[Elecraft] re K3 timekeeping

[Don Wilhelm]

Because the Elecraft receiver is not designed to sync with those 
multiple time signals, it is only capable of receiving them, and you can 
use them to sync the time with the Elecraft RTC.
A receiver is not a watch!

The main difference is quantity of the precision crystals required to 
maintain a few seconds per month accuracy that can be purchased. Timex 
can easily purchase them at a low price based on an order of 10,000 or 
100,000 or even 1 million.  Elecraft could only swing a deal on a 
purchase quantity of 100 or 1000.  The quantity pricing difference is 
extreme.

The K2, K3, KX3 are known for having fine receivers, that does not mean 
they are also precision timepieces.  The RTC is meant to be an aid to 
logging when no other means is available.

When working in the home shack, use computer time or some "Atomic Clock" 
to provide you with accurate time.  When operating portable, set the 
Elecraft clock to the correct time before your outing.  It will be 
sufficiently accurate for logging purposes over the weekend event or 
even the weeklong event.  Remember "logging accuracy" rather than 
precise time to the nanosecond.
Alternately, wear your Timex (or whatever) and ignore the Elecraft gear 
clock.  If I want to know the time, I instinctively look at my wrist, it 
is a habit developed over many years.  It is much quicker and more 
reliable than dialing up the time on any of my radios.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/27/2014 4:58 PM, Barry wrote:
> Don Wilhelm-4 wrote
>> The K3 RTC depends on the crystal and the associated capacitors.  It is
>> not a precision device,
> So how come a $10 watch keeps better time than a $3K xcvr (that has access
> to multiple time signals)?  :-)
> Barry W2UP
>