Re: Installed K3EXREF

Posted by Dan AE9K on May 20, 2011; 3:58pm
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/Installed-K3EXREF-tp6188288p6386626.html

This may be a naive question but...

If the K3EXREF keeps the K3's reference oscillator within 2 Hz, then what value is there in using the K3EXREF in conjunction with the KTCXO3 instead of just the native K3 oscillator?

K3EXREF:  2 Hz error @ 14 MHz : 0.1 ppm
K3TCXO3: 7 Hz error @ 14 MHz : 0.5 ppm

Is the stability in ppm an instantaneous measurement of random error and not a measurement potential drift over some time delta?

If this is true then using the K3EXREF alone presumably would exhibit the 5 ppm error of the native oscillator in the 4 to 8 second gaps between K3EXREF syncs. This would make the case for replacing the native oscillator with the K3TCXO3.

If the stability is measured over time, however, then the K3EXREF and native oscillator would appear to be sufficient since oscillator drift is insignificant in the 4 to 8 second time span.

Just curious.

Dan
AE9K