[Elecraft] To zero beat or not to zero beat

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

I use the SPOT feature on my K3S to zero beat the carrier on WWV.   This gets me to +/- 1Hz. If it is more I'm inclined to tweak the reference such that it is accurate.    

As to posting spots,  I usually post to the nearest 1 KHz.  Thus from experience, I have little confidence in the display accuracy of other radios. 

73
Bob, K4TAX


Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 21, 2019, at 3:44 PM, N4ZR <n4zr at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> Ever since I have owned my K3, I have noticed that most spots put the K3's receiver above the actual frequency of the spotted station.  Initially, I thought this might have to do with DX spots being rounded to the nearest 100 Hz, but then I realized that, if that were the case, X percent of spots should be high, X low, and Y (whatever percent) effectively right on.
> 
> I've checked the K3's calibration, and it appears to be right on at 10 and 15 MHz, tuning in CW mode to WWV's carrier at my preset beat note.  One possibility that occurred to me is that perhaps the DX cluster convention is always to round up, rather than up or down.
> 
> Seems a little unlikely to me, but does anyone know the answer?  I'm perfectly happy to keep jogging the main tuning knob a bit on most spots, but thought I'd ask.
> 
> -- 
> 
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> Check out the Reverse Beacon Network
> at <http://reversebeacon.net>, now
> spotting RTTY activity worldwide.
> For spots, please use your favorite
> "retail" DX cluster.
> 
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