[R-390] Newbie looking for Calibration Instrument(s)

[Lester Veenstra]

Frequency counters are cheap enough now that any old signal generator will work fine as long as its output is meterd fo you can tell what improvements you have made.

Lester B Veenstra  K1YCM  MØYCM  W8YCM   6Y6Y
lester at veenstras.com

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5 Shrine Club Drive (Physical)
HC84 452 Stable Ln (RFD USPS Mail)
Keyser WV 26726
GPS: 39.336826 N  78.982287 W (Google)
GPS: 39.33682 N  78.9823741 W (GPSDO)


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-----Original Message-----
From: r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Robert Nickels
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2019 10:52 AM
To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [R-390] Newbie looking for Calibration Instrument(s)

On 3/3/2019 11:56 PM, Perry Sandeen via R-390 wrote:
>    The most expensive is a good used HP signal generator. Shopping with care one can by a guaranteed operating digital unit for under $400 including shipping.

While I agree with the HP recommendation, the problem in buying a used 
signal generator that has long been out of a calibration cycle is you 
may end up measuring with a "rubber ruler". Obtaining sufficient 
frequency accuracy is fairly easy - thankfully WWV is still on the air 
and the cost of GPS-DOs has been dropping to the point where a high 
precision timebase is within the reach of most.

The bigger problem is obtaining accurately a calibrated output with 
precise attenuation so you'll actually know how good your receiver 
really is.  Of course the best solution to this dilemma is to buy a good 
signal generator that is in calibration, even if it's from a fellow ham 
who has calibrated it against other trusted equipment.   But the 
Elecraft XG-3 is a good alternative for $240 as it covers 1.5 to 200 MHz 
and offers four calibrated output levels that are useful for receiver 
alignment and evaluation: -107 dBm (1 uV),  -73 dBm (50 uV, S9), -33 dBm 
(S9+40),  -0 dBm (S9+73) = 1mW @ 50 ohms.   It's portable and 
battery-powered and does a number of other tricks too.   Elecraft also 
makes the AT1 41dB step attenuator that sells for $60.

I don't own either one but wanted to put Elecraft's products out as an 
alternative.     My go-to signal generator is an HP-8656B that I 
cross-check with other equipment, and as much as I love my old HP-606, 
I'll never go back to an analog sig gen.

73, Bob W9RAN

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