[Lowfer] Freq ERROR at W9NU

[Andy - KU4XR]

--- On Wed, 12/23/09, Paul Daulton <k5wms at centurytel.net> wrote:

> I wonder if other software somehow affects the soundcard, I
> am somewhat  computer challenged so I cant answer that. 
> Can anyone else comment?

Speaking from personal experience, other software running at the
same time, does affect sound card sampling rates. I can tune in
WWVB on any program that has a waterfall, or spectrum display,
and none will read the same. One reason many of the software has
built in calibration modes to compensate for sampling errors.
Add in DSP software filtering, and it can add sampling errors
itself, shifting the frequency up or down.


Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN.
LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 185.29866 KHz ( QRSS-60 )
Coordinates:  N:  35* 43' 54" - W:  84* 3' 16"
http://www.myspace.com/beaconxr
http://webpages.charter.net/ku4xr/


--- On Wed, 12/23/09, Paul Daulton <k5wms at centurytel.net> wrote:

> From: Paul Daulton <k5wms at centurytel.net>
> Subject: Re: [Lowfer] Freq ERROR at W9NU
> To: lowfer at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 1:08 PM
> Neil is the error in your 706 or in
> your computer? I guess I was lucky 
> when I started with a 166mhz Ibm laptop that was dead
> on  as far as 
> audio chip calibration. My Gateway III I now use is 17 hz
> off at 800 
> hz. Other computer in shack , an Emachine 2.7 ghz , is 20
> hz off at 800 
> hz on ARGO. 
> 
> I had some emails back and forth with Bill Bowers(WEB) a
> few months 
> ago, Bill was complaing he couldn't get his beacon 20 miles
> away at 
> home. When I suggested he check the audio card, he came
> back with the 
> reply that he was about 11 hz off. Once calibrated he was
> back in the 
> bandpass for the correct freq. Bill suggest I write this up
> for 
> Lowdown, but I havent yet. 
> 
> I wonder if other software somehow affects the soundcard, I
> am somewhat 
> computer challenged so I cant answer that. Can anyone else
> comment?
> 
> I also note the correction is different on Spectran and
> ARGO. My TS50 
> appears to be within 1hz, with the combined errors of the
> TS50 and 
> computers best I can get is +/- 2 hz compared to others
> reports. 
> 
> Happy Hollidays to you and all on the Lowfer forum. 
> 
> Paul k5wms
> 
> Quoting Neil Dodson <w9nu at msn.com>:
> > Frequency ERROR with W9NU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
> >
> > I last reported I was getting SIW on 185.198 instead
> of 185.185.  Well
> > my 706 is showing about 14 Hertz low even after
> checking it on 60 and
> > 100 KHz. 
> >
> > Last year my 706 was dead on and what's with this 14
> hertz drift ???
> >
> > Sorry for the bogus report on SIW.  I was
> convinced I was correct about
> > the frequency after having calibrated it a couple
> weeks ago. 
> >
> > Happy hunting and Holidays. 
> >
> > 73's  Neil
> >