Elecraft transveters and freq. counter/signal generator
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I found a reasonable kit for the main guts of a homemade freq. counter at
Almost All Digital http://aade.com/index.html#dfd specifically his DFD4a http://aade.com/DFD4A/dfd4a.htm I got mine in the assembled version because it comes with the TCXO already calibrated. You still need to wire it and provide a suitable enclosure but that's the easy part. Cost ~$80 plus spare connectors, switches, battery and a box. Used it to align the 4Mhz osc on K2 #4826 which later zero-beat to WWV within 30Hz. Paul KI4BIO > Date: Tue, 05 Jul 2005 20:24:27 -0500 > From: Matt Osborn <[hidden email]> > Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft transveters and freq. counter/signal > generator > To: [hidden email] > Message-ID: <[hidden email]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > According to the transverter manual, I will need a 50mhz signal > generator or a frequency counter to successfully align the > transverter. > > I've done a lot searching for signal generators and have found that > those capable of 50mhz are very expensive, around $1500 dollars > minimum. > > I found a B&K frequency counter (Model 1856D) for around $430.00 that > will measure up to 3ghz. I suspect that B&K doesn't have the > tolerances of the big boys, hence their lower prices. B&K also has a > model that will measure up to 175mhz for about $100.00 less. The 175 > would be enough for the transverter, but in for a penny, in for a > pound comes to mind. Why spend $350.00 this month and then $430.00 > next month? > > Will the 1856D work for aligning the transverter? My question > revolves around which of the two instruments (signal generator or > freq. counter) will accomplish the task the best. > > Better yet, anybody know of any better alternatives? I keep running > into the chicken and egg problem. If I build it myself, I can't > calibrate it. If I buy the tools to calibrate it, then I don't need to > build it. > > They say a smart man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns > from the mistakes of others. Please help me be a wise man. > > All advice is most welcome! Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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A perfect example of the kind of semi kits I was referring to in my
earlier post. Also check out www.amqrp.org, www.tapr.org and N2PKs projects at http://users.adelphia.net/~n2pk/. Many of these offer full or partial kits, but you can wind up with some very useful test gear that beats the pants off assembled ham gear for a much lower price. Larry N8LP Paul wrote: >I found a reasonable kit for the main guts of a homemade freq. counter at >Almost All Digital http://aade.com/index.html#dfd specifically his DFD4a >http://aade.com/DFD4A/dfd4a.htm I got mine in the assembled version because >it comes with the TCXO already calibrated. You still need to wire it and >provide a suitable enclosure but that's the easy part. Cost ~$80 plus spare >connectors, switches, battery and a box. Used it to align the 4Mhz osc on K2 >#4826 which later zero-beat to WWV within 30Hz. > > >Paul >KI4BIO > > > > >>Date: Tue, 05 Jul 2005 20:24:27 -0500 >>From: Matt Osborn <[hidden email]> >>Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft transveters and freq. counter/signal >> generator >>To: [hidden email] >>Message-ID: <[hidden email]> >>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii >> >>According to the transverter manual, I will need a 50mhz signal >>generator or a frequency counter to successfully align the >>transverter. >> >>I've done a lot searching for signal generators and have found that >>those capable of 50mhz are very expensive, around $1500 dollars >>minimum. >> >>I found a B&K frequency counter (Model 1856D) for around $430.00 that >>will measure up to 3ghz. I suspect that B&K doesn't have the >>tolerances of the big boys, hence their lower prices. B&K also has a >>model that will measure up to 175mhz for about $100.00 less. The 175 >>would be enough for the transverter, but in for a penny, in for a >>pound comes to mind. Why spend $350.00 this month and then $430.00 >>next month? >> >>Will the 1856D work for aligning the transverter? My question >>revolves around which of the two instruments (signal generator or >>freq. counter) will accomplish the task the best. >> >>Better yet, anybody know of any better alternatives? I keep running >>into the chicken and egg problem. If I build it myself, I can't >>calibrate it. If I buy the tools to calibrate it, then I don't need to >>build it. >> >>They say a smart man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns >>from the mistakes of others. Please help me be a wise man. >> >>All advice is most welcome! >> >> >_______________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Post to: [hidden email] >You must be a subscriber to post to the list. >Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm >Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > > > > > Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
RE: Elecraft transveters and freq. counter/signal generator
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I just double checked after your message, but no, I don't have a second
antenna option on the K2. I have multiple antennas in the attic, but get the same results for them all (including the dummy load in the MFJ-949). Appreciate the ideas, radio is new to me so it could be something stupid. > -----Original Message----- > From: [hidden email] > [mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf Of Larry Phipps > Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 9:15 PM > Cc: [hidden email] > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Elecraft transveters and freq. counter/signal > generator > > > A perfect example of the kind of semi kits I was referring to in my > earlier post. Also check out www.amqrp.org, www.tapr.org and N2PKs > projects at http://users.adelphia.net/~n2pk/. > > Many of these offer full or partial kits, but you can wind up with some > very useful test gear that beats the pants off assembled ham gear for a > much lower price. > > Larry N8LP > > > > > Paul wrote: > > >I found a reasonable kit for the main guts of a homemade freq. counter at > >Almost All Digital http://aade.com/index.html#dfd specifically his DFD4a > >http://aade.com/DFD4A/dfd4a.htm I got mine in the assembled > version because > >it comes with the TCXO already calibrated. You still need to wire it and > >provide a suitable enclosure but that's the easy part. Cost ~$80 > plus spare > >connectors, switches, battery and a box. Used it to align the > 4Mhz osc on K2 > >#4826 which later zero-beat to WWV within 30Hz. > > > > > >Paul > >KI4BIO > > > > > > > > > >>Date: Tue, 05 Jul 2005 20:24:27 -0500 > >>From: Matt Osborn <[hidden email]> > >>Subject: [Elecraft] Elecraft transveters and freq. counter/signal > >> generator > >>To: [hidden email] > >>Message-ID: <[hidden email]> > >>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > >> > >>According to the transverter manual, I will need a 50mhz signal > >>generator or a frequency counter to successfully align the > >>transverter. > >> > >>I've done a lot searching for signal generators and have found that > >>those capable of 50mhz are very expensive, around $1500 dollars > >>minimum. > >> > >>I found a B&K frequency counter (Model 1856D) for around $430.00 that > >>will measure up to 3ghz. I suspect that B&K doesn't have the > >>tolerances of the big boys, hence their lower prices. B&K also has a > >>model that will measure up to 175mhz for about $100.00 less. The 175 > >>would be enough for the transverter, but in for a penny, in for a > >>pound comes to mind. Why spend $350.00 this month and then $430.00 > >>next month? > >> > >>Will the 1856D work for aligning the transverter? My question > >>revolves around which of the two instruments (signal generator or > >>freq. counter) will accomplish the task the best. > >> > >>Better yet, anybody know of any better alternatives? I keep running > >>into the chicken and egg problem. If I build it myself, I can't > >>calibrate it. If I buy the tools to calibrate it, then I don't need to > >>build it. > >> > >>They say a smart man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns > >>from the mistakes of others. Please help me be a wise man. > >> > >>All advice is most welcome! > >> > >> > >_______________________________________________ > >Elecraft mailing list > >Post to: [hidden email] > >You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > >Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > > >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > >Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: Elecraft transveters and freq. counter/signal generator
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In reply to this post by Paul-289
Hi Paul:
At 09:00 PM 7/6/2005, you wrote: >I found a reasonable kit for the main guts of a homemade freq. counter at >Almost All Digital http://aade.com/index.html#dfd specifically his DFD4a >http://aade.com/DFD4A/dfd4a.htm I got mine in the assembled version because >it comes with the TCXO already calibrated. You still need to wire it and >provide a suitable enclosure but that's the easy part. Cost ~$80 plus spare >connectors, switches, battery and a box. Used it to align the 4Mhz osc on K2 >#4826 which later zero-beat to WWV within 30Hz. With all due respect, Paul, you can manually zero the K2 to well within 10Hz to 20Hz of WWV for FREE, using the procedure outlined by Wayne Burdick below: Subject: 4 MHz oscillator cal method for the K2 Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2003 13:57:44 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> All of the methods that have been described for calibrating the K2's 4-MHz oscillator will work. But I use a different technique that allows C22 on the Control board to be set to precisely to the correct position, with no guesswork. This method relies on the following simple observation. If you tune in an on-air signal at a known frequency, the difference between the *measured* VCO and BFO (using CAL FCTR) *must* equal that frequency, or C22 is not set correctly. (Actually, this holds for 160-17 m; on 15-10 m it's the sum, or VCO + BFO, that must equal the signal's frequency. But it's easier to do the adjustment of C22 on 17 m or lower because you don't have to do any math at all, as I'll explain below.) Here's the procedure. It requires revision 2.XX firmware, and assumes you have already done Alignment and Test, Part II, at some point. The K2 should also be allowed to come up to room temperature. 1. Tune in a signal at a known frequency. Use one that's at an *exact* kHz boundary, so you can easily see when the VCO and BFO readings match in step 2. (I use WWV at 10, 15, or 20 MHz.) Use USB or LSB mode rather than CW, so that there will be no CW receive offset. In the case of a K2 I was calibrating, the VFO read 10000.17 when the signal was tuned in perfectly. If it had read 10000.00, no further improvement would have been possible. TIP: Zero-beat the carrier precisely, or listen to a voice signal and adjust the VFO for the best quality. The more accurately you tune in the signal, the more accurately you'll be able to set C22, below. 2. Run CAL FCTR. Now alternately move the K2's internal counter probe between TP1 (VCO) and TP2 (BFO), adjusting C22 in small increments until the kHz and Hz digits at the two test points match as closely as possible. In my case, the two readings matched at 14913.60 and 4913.60. The difference is exactly 10000.00--the frequency of the on-air signal. 3. Put the counter probe on TP1 (VCO), switch to 40 meters, and run CAL PLL. 4. Put the probe on TP2 (BFO) and run CAL FIL. For each operating mode, vary each filter (or BFO) setting up 1 count, then back down, to force the K2 to take a new BFO measurement for each and store it in EEPROM. The VFO dial should now be very well calibrated. If we get a lot of positive feedback on this method, we'll post it as an application note. 73, Wayne N6KR Of course, it's still a good excuse to buy an AADE Freq Counter... which ARE pretty neat devices... heheh! 73, Tom Hammond N0SS _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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