[Elecraft] Installed K3EXREF

[Edward R. Cole]

Matt,

I agree that the biggest challenge is getting UHF and mw LO's to be 
on frequency.  Due to the multiplication of the LO, any inaccuracy or 
instability is magnified.  But it is just as important that the IF 
radio used with those transverters have good frequency 
characteristics as they are translated up to the operating frequency.

Another little annoyance is operating on nets where stations are all 
over the place in frequency.  As NC it is tough to keep tuning each 
offset out in a quick paced round table style net.  I host a 2m-SSB 
net where a couple stations insist on being 100-Hz low (they maintain 
their radio dial says they are "on-freq").  With the K3EXREF and a 
PLL locked transverter I can be assured that my frequency is correct.

Also, operating any mode that has a high duty cycle of key-down 
causes temperature related drift.  K3EXREF will solve that.  The 
K3EXREF is both accurate and stabile in freq.

73, Ed - KL7UW

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Message: 37
Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2011 18:40:52 -0700
From: Matt Zilmer <mzilmer at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Installed K3EXREF
To: "Jerry Muller" <list at k0tv.com>
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <q5ado6tvj231llbu078il5sijlk30sh4v8 at 4ax.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Most of the applications where "extreme accuracy" is really needed are
transverters at microwave freqs.  That is a lot of the feedback
received here.  I believe that.  It makes the most sense.

A couple of PPM is plenty good for HF, imho.  But there are those of
us that have the frequency fetish.  See the FMT for example.  Dunno
how many OO's have the capability to measure overall output to within
a few Hz, nor how many can measure amplitudes to required levels of
suppression.  There must be some, and some are K3 owners.

I got cited once, in 1973 by the FCC monitoring station in Kingsville,
TX, when my dial marker was off by about 1 KHz.  With the K3, nothing
like that is a worry.  But the K3EXREF makes it a certainty that you
will have no excuse....

73,
matt W6NIA
K3 #24



73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
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