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Zero-beating on CW

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Ted Edwards W3TB

Zero-beating on CW

I have never been convinced of being accurate on zero-beat on my K3.
With previous radio units, I would zero-beat by matching the tone of the
received station with my own keying side-tone. But it does not seem
accurate on the K3.

So the question: How would I determine that my offset and side tone would
match up so that I am really zero-beated when I think I am.

Thanks ahead of time.

--
73 de Ted Edwards, W3TB and GØPWW

and thinking about operating CW:
"Do today what others won't,
so you can do tomorrow what others can't."
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Arie Kleingeld PA3A-2

Re: Zero-beating on CW

Hello Ted,

When I need to be on zero beat within one Hz, I always switch on the
spot on the K3 and set the received signal to the same volume.
Once I hear the combination of both increase and decrease slowly, I know
that I am within a Hz. It's also the way I calibrate the K3 against a
standard like WWV or the russian station on 9.996 / 14.996 (forgot the
callsign).

73
Arie PA3A

Ted Edwards W3TB schreef op 5-10-2014 12:44:

> I have never been convinced of being accurate on zero-beat on my K3.
> With previous radio units, I would zero-beat by matching the tone of the
> received station with my own keying side-tone. But it does not seem
> accurate on the K3.
>
> So the question: How would I determine that my offset and side tone would
> match up so that I am really zero-beated when I think I am.
>
> Thanks ahead of time.
>

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Mike Harris-9

Re: Zero-beating on CW

Any particular reason to need to zero beat to 1Hz? I find the auto tune
function works perfectly well. In fact if I'm one of many stations
calling I often offset 40-50Hz so as to be different from the all zero
beat mush.

Regards,

Mike VP8NO

On 05/10/2014 07:55, Arie Kleingeld PA3A wrote:

> Hello Ted,
>
> When I need to be on zero beat within one Hz, I always switch on the
> spot on the K3 and set the received signal to the same volume.
> Once I hear the combination of both increase and decrease slowly, I know
> that I am within a Hz. It's also the way I calibrate the K3 against a
> standard like WWV or the russian station on 9.996 / 14.996 (forgot the
> callsign).
>
> 73
> Arie PA3A
>
> Ted Edwards W3TB schreef op 5-10-2014 12:44:
>> I have never been convinced of being accurate on zero-beat on my K3.
>> With previous radio units, I would zero-beat by matching the tone of the
>> received station with my own keying side-tone. But it does not seem
>> accurate on the K3.
>>
>> So the question: How would I determine that my offset and side tone
>> would
>> match up so that I am really zero-beated when I think I am.
>>
>> Thanks ahead of time.

NK7Z

Re: Zero-beating on CW

HI,
In a pileup, I ALWAYS move off zero beat, so if I transmit, I don't
cover the DX station in the event I transmit on top of him/her.
--
Thanks and 73's,
For equipment, and software setups and reviews see:
www.nk7z.net
for MixW support see;
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mixw/info
for Dopplergram information see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/dopplergram/info
for MM-SSTV see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MM-SSTV/info

On Sun, 2014-10-05 at 08:49 -0300, Mike Harris wrote:

> Any particular reason to need to zero beat to 1Hz? I find the auto tune
> function works perfectly well. In fact if I'm one of many stations
> calling I often offset 40-50Hz so as to be different from the all zero
> beat mush.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mike VP8NO
>
> On 05/10/2014 07:55, Arie Kleingeld PA3A wrote:
> > Hello Ted,
> >
> > When I need to be on zero beat within one Hz, I always switch on the
> > spot on the K3 and set the received signal to the same volume.
> > Once I hear the combination of both increase and decrease slowly, I know
> > that I am within a Hz. It's also the way I calibrate the K3 against a
> > standard like WWV or the russian station on 9.996 / 14.996 (forgot the
> > callsign).
> >
> > 73
> > Arie PA3A
> >
> > Ted Edwards W3TB schreef op 5-10-2014 12:44:
> >> I have never been convinced of being accurate on zero-beat on my K3.
> >> With previous radio units, I would zero-beat by matching the tone of the
> >> received station with my own keying side-tone. But it does not seem
> >> accurate on the K3.
> >>
> >> So the question: How would I determine that my offset and side tone
> >> would
> >> match up so that I am really zero-beated when I think I am.
> >>
> >> Thanks ahead of time.
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Zero-beating on CW

In reply to this post by Ted Edwards W3TB

Ted,

Is the value you have set in PITCH the same as the audio frequency you
are listening at? If so, the SPOT feature should be quite accurate.
Actually, between the CWT indicator and the Auto-Spot feature of the K3,
it is easy to get within a Hz or two. Auto-Spot may not work well in
very crowded band conditions unless you narrow the filter width. Also,
you should be tuned within 20 Hz or less for Auto-Spot to work effectively.

If you are matching the tones with your ears, unless you have perfect
pitch, adjust the amplitude of the sidetone and the signal to be near
equal and listen for the WOW, WOW, WOW tone to slow to zero. That will
assure you of zero beat.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/5/2014 6:44 AM, Ted Edwards W3TB wrote:

Arie Kleingeld PA3A-2

Re: Zero-beating on CW

In reply to this post by Mike Harris-9

Mike,

Only when calibrating the K3 freq I tune within one Hz. Performing the
Ref-Cal.
That's all.

73
Arie PA3A

Mike Harris schreef op 5-10-2014 13:49:
> Any particular reason to need to zero beat to 1Hz? I find the auto
> tune function works perfectly well. In fact if I'm one of many
> stations calling I often offset 40-50Hz so as to be different from the
> all zero beat mush.
>
> Regards,
>

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Mike Harris-9

Re: Zero-beating on CW

OK that is a different issue to that which I think many folks understood
from your original comment. I don't find zero beating WWV to be a
problem when trimming up the TCXO calibration, the wow, wow wow is easy
to detect and fine tune. Indeed, it is a regular requirement, not a do
once and forget issue, assuming it is ever done in the first instance
after a kit build.

Regards,

Mike VP8NO

On 05/10/2014 12:54, Arie Kleingeld PA3A wrote:

> Mike,
>
> Only when calibrating the K3 freq I tune within one Hz. Performing the
> Ref-Cal.
> That's all.
>
> 73
> Arie PA3A
>
>
>
> Mike Harris schreef op 5-10-2014 13:49:
>> Any particular reason to need to zero beat to 1Hz? I find the auto
>> tune function works perfectly well. In fact if I'm one of many
>> stations calling I often offset 40-50Hz so as to be different from the
>> all zero beat mush.
>>
>> Regards,