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_..._
Introduction.
With today's digital radios, it is easy to be complacent about frequency. In the days of sliderule dials, hams had to be ever vigilant. Calibrations against W1AW or other Official Transmitting Stations were the rule. High-stability master oscillators and 10 Hz resolution make knowing one's frequency a lot easier, but the requirements to operate within license privileges are as strong as ever. To that end, the ARRL is sponsoring a series of measuring tests, beginning with frequency. These tests will exercise the capabilities of hams to measure important operating parameters, improve their understanding of complex radios and give them a better mental picture of their transmitted signals. The goal is a more technically aware amateur confident of compliance with FCC regulations.--H. Ward Silver, N0AX. (Taken from October 2002 QST.)
_..._
On November 19, 2003 at 9:45 PM EST, W1AW sent a series of tones (and Morse Code) on four (4) amateur bands. The event did not give out the exact frequencies on which W1AW was transmitting; rather close approximations. The purpose of this "test" was for amateurs to measure as close as possible the transmitted frequencies. One of the goals was not only to exercise the capabilities of amateurs to properly measure frequency, but also to measure (if you will) their understanding of the characteristics of a signal. (For more information on this, please see The 2003 ARRL Frequency Measuring Test, November 2003 QST, page 65, or the ARRL web page at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/fmt/2003/Silver-FMT.pdf . Additional information can also be found at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/fmt .
How were the transmissions performed?
For the test, W1AW used four (4) Harris RF-3200 exciters and Harris RF-3230 power amplifiers. Each amplifier was running approximately 1kW. The exciters were keyed simultaneously using the standard W1AW bulletin/code practice program and keyer matrixes. The frequencies were measured using an Hewlett Packard 5345A Frequency Counter, with a 10 MHz signal reference supplied by a Hewlett Packard Z3801 GPS/Frequency Standard. The test consisted of three 60-second key-down transmissions, followed by a series of dits, followed by station identification.
The antennas consisted of a Cage Dipole for 80-meters; two (2) 40-meter yagis fed in parallel; two (2) 20-meter yagis fed in parallel; and two (2) 15-meter yagis fed in parallel. In each case, one antenna was pointed towards the NNW and the other towards the SSW. The complete W1AW antenna list can be found at, http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2001/07/30/1/ .
The frequencies on which W1AW was transmitting were as follows:
There were 214 submissions. This is up approximately 57% from 2002 (with 137). Entries came from 41 states (as well as some Canadian provinces, one amateur from the Ukraine and one SWL). The breakdown by state can be seen in CHART A.
Chart A  |
Given the band conditions at the time, 40 and 80 meters, respectively, had the most entries, with 187 on 40 meters; 179 entries on 80 meters; 73 on 20 meters; and 39 entries on 15 meters. Obviously, a number of amateurs were able to measure W1AW's transmissions on more than one band. The breakdown by band can be seen in CHART B.
Chart B  |
As was experienced in the 2002 FMT, the highest number of participants came from the 4th Call Area, with the 5th and 8th Call Areas coming in a distant second and third, respectively. The breakdown by call area can be seen in CHART C.
Chart C  |
In terms of closest measurements (+/- 1 ppm) the submissions are as follows:
For all those who copied W1AW on all four (4) bands, only seven (7) amateurs came within +/- 1 ppm (or less) of our transmitted frequencies. They are K3YZ, KG4TWQ, KR4M, N9AB, VE2IQ, VE3OAT and WA2IKL.
Error Rates.
The Error Rates in ppm ranged anywhere from +1084 to --482 ppm (on no particular band). It's worth noting that these figures are higher than they were in 2002. However, there were also many more "new-comers" to the test. Since a number of them hadn't performed frequency measuring before (as was mentioned in a few letters) it seems natural that the error rate (range) would be a bit higher. As always, it's not the purpose of this venue to discuss the reasons "why" anyone was off. That is left up to the individual to determine.
Breakdown By Band.
Since there were a number of amateurs who copied us on more than one band, the callsign listings are based on each band. (As such, you will see callsigns listed multiple times.) The bands are broken down by error rates. The first sets of calls are of those amateurs with error rates (equal to or less than) +/- 1 ppm, followed by +/- 5 ppm, +/- 10 ppm and then +/- 20 ppm. Please note these are ranges.
80 meters (+/- 1 ppm):
AA6LK, AA8TV, AC5CV, AC8Y, AF9A, K3YZ, K3ZMA, K4FUM, K4VA, K5CM, K8TK, K8ZEC, K9PS, KA5QEP, KA7OEI, KA8BDD, KA8WQL, KB8TMG, KB0YDN, KD2BD, KD5TFD, KG4TWQ, KL0S/4, KM1P, KR4M, KW2N, K0ETC, K0PF, K0WM, N1BC, N1EO, N4VSD, N5IB, N6NYX, N7LYR, N8ASB, N8UR, N8XD, N9AB, NB3O, NC7V, NM7X, NZ5G, N0NB, SWL, VE2IQ, VE3OAT, VE3ZRK, W1BYH, W1TAG, W2IB, W3JW, W3NF, W3PE, W4AD, W4DEX, W4NTO, W4UK, W4WJ, W5DB, W5EMC, W5KWB, W8DL, WA1RAJ, WA1ZMS/4, WA2IKL, WA2NBT, WA4OBJ, WA4SIR, WA5LUY, WA5MYI, WA8YNV, WA9ZZZ, WB3ERA, WB6VRN, WB8GXB, WB0LXZ, WJ2B, W0HBK
40 meters (+/- 1 ppm):
AA6LK, AA8TV, AC5CV, AC6AO, AC8Y, AF9A, K3YZ, K3ZMA, K4FUM, K5CM, K5LJ, K8DJR, K8TK, K8ZEC, K9JM, K9PS, KA5QEP, KA7OEI, KA8BDD, KA8WQL, KB0YDN, KD5TFD, KD6HXQ, KF4HEY, KG4TWQ, KI0LS, KR4M, KV4EE, KW2N, K0ETC, K0LOA, K0PF, K0WM, N1QY, N4VSD, N4WL, N5DZ, N5IB, N5OHL, N6AX, N6NYX, N7LYR, N8UR, N8XD, N9AB, NB3O, NC7V, NM7X, NZ5G, N0NB, SWL, VE2IQ, VE2XL, VE2XS, VE3OAT, VE3ZRK, W1BYH, W2HLI, W2IB, W3JW, W3NF, W3PE, W4DEX, W4NTO, W4UK, W4WJ, W5EMC, W5YR, W7ISD, W7SC, W8DL, W8EH, W9DGI, WA1RAJ, WA2IKL, WA2NBT, WA4OBJ, WA5LUY, WA5MYI, WA6VPJ, WA7MXZ, WA8YNV, WB3ERA, WB5EXI, WB6UZZ, WB6VRN, WB8GXB, W0BR/1, W0HBK
20 meters (+/- 1 ppm):
K3YZ, K3ZMA, K4FUM, K5CM, K8ZEC, K9DCI, KD5TFD, KF4HEY, KG4TWQ, KR4M, KS5R, KV4EE, N5PA, N8XD, N9AB, VE2IQ, VE3OAT, W1TAG, W3JW, W4CNG, W8DL, W8GF, WA2IKL, WA5LUY, WA5MYI, WA8YNV, WB3ERA, W0BR/1, W0HBK
15 meters (+/- 1 ppm):
AA1HO, K3YZ, K5MDD, KG4TWQ, KR4M, N1QY, N9AB, VE2IQ, VE3OAT, W8GF, WA2IKL, W0BR/1
80 meters (+/- 5 ppm):
AA1HO, AD6HJ, K2BND, K5LJ, K8DJR, KG0CX, KN8Y, KV4EE, N1QY, N4WL, N5OHL, N5PA, W2LTF, W3GHU, W4CNG, W8EH, W8GF, WA7MXZ, WA8ERA, WB2GMY, WB2NMI, WS2N, W0BR/1
40 meters (+/- 5 ppm):
AA1HO, AA4MI, AB5XZ, AD4E, AD6HJ, AG4SM, K2BND, K4DXA, K5DL, K5RIK, K6YR, K9DCI, KC6TFS, KD5JEM, KN8Y, N1BC, N3ZOC, N5PA, UT5RP, W1BX, W3GHU, W4CNG, W6BEG, W7HUY, W7SNH, W7VN, W8GF, WA8ERA, WA0YCY, WS2N
20 meters (+/- 5 ppm):
AA1HO, AA4MI, K2BND, K3QC, K5LJ, K5MDD, K6VWE, K8DJR, N1BC, N1QY, N1ZRG, N2IRZ, N3ZOC, N0ACH, W1BX, W1CQD, W2HLI, W4WJ, W8MMM
15 meters (+/- 5 ppm):
K8DJR, N1ZRG, N2IRZ, N6TPT, W1BX, W2HLI, W8DL
80 meters (+/- 10 ppm):
AA4MI, AG4SM, K4DXA, K5DL, K5RIK, K6PFA, KD5JEM, N3ZOC, N0ATH, W5ETI
40 meters (+/- 10 ppm):
K5MDD, K6DSB, KM1P, N8ASB, W1CQD, W5ETI, WA4IXN, WA0RSX, W0MTW
20 meters (+/- 10 ppm):
K4DXA, K4WES, W9ZJX, WA4IXN, WN8VIX, WS2N
15 meters (+/- 10 ppm):
K4WES, N5PA
80 meters (+/- 20 ppm):
K5MDD, W2HLI, WA0YCY
40 meters (+/- 20 ppm):
K4WES, K7EA, N6TPT, N7QF, N0ACH, W5DB, W6MTJ, W8MMM, W9ZJX, WB2RRF, WN8VIX
20 meters (+/- 20 ppm):
W9GOC, WB2JGD, WV4Y
15 meters (+/- 20 ppm):
K5LJ, K8ZEC, W1CQD, WS2N
_..._
Will there be additional Frequency Measuring Tests?
The answer to this is, yes. Amateurs can expect another FMT in late 2004. (That is the current plan as of this writing.) It may still be another frequency measurement test, or, it may be a test where the amateur will have to measure a tone frequency.
The question was raised as to whether it may be feasible to have a "Test" from the West Coast. The answer to this is also, yes. Given current propagation factors, having a Test run from the West Coast will give amateurs in that part of the world an opportunity to participate in this event. It may not necessarily be coordinated by the ARRL. But, it'll be an event that is still worth one's participation.
As always, details will always appear in upcoming issues of QST magazine, and also on the W1AW FMT web page.