[Elecraft] K2 Frequency Stability

[Ron D' Eau Claire]

> Well,
> MOST of us, even at Field Day do not operate 8 to 12 hours at a time!
> What is the spec on the production rigs?   (Mine is Field Test vintage).
> 73,
> Stuart K5KVH

My K2 manual says: "< 100 Hz from cold start typical at 25C"

Remembering that the drift checks I did a year or so ago where when my
operating desk was sitting on top of a heater vent, and so the temperature
at the operating position would cycle up and down probably 20 degrees F as
the furnace cycled, I decided to do another check while working around the
house this evening.

I turned on my K2 from a cold start and monitored WWV at 10 mHz. It drifted
about 15 Hz over the first half hour, then back to where it started by the
end of an hour. It's been within 4 or 5 Hz of zero beat with WWV for the
past five hours now.

I seem to remember some discussion from last time about the drift of the BFO
canceling out the drift of the LO in certain situations. But even if the
drift I have seen tonight was doubled I'd not be a bit concerned, nor would
my K2 be anywhere near to performing outside of the published specs.

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289