfect. (The expectation that the PC spectrum analyzer
is any more accurate is dubious). Aw, forget about Doppler shift in the WWV
signal. Under normal ionospheric conditions it's negligible.

AB2TC - Knut

PS. I would also describe the sound heard at near zero beat as
"whump-whump-whump" or "wow-wow-wow", but certainly not "chirp-chirp-chirp".
And I agree with the comments below.


k6dgw wrote
> There are a myriad of ways to do it if you're interested, however don't 
> underestimate the accuracy you can achieve with your ears and ability to 
> count when you get the levels equalized.  If you count 6 noise peaks in 
> 60 sec, you're within 0.1 Hz.
> 
> Something that hasn't been mentioned [and that I only alluded to in a 
> previous post] is doing this during the tone-free minutes on WWV.  The 
> tone modulation can make it very difficult, and in some cases your 
> result can be off by the frequency of the tone.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Fred K6DGW
> Sparks NV USA
> Washoe County DM09dn
> 





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Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

[Bill Frantz]

Not having a Windows machine, I tried using both fldigi and 
cocoaModem which have waterfall displays. Both provided usable 
results. Getting close with the computer display and then zero 
beating using the procedure in the manual will probably be the 
best approach.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 12/16/16 at 6:52 PM, donw...@embarqmail.com (Don Wilhelm) wrote:

Us SSB - either LSB or LSB and tune for the tones transmitted 
by WWV - either 500 or 600 Hz.  Use of an audio spectrum 
analyzer such as Spectrogram or SpectrumLab will tell you when 
you have the tones received at the proper frequencies.

---
Bill Frantz| Security is like Government  | Periwinkle
(408)356-8506  | services. The market doesn't | 16345 
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com | want to pay for them.| Los Gatos, 
CA 95032


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Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

[Fred Jensen]

There are a myriad of ways to do it if you're interested, however don't 
underestimate the accuracy you can achieve with your ears and ability to 
count when you get the levels equalized.  If you count 6 noise peaks in 
60 sec, you're within 0.1 Hz.


Something that hasn't been mentioned [and that I only alluded to in a 
previous post] is doing this during the tone-free minutes on WWV.  The 
tone modulation can make it very difficult, and in some cases your 
result can be off by the frequency of the tone.


73,

Fred K6DGW
Sparks NV USA
Washoe County DM09dn

On 12/18/2016 10:56 AM, Brendon Whateley wrote:

Depending on why you want the accuracy, I think you could improve things by
building a phase comparator to "listen" to the radio output frequency
against a local reference. That would allow you to get much closer than
using your ears as a phase detector. That should get you accuracy of a few
% of 1Hz at your frequency you are measuring.

If you are really serious about accuracy, you can build a frequency
reference based on the WWV transmissions that will get you to within 1 part
per billion at 1MHz without too much trouble.

There was a QEX article recently, which you can find on the web at
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/QEX_Next_Issue/2015/Nov-Dec_2015/Magliacane.pdf
.

I'm sure that spending money on a GPS reference would be quicker, but less
fun than building a project.

If you go down that road, you'll be well on your way to winning frequency
measuring contests!

- Brendon
KK6AYI


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Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

[Mel Farrer via Elecraft]

While all of the methods using WWV are excellent, many of us already have the 
GPS downloaded 10 MHz signal for the shop and ham shack.  I mentioned some time 
about using a Video distribution amplifier to pipe the 10 MHz signal around.  I 
have it at the operating console for any checks I need.  

Mel, K6KBE


  From: Ron D'Eau Claire <r...@cobi.biz>
 To: 'Brendon Whateley' <bren...@whateley.com> 
Cc: 'Elecraft Reflector Reflector' <elecraft@mailman.qth.net>
 Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2016 11:49 AM
 Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV
   
The methods described by Wayne in the K3 or K3S Owner's manuals are
excellent. 

I used Method 2 (comparing to WWV's carrier frequency) and easily achieve
less than 1 Hz accuracy. If one needs something in the tenth's of a Hz or
better then more exotic techniques are required (and likely the K3EXREF and
an external frequency reference). 

NOTE: When using Method 2 with WWV, wait until the tones stop and only the
ticks are transmitted, then check to be sure you are still "zero beat". Some
ops get confused between the tones and carrier and end up several hundred Hz
off because they zero-beated the tone instead. 

For SSB/CW/RTTY modes accuracy to within some tens of Hz is fine. AM is even
less sensitive. 

73 Ron AC7AC

-Original Message-
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
Brendon Whateley
Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2016 10:56 AM
Cc: Elecraft Reflector Reflector
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

Depending on why you want the accuracy, I think you could improve things by
building a phase comparator to "listen" to the radio output frequency
against a local reference. That would allow you to get much closer than
using your ears as a phase detector. That should get you accuracy of a few %
of 1Hz at your frequency you are measuring.

If you are really serious about accuracy, you can build a frequency
reference based on the WWV transmissions that will get you to within 1 part
per billion at 1MHz without too much trouble.

There was a QEX article recently, which you can find on the web at
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/QEX_Next_Issue/2015/Nov-Dec_2015/Magliacane.p
df
.

I'm sure that spending money on a GPS reference would be quicker, but less
fun than building a project.

If you go down that road, you'll be well on your way to winning frequency
measuring contests!

- Brendon
KK6AYI

On Sun, Dec 18, 2016 at 5:07 AM, Don Wilhelm <donw...@embarqmail.com> wrote:

> Brian,
>
> The higher the WWV frequency, the possible percentage of error goes down.
> One or two Hz is a smaller fraction of 20MHz than at 5MHz.
>
> In the K3, you are calibrating the reference (out of the synthesizer) 
> rather than calibrating the actual VFO frequency.  The actual VFO 
> frequency is derived from and phase locked to that reference.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>
> On 12/18/2016 12:17 AM, Brian Denley wrote:
>
>> Fred, Don:
>> I ask because I am curious.  On any older receiver, calibration at 20 
>> MHz would not guarantee cal below that ( or at any other frequency ).  
>> One could be 5 hz high at 30 MHz but 10 hz low at 7 MHz.  Why is the 
>> K3 different?
>>
>> Brian Denley
>> KB1VBF
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> On Dec 17, 2016, at 3:43 PM, Fred Jensen <k6...@foothill.net> wrote:
>>>
>>> I guess it depends on how accurate you want your K3 frequency 
>>> display to be.  I think AM-S will warp the frequency a tiny bit to 
>>> sync the carrier so that may not be the best mode.  I'd also go as high
as you can on WWV.
>>>
>>> Wayne suggested a method that is somewhere on the E-site which I 
>>> used--
>>>
>>> Use the highest WWV frequency that you can hear well.  USB or LSB, 
>>> WIDTH to 500-800 Hz, SHIFT so can hear the carrier beat note [it 
>>> will be very low].  CONFIG-->REF CAL, wait for a tone-less minute 
>>> and adjust REF CAL for exact zero beat.  You'll be counting the 
>>> pulsations in the background noise as you come up on zero beat.
>>>
>>> I got mine to about 10 seconds per pulsation on 20 MHz back when 
>>> there were sunspots.  That's an accuracy of 0.1 Hz and everything 
>>> below 20 MHz will be at least that good.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Fred K6DGW
>>> - Sparks NV DM09dn
>>>
>>> - Northern California Contest Club
>>> - CU in the Cal QSO Party 7-8 Oct 2017
>>> - www.cqp.org
>>>
>>> On 12/16/2016 5:12 PM, Michael via Elecraft wrote:
>>>> If I set my K3's VFO to WWV at 5.00 MHz with AM-S onand I 
>>>> adjust "REF CAL" to a numbe

Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

The methods described by Wayne in the K3 or K3S Owner's manuals are
excellent. 

I used Method 2 (comparing to WWV's carrier frequency) and easily achieve
less than 1 Hz accuracy. If one needs something in the tenth's of a Hz or
better then more exotic techniques are required (and likely the K3EXREF and
an external frequency reference). 

NOTE: When using Method 2 with WWV, wait until the tones stop and only the
ticks are transmitted, then check to be sure you are still "zero beat". Some
ops get confused between the tones and carrier and end up several hundred Hz
off because they zero-beated the tone instead. 

For SSB/CW/RTTY modes accuracy to within some tens of Hz is fine. AM is even
less sensitive. 

73 Ron AC7AC

-Original Message-
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
Brendon Whateley
Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2016 10:56 AM
Cc: Elecraft Reflector Reflector
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

Depending on why you want the accuracy, I think you could improve things by
building a phase comparator to "listen" to the radio output frequency
against a local reference. That would allow you to get much closer than
using your ears as a phase detector. That should get you accuracy of a few %
of 1Hz at your frequency you are measuring.

If you are really serious about accuracy, you can build a frequency
reference based on the WWV transmissions that will get you to within 1 part
per billion at 1MHz without too much trouble.

There was a QEX article recently, which you can find on the web at
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/QEX_Next_Issue/2015/Nov-Dec_2015/Magliacane.p
df
.

I'm sure that spending money on a GPS reference would be quicker, but less
fun than building a project.

If you go down that road, you'll be well on your way to winning frequency
measuring contests!

- Brendon
KK6AYI

On Sun, Dec 18, 2016 at 5:07 AM, Don Wilhelm <donw...@embarqmail.com> wrote:

> Brian,
>
> The higher the WWV frequency, the possible percentage of error goes down.
> One or two Hz is a smaller fraction of 20MHz than at 5MHz.
>
> In the K3, you are calibrating the reference (out of the synthesizer) 
> rather than calibrating the actual VFO frequency.  The actual VFO 
> frequency is derived from and phase locked to that reference.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>
> On 12/18/2016 12:17 AM, Brian Denley wrote:
>
>> Fred, Don:
>> I ask because I am curious.  On any older receiver, calibration at 20 
>> MHz would not guarantee cal below that ( or at any other frequency ).  
>> One could be 5 hz high at 30 MHz but 10 hz low at 7 MHz.  Why is the 
>> K3 different?
>>
>> Brian Denley
>> KB1VBF
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> On Dec 17, 2016, at 3:43 PM, Fred Jensen <k6...@foothill.net> wrote:
>>>
>>> I guess it depends on how accurate you want your K3 frequency 
>>> display to be.  I think AM-S will warp the frequency a tiny bit to 
>>> sync the carrier so that may not be the best mode.  I'd also go as high
as you can on WWV.
>>>
>>> Wayne suggested a method that is somewhere on the E-site which I 
>>> used--
>>>
>>> Use the highest WWV frequency that you can hear well.  USB or LSB, 
>>> WIDTH to 500-800 Hz, SHIFT so can hear the carrier beat note [it 
>>> will be very low].  CONFIG-->REF CAL, wait for a tone-less minute 
>>> and adjust REF CAL for exact zero beat.  You'll be counting the 
>>> pulsations in the background noise as you come up on zero beat.
>>>
>>> I got mine to about 10 seconds per pulsation on 20 MHz back when 
>>> there were sunspots.  That's an accuracy of 0.1 Hz and everything 
>>> below 20 MHz will be at least that good.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Fred K6DGW
>>> - Sparks NV DM09dn
>>>
>>> - Northern California Contest Club
>>> - CU in the Cal QSO Party 7-8 Oct 2017
>>> - www.cqp.org
>>>
>>> On 12/16/2016 5:12 PM, Michael via Elecraft wrote:
>>>> If I set my K3's VFO to WWV at 5.00 MHz with AM-S onand I 
>>>> adjust "REF CAL" to a number where my VFO's frequency readout is 
>>>> exact or near this number +/- maybe a Hertz or two. Is this an 
>>>> accurate way to calibrate my K3?
>>>>
>>>> It seems to be very accurate as far as I can tell.
>>>>
>>>> Has anyone used this method?
>>>>
>>>> Michael
>>>> N2ZDB
>>>>
>>>
>>> __
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>&

Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

[Brendon Whateley]

Depending on why you want the accuracy, I think you could improve things by
building a phase comparator to "listen" to the radio output frequency
against a local reference. That would allow you to get much closer than
using your ears as a phase detector. That should get you accuracy of a few
% of 1Hz at your frequency you are measuring.

If you are really serious about accuracy, you can build a frequency
reference based on the WWV transmissions that will get you to within 1 part
per billion at 1MHz without too much trouble.

There was a QEX article recently, which you can find on the web at
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/QEX_Next_Issue/2015/Nov-Dec_2015/Magliacane.pdf
.

I'm sure that spending money on a GPS reference would be quicker, but less
fun than building a project.

If you go down that road, you'll be well on your way to winning frequency
measuring contests!

- Brendon
KK6AYI

On Sun, Dec 18, 2016 at 5:07 AM, Don Wilhelm  wrote:

> Brian,
>
> The higher the WWV frequency, the possible percentage of error goes down.
> One or two Hz is a smaller fraction of 20MHz than at 5MHz.
>
> In the K3, you are calibrating the reference (out of the synthesizer)
> rather than calibrating the actual VFO frequency.  The actual VFO frequency
> is derived from and phase locked to that reference.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>
> On 12/18/2016 12:17 AM, Brian Denley wrote:
>
>> Fred, Don:
>> I ask because I am curious.  On any older receiver, calibration at 20 MHz
>> would not guarantee cal below that ( or at any other frequency ).  One
>> could be 5 hz high at 30 MHz but 10 hz low at 7 MHz.  Why is the K3
>> different?
>>
>> Brian Denley
>> KB1VBF
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> On Dec 17, 2016, at 3:43 PM, Fred Jensen  wrote:
>>>
>>> I guess it depends on how accurate you want your K3 frequency display to
>>> be.  I think AM-S will warp the frequency a tiny bit to sync the carrier so
>>> that may not be the best mode.  I'd also go as high as you can on WWV.
>>>
>>> Wayne suggested a method that is somewhere on the E-site which I used--
>>>
>>> Use the highest WWV frequency that you can hear well.  USB or LSB, WIDTH
>>> to 500-800 Hz, SHIFT so can hear the carrier beat note [it will be very
>>> low].  CONFIG-->REF CAL, wait for a tone-less minute and adjust REF CAL for
>>> exact zero beat.  You'll be counting the pulsations in the background noise
>>> as you come up on zero beat.
>>>
>>> I got mine to about 10 seconds per pulsation on 20 MHz back when there
>>> were sunspots.  That's an accuracy of 0.1 Hz and everything below 20 MHz
>>> will be at least that good.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Fred K6DGW
>>> - Sparks NV DM09dn
>>>
>>> - Northern California Contest Club
>>> - CU in the Cal QSO Party 7-8 Oct 2017
>>> - www.cqp.org
>>>
>>> On 12/16/2016 5:12 PM, Michael via Elecraft wrote:
 If I set my K3's VFO to WWV at 5.00 MHz with AM-S onand I adjust
 "REF CAL" to a number where
 my VFO's frequency readout is exact or near this number +/- maybe a
 Hertz
 or two. Is this an accurate way to calibrate my K3?

 It seems to be very accurate as far as I can tell.

 Has anyone used this method?

 Michael
 N2ZDB

>>>
>>> __
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>>>
>>
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Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

[Don Wilhelm]

Brian,

The higher the WWV frequency, the possible percentage of error goes 
down.  One or two Hz is a smaller fraction of 20MHz than at 5MHz.


In the K3, you are calibrating the reference (out of the synthesizer) 
rather than calibrating the actual VFO frequency.  The actual VFO 
frequency is derived from and phase locked to that reference.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/18/2016 12:17 AM, Brian Denley wrote:

Fred, Don:
I ask because I am curious.  On any older receiver, calibration at 20 MHz would 
not guarantee cal below that ( or at any other frequency ).  One could be 5 hz 
high at 30 MHz but 10 hz low at 7 MHz.  Why is the K3 different?

Brian Denley
KB1VBF
Sent from my iPad


On Dec 17, 2016, at 3:43 PM, Fred Jensen  wrote:

I guess it depends on how accurate you want your K3 frequency display to be.  I 
think AM-S will warp the frequency a tiny bit to sync the carrier so that may 
not be the best mode.  I'd also go as high as you can on WWV.

Wayne suggested a method that is somewhere on the E-site which I used--

Use the highest WWV frequency that you can hear well.  USB or LSB, WIDTH to 
500-800 Hz, SHIFT so can hear the carrier beat note [it will be very low].  
CONFIG-->REF CAL, wait for a tone-less minute and adjust REF CAL for exact zero 
beat.  You'll be counting the pulsations in the background noise as you come up on 
zero beat.

I got mine to about 10 seconds per pulsation on 20 MHz back when there were 
sunspots.  That's an accuracy of 0.1 Hz and everything below 20 MHz will be at 
least that good.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Sparks NV DM09dn

- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the Cal QSO Party 7-8 Oct 2017
- www.cqp.org


On 12/16/2016 5:12 PM, Michael via Elecraft wrote:
If I set my K3's VFO to WWV at 5.00 MHz with AM-S onand I adjust
"REF CAL" to a number where
my VFO's frequency readout is exact or near this number +/- maybe a Hertz
or two. Is this an accurate way to calibrate my K3?

It seems to be very accurate as far as I can tell.

Has anyone used this method?

Michael
N2ZDB


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Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

[Fred Jensen]

Fair question ... actually a good question.

Short answer: On vintage receivers, the VFO freq [the local oscillator 
that heterodynes to the IF freq] is switched for each band ... except of 
course if it's a Collins radio.  It's a single dial with multiple fixed 
scales but multiple frequency determining networks.  Calibrating one to 
WWV has no bearing on any of the others, and your example is correct.


For a K3 [and all like it], the "VFO" is synthesized from a single, 
non-switched source regardless of band.  Get it within 1 Hz at 80, and 
it will be within 2Hz [or so, it's digital after all] at 40. So, you 
want to to do the adjustment at the highest possibly frequency ... all 
the lower ones will be *at least* as good.


A critical factor in this procedure is that the WWV signal strength 
needs to be hign enough to discern the zero beat clearly.  I did mine at 
20 MHz when there were lots of sunspots.  At the end of 2016, you may 
need to settle for a lower WWV.  The difference will be tiny in any case.


73,

Fred K6DGW
- Sparks NV DM09dn

- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the Cal QSO Party 7-8 Oct 2017
- www.cqp.org

On 12/17/2016 9:17 PM, Brian Denley wrote:

Fred, Don: I ask because I am curious.  On any older receiver,
calibration at 20 MHz would not guarantee cal below that ( or at any
other frequency ).  One could be 5 hz high at 30 MHz but 10 hz low at
7 MHz.  Why is the K3 different?

Brian Denley KB1VBF Sent from my iPad

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Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

[Brian Denley]

Fred, Don:
I ask because I am curious.  On any older receiver, calibration at 20 MHz would 
not guarantee cal below that ( or at any other frequency ).  One could be 5 hz 
high at 30 MHz but 10 hz low at 7 MHz.  Why is the K3 different?

Brian Denley
KB1VBF
Sent from my iPad

> On Dec 17, 2016, at 3:43 PM, Fred Jensen  wrote:
> 
> I guess it depends on how accurate you want your K3 frequency display to be.  
> I think AM-S will warp the frequency a tiny bit to sync the carrier so that 
> may not be the best mode.  I'd also go as high as you can on WWV.
> 
> Wayne suggested a method that is somewhere on the E-site which I used--
> 
> Use the highest WWV frequency that you can hear well.  USB or LSB, WIDTH to 
> 500-800 Hz, SHIFT so can hear the carrier beat note [it will be very low].  
> CONFIG-->REF CAL, wait for a tone-less minute and adjust REF CAL for exact 
> zero beat.  You'll be counting the pulsations in the background noise as you 
> come up on zero beat.
> 
> I got mine to about 10 seconds per pulsation on 20 MHz back when there were 
> sunspots.  That's an accuracy of 0.1 Hz and everything below 20 MHz will be 
> at least that good.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Fred K6DGW
> - Sparks NV DM09dn
> 
> - Northern California Contest Club
> - CU in the Cal QSO Party 7-8 Oct 2017
> - www.cqp.org
> 
>> On 12/16/2016 5:12 PM, Michael via Elecraft wrote:
>> If I set my K3's VFO to WWV at 5.00 MHz with AM-S onand I adjust
>> "REF CAL" to a number where
>> my VFO's frequency readout is exact or near this number +/- maybe a Hertz
>> or two. Is this an accurate way to calibrate my K3?
>> 
>> It seems to be very accurate as far as I can tell.
>> 
>> Has anyone used this method?
>> 
>> Michael
>> N2ZDB
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

[Fred Jensen]

I guess it depends on how accurate you want your K3 frequency display to 
be.  I think AM-S will warp the frequency a tiny bit to sync the carrier 
so that may not be the best mode.  I'd also go as high as you can on WWV.


Wayne suggested a method that is somewhere on the E-site which I used--

Use the highest WWV frequency that you can hear well.  USB or LSB, WIDTH 
to 500-800 Hz, SHIFT so can hear the carrier beat note [it will be very 
low].  CONFIG-->REF CAL, wait for a tone-less minute and adjust REF CAL 
for exact zero beat.  You'll be counting the pulsations in the 
background noise as you come up on zero beat.


I got mine to about 10 seconds per pulsation on 20 MHz back when there 
were sunspots.  That's an accuracy of 0.1 Hz and everything below 20 MHz 
will be at least that good.


73,

Fred K6DGW
- Sparks NV DM09dn

- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the Cal QSO Party 7-8 Oct 2017
- www.cqp.org

On 12/16/2016 5:12 PM, Michael via Elecraft wrote:

If I set my K3's VFO to WWV at 5.00 MHz with AM-S onand I adjust
"REF CAL" to a number where
my VFO's frequency readout is exact or near this number +/- maybe a Hertz
or two. Is this an accurate way to calibrate my K3?

It seems to be very accurate as far as I can tell.

Has anyone used this method?

Michael
N2ZDB


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Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

[Wes Stewart]

My method: 
http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Ref-Osc-Cal-Method-4-td2595451.html


On 12/16/2016 7:52 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

Michael,

I don't think that is adequate.
First of all, use the highest frequency WWV that you can receive.
Second, do not use AM-S.  That mode will synchronize with the frequency of the 
AM carrier, and may not produce a true dial frequency.


Us SSB - either LSB or LSB and tune for the tones transmitted by WWV - either 
500 or 600 Hz.  Use of an audio spectrum analyzer such as Spectrogram or 
SpectrumLab will tell you when you have the tones received at the proper 
frequencies.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/16/2016 8:12 PM, Michael via Elecraft wrote:

If I set my K3's VFO to WWV at 5.00 MHz with AM-S onand I adjust
"REF CAL" to a number where
my VFO's frequency readout is exact or near this number +/- maybe a Hertz
or two. Is this an accurate way to calibrate my K3?

It seems to be very accurate as far as I can tell.


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Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

[a45wg]

Very timely - just performed the operation with the help of the manual (Page 53 
on the K3-S manual) and these extra instructions.

Many thanks

Tim A45WG


> On Dec 17, 2016, at 6:52 AM, Don Wilhelm  wrote:
> 
> Michael,
> 
> I don't think that is adequate.
> First of all, use the highest frequency WWV that you can receive.
> Second, do not use AM-S.  That mode will synchronize with the frequency of 
> the AM carrier, and may not produce a true dial frequency.
> 
> Us SSB - either LSB or LSB and tune for the tones transmitted by WWV - either 
> 500 or 600 Hz.  Use of an audio spectrum analyzer such as Spectrogram or 
> SpectrumLab will tell you when you have the tones received at the proper 
> frequencies.
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
> On 12/16/2016 8:12 PM, Michael via Elecraft wrote:
>> If I set my K3's VFO to WWV at 5.00 MHz with AM-S onand I adjust
>> "REF CAL" to a number where
>> my VFO's frequency readout is exact or near this number +/- maybe a Hertz
>> or two. Is this an accurate way to calibrate my K3?
>> 
>> It seems to be very accurate as far as I can tell.
>> 
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Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

[Don Wilhelm]

Michael,

I don't think that is adequate.
First of all, use the highest frequency WWV that you can receive.
Second, do not use AM-S.  That mode will synchronize with the frequency 
of the AM carrier, and may not produce a true dial frequency.


Us SSB - either LSB or LSB and tune for the tones transmitted by WWV - 
either 500 or 600 Hz.  Use of an audio spectrum analyzer such as 
Spectrogram or SpectrumLab will tell you when you have the tones 
received at the proper frequencies.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/16/2016 8:12 PM, Michael via Elecraft wrote:

If I set my K3's VFO to WWV at 5.00 MHz with AM-S onand I adjust
"REF CAL" to a number where
my VFO's frequency readout is exact or near this number +/- maybe a Hertz
or two. Is this an accurate way to calibrate my K3?

It seems to be very accurate as far as I can tell.


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Re: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

[kh6u]

This is exactly the method I use.
73, Doug, KH6U

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: Michael via Elecraft
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2016 3:16 PM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Elecraft] Sync AM and checking VFO accuracy using WWV

If I set my K3's VFO to WWV at 5.00 MHz with AM-S onand I adjust  
"REF CAL" to a number where
my VFO's frequency readout is exact or near this number +/- maybe a Hertz  
or two. Is this an accurate way to calibrate my K3?
 
It seems to be very accurate as far as I can tell.
 
Has anyone used this method?
 
Michael 
N2ZDB
 
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