K3XREF Question

[Bob KD7YZ]

Howdy K3' people:

I have the K3XREF board and would like to get a device to use with it.

What is suggested? And what external antenna goes with it?


thanks



--
73
KD7YZ Bob

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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Bob,

You can use a 10 MHz Rubidium standard, or for even more accuracy, the
Trimble Thunderbolt.
The Thunderbolt requires a GPS antenna.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/13/2013 7:55 AM, KD7YZ Bob wrote:

> Howdy K3' people:
>
> I have the K3XREF board and would like to get a device to use with it.
>
> What is suggested? And what external antenna goes with it?
>
>
> thanks
>
>
>

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[Stewart Bryant]

...remembering the advice about voltage levels.

As far as I can see you can either use the ext ref continuously
(which was my plan) or you can use it as a very handy way
of re-calibrating the internal reference from time to time.

- Stewart/G3YSX



On 13/02/2013 13:16, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> Bob,
>
> You can use a 10 MHz Rubidium standard, or for even more accuracy, the
> Trimble Thunderbolt.
> The Thunderbolt requires a GPS antenna.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 2/13/2013 7:55 AM, KD7YZ Bob wrote:
>> Howdy K3' people:
>>
>> I have the K3XREF board and would like to get a device to use with it.
>>
>> What is suggested? And what external antenna goes with it?
>>
>>
>> thanks
>>
>>
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

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[mzilmer]

Hi Bob,

I use the Trimble Thunderbolt as a 10 MHz reference.  This is a GPS disciplined clock, using GPS as the main time reference and an OCXO.  The time and 10 MHz output are both very precise, in the 30 PPT range (though this precision varies, but not by even an order of magnitude).  You can find the manual at http://trl.trimble.com/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-10001/ThunderBoltBook2003.pdf.

You will need to mount an outdoor GPS antenna.  I use a Thales land surveying antenna and 40 feet of microwave coax.  The receiver generally sees 8 channels with more than 40 dB C/No (which is a good signal for GPS).  

There are two software apps you may want to pick up:
- Trimble's control program.  This is used to set up parameters for the receiver.
- Lady Heather's GPS Disciplined Oscillator program.  This can be used to monitor the status of the receiver and signal levels, time, etc. graphically.

One thing you would want to set up different from the receiver's defaults is the elevation mask.  I believe the default is 5 degrees.  I'd recommend 15 degrees.  This tells the receiver not to use sats below the 15 deg "horizon".  The lower in the sky a sat is, the noisier it is.

Matt Zilmer, W6NIA

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of KD7YZ Bob
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 4:56 AM
To: K3 List
Subject: [Elecraft] K3XREF Question

Howdy K3' people:

I have the K3XREF board and would like to get a device to use with it.

What is suggested? And what external antenna goes with it?


thanks



--
73
KD7YZ Bob

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[Bob KD7YZ]

On Wednesday Zilmer used a Straight-Key to send:
-------------Original Comment-------
> Hi Bob,

> I use the Trimble Thunderbolt as a 10 MHz reference.
<<snip>>

> One thing you would want to set up different from the receiver's
> defaults is the elevation mask.
Hey, great info, thanks. I am getting one via Geo N4UA

again, thanks!

--
Best regards,
Bob  KD7YZ    Win7-64bit + K3

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[Edward R Cole]

Just to add some info to what Chuck, W7CS, wrote:

I have both a Rubdidum and OCXO frequency standard in my shack.  Here
is a webpage that shows how I installed them:
http://www.kl7uw.com/Rubidium.htm
I run the OCXO as my 10-MHz reference for the K3 and VHF/UHF
transverters (it is actually better than the Rb).  I paid about $45
on e-bay for mine.  It has run continuously since I installed it
(about two years).

Here is my beta test of the K3EXREF:
http://www.kl7uw.com/K3EXREF.htm

Hope this is helpful to those considering this topic.
73, Ed - KL7UW

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