[Elecraft] Zero-Beat Procedure for the Elecraft K3s (DRAFT)

[Clay Autery]

It was not until recently that I acquired the TMP connectors and crimp 
tool to make a proper jumper cable from my K3s' J1 connector on my K3s’ 
TXCO (TMP) to my frequency counter (BNC), so I have always used the 
"zero-beat" method.  Periodically, I go back and repeat the TXCO 
calibration using a modified "Method 2 (Zero-Beating)" procedure (K3s 
Owner's Manual, Rev A1, p.53).  It originated (and grew) from a post 
snippet from this reflector. (Thanks Scott, K9MA)  IF you have an 
Elecraft P3 Panadapter, or other, connected to the K3s’ IF Out, you can 
use it to great facility in visualizing and verifying what "is" and what 
you "do".  I have written this procedure with the assumption that the P3 
is not present or is not being actively used beyond observation.  I may 
write an addendum later to include the active use of the panadapter vs. 
as an observational tool only.

For obvious reasons, the manual says to use the highest WWV frequency 
available, and references 10, 15, and 20 MHz.  Just in case you missed 
it, NIST put WWV at 25 MHz back on the air sometime in 2015, but they 
switched it to circular polarization around July of 2017.  Link: 
http://www.arrl.org/news/wwv-25-mhz-signal-swapped-to-circular-polarization 
OR, back to the half-wave dipole depending on which reference you read.  
<confused>  Point is, that I am having great luck using it as a 
reference signal.

Of interest to some may be the inclusion of a very simple equation that 
tells you how much and which way to adjust REF CAL in one shot.  No 
fuss, no muss, no futzing around and back and forth. You make one 
observation, one calculation, one input and you're done.  (Usually)  
MOST of the procedure is in the setup.

Go here to grab a PDF of the DRAFT document of the procedure I use: 
http://www.montac.com/pdfs/Elecraft_K3_Zero_Beat.pdf

73,

-- 
______________________
Clay Autery, KY5G
(318) 518-1389