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Operating FT8 portable with KX3 - GPS time sync question

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N1EU

Operating FT8 portable with KX3 - GPS time sync question

I don't know if very many portable ops out there are using FT8. I'm
piecing together a portable FT8 setup for my KX3 and I'm hoping to use a
Bluetooth GPS receiver to provide accurate time sync to a Windows tablet.
If anybody out there is already doing this, can you please tell me what
software you're successfully running under Windows to link the GPS data
with the system time?

Thanks & 73,
Barry N1EU
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Don Wilhelm

Re: Operating FT8 portable with KX3 - GPS time sync question

Barry,

I don't have a solution to the question as asked, however ...
Rather than trying to sync the clock real time, if you set the computer
time at home just before your outing, it should be good for at least 72
hours.

My laptop (used only for use while away from home) keeps accurate time
within a second or so for a good long time (several days), and should be
usable for FT8 use if set before an outing. Your computer may not be as
accurate, but I encourage you to check it. As I understand it, FT8 can
tolerate up to 1/2 second of timing error.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/28/2017 7:26 PM, Barry N1EU wrote:
> I don't know if very many portable ops out there are using FT8. I'm
> piecing together a portable FT8 setup for my KX3 and I'm hoping to use a
> Bluetooth GPS receiver to provide accurate time sync to a Windows tablet.
> If anybody out there is already doing this, can you please tell me what
> software you're successfully running under Windows to link the GPS data
> with the system time?
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Brian Hunt

Re: Operating FT8 portable with KX3 - GPS time sync question

In reply to this post by N1EU

Google NMEATime. Haven't tried it myself but one of the local hams is, along with a USB GPS receiver.

73,
Brian, K0DTJ
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N1EU

Re: Operating FT8 portable with KX3 - GPS time sync question

Thanks Brian, I just downloaded the trial version of NMEATime.

And to reply indirectly to Don: I checked my laptop clock's accuracy (HP
EliteBook) and it was terrible. I had it syncing every 3 mins and saw
corrections as high as 0.3 seconds. Add in the temperature variability of
being outdoors 0-30C, means it needs an external reference. The GPS
receiver is a viable solution.

73, Barry N1EU

On Sat, Oct 28, 2017 at 11:49 PM, Brian Hunt <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> Google NMEATime. Haven't tried it myself but one of the local hams is,
> along with a USB GPS receiver.
>
> 73,
> Brian, K0DTJ
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Josh Fiden

Re: Operating FT8 portable with KX3 - GPS time sync question

In reply to this post by Brian Hunt

Yes, that! I set up NMEATime with a USB "puck" GPS receiver for EME with JT65 on a Windows machine not internet connected. Works great. Easy to setup & super accurate. GPS antenna indoors sitting on a desk sync'd fine to multiple satellites.

73
Josh W6XU

Sent from my mobile device

>
> Google NMEATime. Haven't tried it myself but one of the local hams is, along with a USB GPS receiver.
>
> 73,
> Brian, K0DTJ
>

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N1EU

Re: Operating FT8 portable with KX3 - GPS time sync question

In case someone is ever searching this info, I just found a great thread on
this specific topic, only it was for the KX3 and JT65:
http://www.digitalhams.net/msgsdisp.php?parm=kx3-jt65-frequency-drift I
also found some nice looking freeware software BktTimeSync to do the time
syncing: http://www.maniaradio.it/en/bkttimesync.html

73,
Barry N1EU

On Sat, Oct 28, 2017 at 11:58 PM, Josh <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Yes, that! I set up NMEATime with a USB "puck" GPS receiver for EME with
> JT65 on a Windows machine not internet connected. Works great. Easy to
> setup & super accurate. GPS antenna indoors sitting on a desk sync'd fine
> to multiple satellites.
>
> 73
> Josh W6XU
>
> Sent from my mobile device
>
> >
> > Google NMEATime. Haven't tried it myself but one of the local hams is,
> along with a USB GPS receiver.
> >
> > 73,
> > Brian, K0DTJ
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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Stephen Shearer

Re: Operating FT8 portable with KX3 - GPS time sync question

I also found (sometime back for the same function)
http://www.visualgps.net/#nmeatime2-content ~$20 but neat extras

I am currently using "GPS Time" I purchased years ago for JT65
portable/mobile for $10 - now out of business?

Thanks for the other links...

steve WB3LGC

On 10/28/2017 8:04 PM, Barry N1EU wrote:

> In case someone is ever searching this info, I just found a great thread on
> this specific topic, only it was for the KX3 and JT65:
> http://www.digitalhams.net/msgsdisp.php?parm=kx3-jt65-frequency-drift I
> also found some nice looking freeware software BktTimeSync to do the time
> syncing: http://www.maniaradio.it/en/bkttimesync.html
>
> 73,
> Barry N1EU
>
> On Sat, Oct 28, 2017 at 11:58 PM, Josh <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Yes, that! I set up NMEATime with a USB "puck" GPS receiver for EME with
>> JT65 on a Windows machine not internet connected. Works great. Easy to
>> setup & super accurate. GPS antenna indoors sitting on a desk sync'd fine
>> to multiple satellites.
>>
>> 73
>> Josh W6XU
>>
>> Sent from my mobile device
>>
>>> Google NMEATime. Haven't tried it myself but one of the local hams is,
>> along with a USB GPS receiver.
>>> 73,
>>> Brian, K0DTJ
>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
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Edward R Cole

Re: Operating FT8 portable with KX3 - GPS time sync question

In reply to this post by N1EU

I am using a GPS dongle plugged into an USB jack on my old XP32
computer so I do not need connection to Internet time for running
WSJT suite (Incl FT8). I downloaded BKTtimeSync to control my
computer. It allows using either Internet or GPS as sync source.

Ran FB on JT65B during the ARRL EME Contest.

Previously I used Dimension4

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
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Elecraft mailing list

Re: Operating FT8 portable with KX3 - GPS time sync question

In reply to this post by N1EU

That'd be found at:-

    http://www.maniaradio.it/en/bkttimesync.html

Looks good though not tried it myself.   (Always try and get stuff like
that, from the author's own site, not from some arbitrary download page,
where it can have "other stuff" you definitely do not want, bundled with
the download.)

If using the network option, I'd suggest you use the address:-

    pool.ntp.org    (or    north-america.pool.ntp.org     in the US.)

As the target server.   That will get you the nearest (network wise)
server to you.     Keep well away from time.windows.com (or whatever) as
it is so congested as to be useless for these needs.

If you want your own local hardware NTP server, for example if your
internet connection is at all "flaky", or you're restricted to mobile or
satellite internet, or you have multiple PC's that need to stay in sync,
then see David Taylor's (GM8ARV) pages at:-

    http://www.satsignal.eu/ntp/index.html

LOTS of good info and instructions there to do what you need, and mostly
for low cost, other than time to learn how to, and do it.

If you've $'s to spare and want something that "just works" out of the
box, then...


https://store.uputronics.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=92

Not cheap, but very good.   For those in RV's or afloat, best left
running 24/7   Job Done.

If you have one of them in the shack at home, then you can contribute to
the NTP Pool project too, with care, but your internet connection may
get "hammered" as a result by incoming time requests.

    http://www.pool.ntp.org/en/

73

Dave G0WBX.

>><<

On 29/10/17 21:02, Edward R Cole <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I am using a GPS dongle plugged into an USB jack on my old XP32
> computer so I do not need connection to Internet time for running
> WSJT suite (Incl FT8). I downloaded BKTtimeSync to control my
> computer. It allows using either Internet or GPS as sync source.
>
> Ran FB on JT65B during the ARRL EME Contest.
>
> Previously I used Dimension4
>
> 73, Ed - KL7UW