subject:"Re\: \[Elecraft\] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S"

Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

2017-02-11 Thread Clay Autery

It is my opinion that the K3s rates the use of a proper quality
frequency counter.
I bought a used, "lab grade" counter with an OXCO, and supply it with an
external GPSDO signal.

Is it required?  No, not really

I initially calibrated the K3s with one of the government time
beacons...  not the simplest procedure that is often mentioned, but
requiring a few iterations...
Pretty confident that it was accurate to within 1-2 Hz...

Careful... calibration and precision can become quite addictive...  :)

73,

__
Clay Autery, KY5G
MONTAC Enterprises
(318) 518-1389

On 2/11/2017 11:39 AM, stengrevics wrote:
> I am considering buying a frequency counter to calibrate my K3S.  I see that
> Amazon has several for <$100.  Has anyone had any experience with these? 
> Are they just a waste of money?
>
> Thanks,
>
> John
> WA1EAZ

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Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

2017-02-11 Thread ac5p

You can also use CHU for frequency standard calibration check depending on 
propagation.
3330.000, 7850.000, and 14670.000kHz   
73, Mike AC5P 

On Saturday, February 11, 2017 12:20 PM, John Stengrevics 
 wrote:
 

 Thanks all for the comments.

I think I will stick with WWV.

John’
WA1EAZ

> On Feb 11, 2017, at 1:17 PM, Don Wilhelm  wrote:
> 
> John,
> 
> You do not need a frequency counter to calibrate the K3S, use Method 2 with 
> WWV, it is just as accurate.
> Actually it is likely more accurate than you would get with a <$100 frequency 
> counter, unless you calibrate the frequency counter beforehand.  I suspect 
> any frequency counter costing less than $100 is either inaccurate or limited 
> to audio frequencies.
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
> On 2/11/2017 12:39 PM, stengrevics wrote:
>> I am considering buying a frequency counter to calibrate my K3S.  I see that
>> Amazon has several for <$100.  Has anyone had any experience with these?
>> Are they just a waste of money?
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> John
>> WA1EAZ
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> View this message in context: 
>> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Frequency-Counter-for-Calibrating-K3S-tp7626660.html
>> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>> __
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>> Message delivered to donw...@embarqmail.com
>> 

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Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

2017-02-11 Thread M. George

If you end up still wanting to get a frequency counter and want to spend a
few bucks, I would keep your eyes peeled for a good deal on an HP 5385A or
something similar on fleaBay, don't mess with the sub $100 cheap ones.
Then get a 10mhz GPSDO reference like the Leo Bodnar GPSDO
<http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info_id=234>...
setup a simple GPS antenna outside your shack and then finalize the setup
with the K3EXREF.  Then distribute the 10mhz signal from the GPSDO to your
Frequency Counter and your K3.  You then end up with a lab grade accurate
frequency counter and you never need to worry about the K3 accuracy ever
again.   Then run out and get a frequency generator because you spent
several hundred bucks on the above setup and because the XG3 is just to
practical and simple... look for an HP 8656B or something similar and use
your GPSDO as a reference for that.  Oh and then you might want to get an
HP power meter like a E4418A and sensors to check the accuracy of the
frequency generator. (sensors at $150-$400 a pop) :)  Oh, and then if you
have a PPS output from your GPSDO you can setup your own Raspberry PI or
Odroid Stratum 1 NTPD server and have a NTP clock reference that is
accurate into the potentially nano second range to sync your PC clocks
against.  (all just because you can ... lol!)

Of course, I agree with the other posts... it's crazy simple to zero beat
with WWV and or switch back and forth between the CW side bands to zero
your REFCAL setting on the K3.  And it's free too. ;)  But some of us like
buying and tinkering with this stuff.  I'm guilty as accused.

Max NG7M

On Sat, Feb 11, 2017 at 12:25 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire <r...@cobi.biz> wrote:

> Some people seem to have a lot of trouble detecting "zero beat" but once
> the
> technique is learned, it's easy to calibrate the K3/K3S to within 0.2 Hz of
> WWV's carrier (one beat every 5 seconds). One could get closer depending
> upon your patience.
>
> It's useful to wait until WWV transmits a steady carrier with no tone,
> otherwise it's easy to accidentally zero beat one of the sidebands produced
> by the tone so you end up off by the frequency of the tone.
>
> The K3 makes a great tunable frequency meter. Nowadays I use the K3
> (calibrated against WWV) to check the calibration of the counter's master
> oscillator.
>
> 73, Ron AC7AC
>
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bill
> Frantz
> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 10:01 AM
> To: stengrevics
> Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S
>
> Frequency counters will also need to be calibrated. I have been quite happy
> using WWV with my K3, and you can't beat the price.
>
> 73 Bill AE6JV
>
> On 2/11/17 at 9:39 AM, jstengrev...@comcast.net (stengrevics) wrote:
>
> >I am considering buying a frequency counter to calibrate my K3S.  I see
> >that Amazon has several for <$100.  Has anyone had any experience with
> >these? Are they just a waste of money?
>
> __
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>

-- 
M. George
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Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

2017-02-11 Thread Ron D'Eau Claire

Some people seem to have a lot of trouble detecting "zero beat" but once the
technique is learned, it's easy to calibrate the K3/K3S to within 0.2 Hz of
WWV's carrier (one beat every 5 seconds). One could get closer depending
upon your patience.

It's useful to wait until WWV transmits a steady carrier with no tone,
otherwise it's easy to accidentally zero beat one of the sidebands produced
by the tone so you end up off by the frequency of the tone.

The K3 makes a great tunable frequency meter. Nowadays I use the K3
(calibrated against WWV) to check the calibration of the counter's master
oscillator. 

73, Ron AC7AC

-Original Message-
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bill
Frantz
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 10:01 AM
To: stengrevics
Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

Frequency counters will also need to be calibrated. I have been quite happy
using WWV with my K3, and you can't beat the price.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 2/11/17 at 9:39 AM, jstengrev...@comcast.net (stengrevics) wrote:

>I am considering buying a frequency counter to calibrate my K3S.  I see 
>that Amazon has several for <$100.  Has anyone had any experience with 
>these? Are they just a waste of money?

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Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

2017-02-11 Thread John Stengrevics

Thanks all for the comments.

I think I will stick with WWV.

John’
WA1EAZ

> On Feb 11, 2017, at 1:17 PM, Don Wilhelm  wrote:
> 
> John,
> 
> You do not need a frequency counter to calibrate the K3S, use Method 2 with 
> WWV, it is just as accurate.
> Actually it is likely more accurate than you would get with a <$100 frequency 
> counter, unless you calibrate the frequency counter beforehand.  I suspect 
> any frequency counter costing less than $100 is either inaccurate or limited 
> to audio frequencies.
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
> On 2/11/2017 12:39 PM, stengrevics wrote:
>> I am considering buying a frequency counter to calibrate my K3S.  I see that
>> Amazon has several for <$100.  Has anyone had any experience with these?
>> Are they just a waste of money?
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> John
>> WA1EAZ
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> View this message in context: 
>> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Frequency-Counter-for-Calibrating-K3S-tp7626660.html
>> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>> __
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to donw...@embarqmail.com
>> 

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Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

2017-02-11 Thread Don Wilhelm


John,

You do not need a frequency counter to calibrate the K3S, use Method 2 
with WWV, it is just as accurate.
Actually it is likely more accurate than you would get with a <$100 
frequency counter, unless you calibrate the frequency counter 
beforehand.  I suspect any frequency counter costing less than $100 is 
either inaccurate or limited to audio frequencies.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/11/2017 12:39 PM, stengrevics wrote:

I am considering buying a frequency counter to calibrate my K3S.  I see that
Amazon has several for <$100.  Has anyone had any experience with these?
Are they just a waste of money?

Thanks,

John
WA1EAZ



--
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http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Frequency-Counter-for-Calibrating-K3S-tp7626660.html
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Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

2017-02-11 Thread Harry Yingst via Elecraft


I think you would do much better getting something like a used Racal-Dana 1992 
or the like of of ebay with the crystal oven.




  From: stengrevics 
 To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net 
 Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2017 12:39 PM
 Subject: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S
   
I am considering buying a frequency counter to calibrate my K3S.  I see that
Amazon has several for <$100.  Has anyone had any experience with these? 
Are they just a waste of money?

Thanks,

John
WA1EAZ



--
View this message in context: 
http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Frequency-Counter-for-Calibrating-K3S-tp7626660.html
Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

2017-02-11 Thread Bill Frantz

Frequency counters will also need to be calibrated. I have been 
quite happy using WWV with my K3, and you can't beat the price.


73 Bill AE6JV

On 2/11/17 at 9:39 AM, jstengrev...@comcast.net (stengrevics) wrote:


I am considering buying a frequency counter to calibrate my K3S.  I see that
Amazon has several for <$100.  Has anyone had any experience 
with these? Are they just a waste of money?

---
Bill Frantz| If you want total security, go to prison. 
There you're
408-356-8506   | fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. 
The only

www.pwpconsult.com | thing lacking is freedom. - Dwight D. Eisenhower

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Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

2017-02-11 Thread Phil Hystad

What?  I didn’t know that Elecraft offered frequency counters.  Or, do you mean 
something like the XG2, a signal source for testing rigs?

73, phil, K7PEH


> On Feb 11, 2017, at 9:39 AM, stengrevics  wrote:
> 
> I am considering buying a frequency counter to calibrate my K3S.  I see that
> Amazon has several for <$100.  Has anyone had any experience with these? 
> Are they just a waste of money?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> John
> WA1EAZ
> 
> 
> 
> --
> View this message in context: 
> http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/Frequency-Counter-for-Calibrating-K3S-tp7626660.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> __
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Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

Re: [Elecraft] Frequency Counter for Calibrating K3S

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