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Reference Oscillator Calibration

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g3@abcs.com g3@abcs.com

Reference Oscillator Calibration

Hello!
I'm a complete newby when it comes to ham radio. Got my tech license
a couple of weeks ago and I'm now studying for the General class exam.
I thought building the K3 would be a good educational experience for
me.

I just finished assembly and all went well. I've had an excellent
experience so far. But I'm stuck at the reference oscillator
calibration stage.

I don't have a frequency counter, though I suppose I could purchase
one. I've tried hitting the frequencies for WWV but I'm not picking
anything up. Of course, I don't have an antenna yet as the manual did
not mention it as being a required piece of equipment. I'm short on
radio sense, I think. I have one on order, but it has not yet
arrived. I was hoping to have the K3 calibrated and then begin
dealing with the antenna setup.

Is there any other way of calibrating the ref oscillator? Can it be
done online with the KUSB? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks for your help,

Jay
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Tony Estep

Re: Reference Oscillator Calibration

On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 4:21 PM, [hidden email] [hidden email] <[hidden email]> wrote:
>... I've tried hitting the frequencies for WWV but I'm not picking
> anything up. Of course, I don't have an antenna yet...
=======
Jay, a 10-foot piece of wire should be enough antenna to get WWV at 5,
10 or 15 mhz. Especially in the evenings at 5 mhz, WWV is pretty loud
everywhere. But you don't need to calibrate to make your K3 work.

Tony KT0NY
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Bob Nielsen-2

Re: Reference Oscillator Calibration

In reply to this post by g3@abcs.com g3@abcs.com

You might be able to use 10-15 feet of wire as a temporary receiving antenna. WWV has a pretty strong signal (depending on your location and propagation conditions, of course).

73,
Bob, N7XY

On Dec 21, 2011, at 2:21 PM, [hidden email] [hidden email] wrote:

> Hello!
> I'm a complete newby when it comes to ham radio. Got my tech license
> a couple of weeks ago and I'm now studying for the General class exam.
> I thought building the K3 would be a good educational experience for
> me.
>
> I just finished assembly and all went well. I've had an excellent
> experience so far. But I'm stuck at the reference oscillator
> calibration stage.
>
> I don't have a frequency counter, though I suppose I could purchase
> one. I've tried hitting the frequencies for WWV but I'm not picking
> anything up. Of course, I don't have an antenna yet as the manual did
> not mention it as being a required piece of equipment. I'm short on
> radio sense, I think. I have one on order, but it has not yet
> arrived. I was hoping to have the K3 calibrated and then begin
> dealing with the antenna setup.
>
> Is there any other way of calibrating the ref oscillator? Can it be
> done online with the KUSB? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks for your help,
>
> Jay
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

_____
N7XY DX Cluster Node - telnet to n7xy.net, port 7300

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Greg - AB7R

Re: Reference Oscillator Calibration

In reply to this post by Tony Estep

No but you DO need to calibrate it for it to work "correctly". :)

Greg

On 12/21/11, Tony Estep <[hidden email]> wrote:

> On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 4:21 PM, [hidden email] [hidden email] <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>>... I've tried hitting the frequencies for WWV but I'm not picking
>> anything up. Of course, I don't have an antenna yet...
> =======
> Jay, a 10-foot piece of wire should be enough antenna to get WWV at 5,
> 10 or 15 mhz. Especially in the evenings at 5 mhz, WWV is pretty loud
> everywhere. But you don't need to calibrate to make your K3 work.
>
> Tony KT0NY
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Reference Oscillator Calibration

In reply to this post by g3@abcs.com g3@abcs.com

Jay,

You did not say where you are in the world - does the "g3" in your email
address put you in England?, or are you somewhere in the US. Tech
license and General class speak to a US ham, but then we are an
international community, so I hate to make assumptions about your location.

What are you using for an antenna to pick up WWV (and where are you
located)?
I have trouble receiving WWV on "just a hunk of wire", but it comes in
strong on a dipole or vertical cut for the band you are receiving WWV
on, just "go with the flow" and follow the instructions in the K3
manual. While your experience may not allow you to immediately identify
the beat note, listen carefully and try to figure it out - when the beat
note (the wow-wow tone) goes to zero, you have achieved zero beat.
Nothing more complex that that - just open your ears and listen.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/21/2011 5:21 PM, [hidden email] [hidden email] wrote:

g3@abcs.com g3@abcs.com

Re: Reference Oscillator Calibration

Thanks for the quick response, guys. I just went with the first
couple of suggestions, cut a 10 ft piece of wire and put it in the
antenna jack. I was able to locate WWV on 15 MHz and used the
Youtube calibration technique (CW / Rev CW) that I found in the
reflector archives. So, I've not only got the osc calibration done,
I'm also picking up some transmissions. That's why it's taken so long
to respond. It's a relief to know that I didn't screw anything up
with the assembly!

I'm in the U.S. The g3 in the address doesn't really mean anything. Heh!

Thanks again, to everyone, and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Jay
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M0XDF

Re: Reference Oscillator Calibration

Interesting, I haven't tried for WWV since I first got muine, but with propergation getting better...
I used a Russian beacon originally, then a Racal 5MHz source which is very accurate & stable.
But not the YouTube calibration procedure.

Jay, could you post the link here, save me (us) searching for it, please.

Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year with good DX
73 de M0XDF (K3 #174, P3 #108, KX3 #???)
--
I believe I found the missing link between animal and civilized man. It is
us. -Konrad Lorenz, ethologist, Nobel laureate (1903-1989)

On 22 Dec 2011, at 00:24, [hidden email] [hidden email] wrote:

> Thanks for the quick response, guys. I just went with the first
> couple of suggestions, cut a 10 ft piece of wire and put it in the
> antenna jack. I was able to locate WWV on 15 MHz and used the
> Youtube calibration technique (CW / Rev CW) that I found in the
> reflector archives. So, I've not only got the osc calibration done,
> I'm also picking up some transmissions. That's why it's taken so long
> to respond. It's a relief to know that I didn't screw anything up
> with the assembly!
>
> I'm in the U.S. The g3 in the address doesn't really mean anything. Heh!

M0XDF

Re: Reference Oscillator Calibration

Hmmm, stupid me - I just searched Google and there it was.
And Yes, I can hear WWV on 10, 15 & 20 MHz!
73 de M0XDF
--
When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and
so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open
for us. -Alexander Graham Bell, inventor (1847-1922)

On 22 Dec 2011, at 08:49, David Ferrington, M0XDF wrote:

> Interesting, I haven't tried for WWV since I first got muine, but with propergation getting better...
> I used a Russian beacon originally, then a Racal 5MHz source which is very accurate & stable.
> But not the YouTube calibration procedure.
>
> Jay, could you post the link here, save me (us) searching for it, please.
>
> Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year with good DX
> 73 de M0XDF (K3 #174, P3 #108, KX3 #???)
> --
> I believe I found the missing link between animal and civilized man. It is
> us. -Konrad Lorenz, ethologist, Nobel laureate (1903-1989)
>
> On 22 Dec 2011, at 00:24, [hidden email] [hidden email] wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the quick response, guys. I just went with the first
>> couple of suggestions, cut a 10 ft piece of wire and put it in the
>> antenna jack. I was able to locate WWV on 15 MHz and used the
>> Youtube calibration technique (CW / Rev CW) that I found in the
>> reflector archives. So, I've not only got the osc calibration done,
>> I'm also picking up some transmissions. That's why it's taken so long
>> to respond. It's a relief to know that I didn't screw anything up
>> with the assembly!
>>
>> I'm in the U.S. The g3 in the address doesn't really mean anything. Heh!
>

Arie Kleingeld PA3A-2

Re: Reference Oscillator Calibration

In reply to this post by g3@abcs.com g3@abcs.com

The way I do it:

Let the K3 run for an hour or so to warm up.
Choose freq 14.996 MHz in mode CW.
Then you are tuned to RWM, that transmits time signals and has a strong
signal in EU that can be received by a standard K3.
It transmits a continuous carrier at h:00 and h:30 for nearly 8 minutes
to zero-beat against.

Then use the calibration method from the K3 manual, page 50. method 2.

Works FB.

73
Arie PA3A
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KD8NNU

Re: Reference Oscillator Calibration

In reply to this post by g3@abcs.com g3@abcs.com

HI jay,

Once you have an antenna set up you will be able to do the reference
oscillator calibration. It does not have to be done until you get on
the air and it only takes a few minutes.

When I finished my K3 I was afraid of the oscillator calibration so I
thought the factory defaults would be ok. It did work but after
caibration it sounded like a radio should. I called elecraft support
for some help and they walked my thru the procedure as the manual was a
little vauge for an inexperienced operation like myself.

Anyway you did good with your K3 it is one of the best on the market and
I had no idea on how good of a radio I acutally purchase. I almost
bought another IC7000 for the shack, that would been a big mistake.

The receive on this radio is fantastic and I always get random
complements when on the air about my clean signal. So get ready for the
ride as it will be fun.

What are you planning for your first antenna?

Merry Christmas

~73
Don
KD8NNU

On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 5:21 PM, [hidden email] [hidden email] wrote:

g3@abcs.com g3@abcs.com

Re: Reference Oscillator Calibration

Hi Don,

I'm awaiting the arrival of the G5RV from True Talk. It has a lot of
good reviews over at eham. I'm not sure where I'll put it, though. I
was thinking of the attic, but 50 ft is longer than my 25 ft attic.

I'm also considering one of the tak-tenna (taktenna.com) setups. This
is another with good eham reviews and looks relatively simple to set
up on the roof of the house. I know the antenna is as important as
the transceiver, and I'm hoping for a more elaborate setup eventually,
but right now I'd be happy with a basic operational level.

I'm trying to figure out how to set up the grounding. Also, the
wiring in the house wasn't done by professionals. The receptacle
tester shows a number of outlets having a ground/neutral reversed
error. Some check out ok and others don't even have the ground
connection on the receptacle. Hopefully I won't have to rewire the
whole house.

As always, any suggestions are welcome.

Merry Christmas to you, too!

J
KC9VBI

On 12/22/11, [hidden email] <[hidden email]> wrote:

> HI jay,
>
> Once you have an antenna set up you will be able to do the reference
> oscillator calibration. It does not have to be done until you get on
> the air and it only takes a few minutes.
>
> When I finished my K3 I was afraid of the oscillator calibration so I
> thought the factory defaults would be ok. It did work but after
> caibration it sounded like a radio should. I called elecraft support
> for some help and they walked my thru the procedure as the manual was a
> little vauge for an inexperienced operation like myself.
>
> Anyway you did good with your K3 it is one of the best on the market and
> I had no idea on how good of a radio I acutally purchase. I almost
> bought another IC7000 for the shack, that would been a big mistake.
>
> The receive on this radio is fantastic and I always get random
> complements when on the air about my clean signal. So get ready for the
> ride as it will be fun.
>
> What are you planning for your first antenna?
>
> Merry Christmas
>
> ~73
> Don
> KD8NNU
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 5:21 PM, [hidden email] [hidden email] wrote:
>
>> Hello!
>> I'm a complete newby when it comes to ham radio. Got my tech license
>> a couple of weeks ago and I'm now studying for the General class exam.
>> I thought building the K3 would be a good educational experience for
>> me.
>>
>> I just finished assembly and all went well. I've had an excellent
>> experience so far. But I'm stuck at the reference oscillator
>> calibration stage.
>>
>> I don't have a frequency counter, though I suppose I could purchase
>> one. I've tried hitting the frequencies for WWV but I'm not picking
>> anything up. Of course, I don't have an antenna yet as the manual did
>> not mention it as being a required piece of equipment. I'm short on
>> radio sense, I think. I have one on order, but it has not yet
>> arrived. I was hoping to have the K3 calibrated and then begin
>> dealing with the antenna setup.
>>
>> Is there any other way of calibrating the ref oscillator? Can it be
>> done online with the KUSB? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks for your help,
>>
>> Jay
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>