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Frequency Measuring Test
Frequency shifting occurred during the early 20-meter FMT on September 14, with stability attained near the end of the period. Late 20-meter signals suffered the fate of poor propagation and were not copied by the umpire. The umpire measured frequencies for the early run at 14,076.241, 7010.999 and 3550.415 kHz. The late run checked out at 7014.292 and 3560.422 kHz. A total of 80 entries were received, representing 825 individual measurements.
Sixty-six of the 80 who submitted entries measured within 100 Hz, an annual requirement of 100 "precise frequency measurement." They are listed as follows, with average error preceding their call signs: (0 Hz) W1JH W1PLJ W2AXT WA4AXA W41BU W4NTO WA5NOM W5ZTN WA6IQL WB7CRU W8CUJ W8OK W9LCK K0KV W0USL, (1) W1BGW W3BFF W3WD W5FMO ex-7HM W8NWU, (2) K2RG K7AW, (3) WA3RXE W6RQ (4) K1VYQ WA4CAW W1FDH W6CBX K7CC, (5) K6MZN, (7) W3FYX, (8) W8LX W9HPG, (10) W2AIQ, (11) K9AUB, (12) W4DRF AJ5P, (13) K5FSA, (15) W2ND W0GW, (16) W4HU WB9VUO, (17) W0SS VE3FCU, (20) W4PKD, (22) N0ST, (24) W6DLL N8AU, (25) W3KEK W9TGN, (28) VE2JN, (29) W3KCM, (37) KE8X, (44) WA7DUY W7SC, (49) WA3CFC, (51) W6SSB, (63) N6PE, (72) VF4ZX, (75) WA2MID WA6NQF, (77) W7SK, (82) W4UCL, (88) W9KEZ and (97) W8ZRL. All entries measuring over 100 Hz have been notified individually.
Excerpts
The equipment used here for the tests consisted of a Heath SB-300 receiver using a 400-cycle band-pass filter. The VFO, i-f and het osc. frequencies were brought out of the receiver and went to a mixer unit, which in turn went to a homemade 8-digit counter. The counter was checked against WWV to four points (W2AXT). I enjoy the FMTs and am looking forward to the next one. Keep up the good work (WA4AXA). I enjoy getting set up for the FMT nearly as much as the actual FMT itself (W4IBU). I "cheated" and borrowed an HP-3586 wave analyzer from work. It's really an FMTer's dream in that it is fully synthesized to 0.1 Hz resolution. It has a 20-Hz i-f filter and a built-in counter to measure the exact frequency of any signal in its band-pass (K0KV). My plans to use all homemade equipment for this test did not get accomplished. Perhaps by the next test, I will have the receiver working well enough to use (W3WD). Any interest in an article on "How To" for frequency measuring? (W0USL). [Sure! - W1CKK] I use the NBS "transfer oscillator" method, using a Heath IB-1100 counter with modified time base (K1VYQ). I enjoy participating in the FMT and hope they continue for years to come (W2ND). Thanks for this event. Sometimes I even come close (W4UCL).
Feedback
W4NM measured 13 Hz average error for the May FMT instead of 72 Hz error as reported (sorry 'bout that).
November 15 (UTC) is the date set for the next FMT. Be sure to check the "Contest Corral" column in November QST for full details. Good luck! Jeannie DeMaw, W1CKK