[Elecraft] Atomic Clocks and Aluminum Siding

[Stephen W. Kercel]

Ron:

Probably, unless one is using some very exotic mode such as Coherent CW, 
millisecond synchronization is not actually required for ham operations.

However, there are some fairly routine operations in which sub-second 
resolution is a necessity and not a luxury. These include the 
synchronization of beacons, or identifying which of several synchronized 
beacons you're receiving if you can detect that the signal is present but 
cannot make out the callsign. I would also think that coordinated 
operations such as hidden transmitter hunting would be greatly enhanced if 
all the participants have the same time within less that a tenth of a second.

However, for routine (or even contest) logging, I agree with you that a six 
dollar clock is as good as you need. Nevertheless, I did get an atomic 
clock, partly to facilitate DX beacon monitoring, but primarily for the gee 
whiz factor.

73,

Steve
AA4AK


At 12:34 PM 1/9/2005 -0800, you wrote:
>Charles wrote:
>
>The "cheapest" GPS receiver I ever bought costs $100 compared to the > $25
>for the WWV clock.  That was a couple of years ago, and the cost of both
>has come down.  That's the why.
>-------------------------------------
>
>I thought atomic clocks were desired for their "gee whiz" interest, not
>because someone usually needs to know what time it is to the nearest
>millisecond.
>
>For logging or station activities, I've never kept time closer than the
>current minute. That means my $6 Radio Shack digital clock that I chose
>because it was on sale and provides a 24-hour time format is perfect. It
>stays accurate to within one or two seconds a month. Setting it twice a year
>against WWV at 5 or 10 MHz means the contact times in my in my station log
>are always exactly right.
>
>And, for $6 if I ever lose it I'll not cry... Too much...
>
>I'm serious about the value of the "gee whiz" factor as in, "Gee whiz! Look
>at that!"
>
>After all, isn't that why we're all hams and why we build gear? Let's not
>insist on diluting the sheer enjoyment of the "Gee whiz" response with petty
>practicality...
>
>Ron AC7AC
>
>
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