[South Florida DX Association] ARLB027 ARRL 2005 Frequency Measuring Test set for November 17 UTC

[Bill Marx]

ZCZC AG27
> QST de W1AW  
> ARRL Bulletin 27  ARLB027
> From ARRL Headquarters  
> Newington CT  November 9, 2005
> To all radio amateurs 
> 
> SB QST ARL ARLB027
> ARLB027 ARRL 2005 Frequency Measuring Test set for November 17 UTC
> 
> Returning to the airwaves November 17 at 0245 UTC (Wednesday,
> November 16 in US time zones), the 2005 ARRL Frequency Measuring
> Test (FMT) once again will call on participants to measure the
> frequency of an audio tone modulating the carrier.
> 
> ''Measuring the tone frequency, as opposed to that of the carrier,
> reinforces the understanding of the relationship between carrier
> frequency and the actual components of a transmitted signal,''
> Engineer and ARRL Contributing Editor Ward Silver, N0AX, says in
> ''Tune In the 2005 Frequency Measuring Test,'' in November QST (p 54),
> www.arrl.org/w1aw/fmt/2005/05fmtsilver.pdf. ''With the carrier
> largely suppressed for SSB signals, only the sideband components
> remain. A single modulating tone results in a single transmitted
> component.'' But, Silver notes, the frequency of the absent carrier
> is what the operator sees on the radio's display.
> 
> The FMT signals will emanate from Maxim Memorial Station W1AW this
> year on 160, 80 and 40 meters. The 20-meter transmission has been
> dropped for 2005 because of the generally poor conditions during
> evening hours on that band. The frequencies will be 1855, 3990 and
> 7290 kHz, and all transmissions will be on lower sideband (LSB). The
> FMT will replace the W1AW phone bulletin normally transmitted at
> 0245 UTC on November 17 (November 16 in US time zones).
> 
> Participants may utilize either direct or indirect techniques to
> determine the tone frequency. ''Direct measurements assume a carrier
> frequency and measure the audio tone frequency directly,'' Silver
> explains. ''Indirect measurements obtain the transmitted frequency of
> the tone component at RF, then compute the difference between the
> published carrier frequency and measured frequency.''
> 
> Silver advises that since the W1AW exciters are independent units
> and not fed with a single local oscillator, participants can expect
> the measured tone frequency to differ slightly on each band.
> 
> The test itself will consist of three 60-second tone transmissions
> on each band, followed by a station identification. The whole test
> will run for about 15 minutes and will end with a station ID.
> 
> Submitted reports should include the time of reception and the tone
> frequency. Those using an indirect measurement method should show
> how they calculated the tone frequency. Participants also should
> include name, call sign and location in their reports, and they may
> submit separate reports for each band. A Certificate of
> Participation is available to all entrants.
> 
> Those entrants coming closest to the measured frequency as
> determined by the ARRL Laboratory will be listed in the test report
> and will also receive special recognition on their certificate.
> Entries must be received via e-mail <fmt at arrl.org> or postmarked
> by December 16, 2005. Send hard-copy entries to W1AW/FMT, 225 Main
> St, Newington, CT 06111.
> NNNN
> /EX
>