[Elecraft] 4 MHz alignment

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

You can zero beat to less than 1 Hz - or as close as your oscillator
stability allows - using your method.  As you approach zero, you won't
hear any tones below about 100 Hz on most Ham rigs. The audio frequency
bandpass is specifically designed to attenuate those frequencies  But,
as you approach zero, you will hear a rhythmic "beat" in the noise. That
is the very low frequency hetrodyne as the two signals are very nearly
on the same frequency. 

You MUST have the two signal levels about the same to hear this. If one
signal is much stronger than the other, there won't be enough change in
the level to hear the "beat". When I use a lash-up like yours, I find
that I have to mess around with positioning the leads, etc. a bit before
I can hear that low-frequency beat. Once I identify it, it's easy to
adjust wire positions a little more to make it very strong. Then it's
easy to bring the set C22 as close as you want.

Keep in mind that it's not important if you don't have C22 "dead on".
The K2's oscillators can drift as much as 100 Hz per the Elecraft spex.
In addition, the DAC's in the K2 limit the frequency accuracy to +/- 30
Hz, even if the K2 oscillators had no drift at all.

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289


Since I do not have a frequency counter I am attempting to adjust C22
using my Icom 706 and zero beating.  The zero beat area is quite broad
so I am wondering if this 
method is as accurate as the third technique of using Spectrum whilw
receiving WWV.  I have a test lead from the SO 239 on the Icom laid
across the XTL on the control 
board.  I am adjusting C22 with a metal screw driver and achieving a
zero beat as if I was tuning a guitar.  The frequency probe is plugged
into P6 and TP3.  The CAL 
FCTR menu choice is set.  But it appears much less sensitive than while
tuning against WWV using the technique in the assembly manual or the
technique of using 
Spectrum.  Is there something wrong with my technique or should I just
find a frequency counter somewhere and use it to allay my doubts?
   Kevin.