Elecraft transveters and freq. counter/signal generator

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Elecraft transveters and freq. counter/signal generator

Paul-289
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!
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Re: Elecraft transveters and freq. counter/signal generator

N8LP
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!
>>    
>>
>_______________________________________________
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>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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RE: Elecraft transveters and freq. counter/signal generator

Ron Hauser
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
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> _______________________________________________
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Re: Elecraft transveters and freq. counter/signal generator

Tom Hammond-3
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

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