K5CM FMT June 11, 2013 (9:30 PM CDT)

TX Frequencies

K5CM 1st run (horizontal) - 7054463.437 ...... Second run (Vertical) 7054480.677

W6OQI - 14121132.234 


Comments

W6OQI LAX DM04vf K5CM signals from both antennas were good here in Southern California.  I believe the second 40 meter signal had a little more Doppler shift.
KK4KAZ/2 SNJ FM29ln My first time with crude measurements using Elecraft KX3 on USB w/estimated calibration from WWV, and "fldigi" set for frequency analysis at ~1000 Hz.  Expected accuracy ~ 1 or 2 Hz (maybe).  I hope to have GPS stabilized 1 PPS & 10 MHz Reference, with cycle counter next time for much better accuracy of ~ 0.01 Hz?  We'll see!
N2GL OR CN85kp Thanks for the test Connie and Charles. I am getting rusty. Measured with GPS locked HP 35861 Selective Level Meter.
N5DM STX EL29fs K5CM S9+10/QSB. 2nd transmission...carrier unstable. W6OQI S9+20/Solid. 2nd NW transmission was -.450Hz (lower) than first transmission (14121132.850).
AB4RS VA FM18hw Mixed it up a little this time around from my usual method. Used a recently acquired HP 3586b, locked to the 10 MHz reference from a Trimble Thunderbolt to tune the RF. Sampled the IF using computer soundcard in SpectrumLab, calibrated the soundcard immediately before and after each test to a 15,625 Hz tone generated by a HP 3336c. Made the measurement directly from the IF. K5CM signals came in strong. I neglected to record the strength of the first run, the second measured at -83 dBm. I could hear both of K6OQI's runs, the first was much stronger (-80 dBm) than the second (-103 dBm), but I used the measurement from the second run.
W9ZB IN EM69xp Signals strong with rapid doppler effects.  1st 40M sig slightly stronger than 2nd.  (Didn't get a good observation.)  1st 20M sig peaked S9+20;  2nd, S9+5.
ku4py AL EM62wj I used a vertical throughout the test.  I did notice a slight difference in signal strength in the 4om transmissions.  The first one seemed stronger to me.  All the carriers were clear and strong.  The calibration freqs. were as close to the measured signals as possible.  A ragchew on 40m may have influenced the readings.
K9KK OK EM15 40M QRM was INCREDIBLE. 20M EAST signal Very GOOD..  20M NW signal GOOD.  Challenging and fun.  Thanks Connie an Marv. 20M NW signal was about 0.195 Hertz lower than NW signal, GO FIGURE ???  Submitted average.....
K5RKS OK EM15 This was a good FMT. K5CM's signals were both about S9 here. I copied both of W6OQI's runs but for some reason the 2nd xmission, which was pointed to JA land, was more stable here so I am sending my measurement from the second of W6OQI's runs.
K5XL NTX EM12kp Both K5CM signals peaked S9 with lots of fading and doppler.  W6OQI signal beamed East was +10DB over S9.  Setup here is Flex-1500 with Trimble Thunderbolt GPSDO using Spectrum Lab to measure approx 500 hertz tone.  Thanks for FMT!
KG0HY NE EN20 Signals from K5CM were fair, W6OQI was very good.  For 40M use inverted V dual dipole 4.8/9.9MHz, and a HF yagi. Receiver is WinRadio G313, used CHU after the test to check calibration.
VE3OAT ON FN25eg A little 40 m QRM to make life interesting.  Good signals all around and I even got reasonable reception of W6OQI's NW beam.  This time using a Thunderbolt GPSDO instead of my old HP.  It seems to work well but I think I am out of practice again. 
AF9A IN EM69wv Thanks!
KM6QX EB CM87 W6OQI's two doppler shifted spectrums were completly different 330mi NW of him here. I picked maybe the only common peak hoping it wasn't shifted.  Using Pixel loop antenna with Flex-1500 and Spectrum Lab. John Stuart, Lafayette CA.
K7TT WWA CN87wp 40M signal very noisy and wide ... about 1 hertz from atmospherics I assume. 20M signal very good but still wide here in Western Washington state. Pointed this direction was much stronger but both very good.   Jim
W3JW VA FM17tn Signals were moderate to strong. Doppler/multipath spread was significant on both bands. The antenna used for both 40M and 20M was an inverted-L (vertical portion 65 feet; horizontal portion 120 feet; elevated radials). The antenna was connected to the receiver through an "antenna tuner" set appropriately for the band in use. The difference between my first and second run, 20M averages was 8 millihertz.
K8CT MI EN83ce All good signal strengths here in Michigan with lots of Doppler...Tnx Connie for the test..
K5CM OK EM25 Strong 20 meter signal from Marvin. My reading was from the East run.

 


K5CM 40 Meter run.

No definitive conclusions can be drawn as to the best polarization.  An improved Vertical antenna will be used on the next test.

 

call Section Grid TX Horizontal Measured Horizontal Error in Hz Error in PPX TX Vertical Measured Vertical Error in Hz Error in PPX Best
AB4RS VA FM18hw 7054463.437 7054463.397 -0.040 5.67E-09 7054480.677 7054480.663 -0.014 1.98E-09 v
KM6QX EB CM87 7054463.437 7054463.253 -0.184 2.61E-08 7054480.677 7054480.66 -0.017 2.41E-09 v
W9ZB IN EM69xp 7054463.437 7054463.2 -0.237 3.36E-08 7054480.677 7054480.57 -0.107 1.52E-08 v
W3JW VA FM17tn 7054463.437 7054463.529 0.092 1.30E-08 7054480.677 7054480.805 0.128 1.81E-08 h
K5RKS OK EM15 7054463.437 7054462.97 -0.467 6.62E-08 7054480.677 7054480.54 -0.137 1.94E-08 v
K8CT MI EN83ce 7054463.437 7054463.461 0.024 3.40E-09 7054480.677 7054480.504 -0.173 2.45E-08 h
VE3OAT ON FN25eg 7054463.437 7054463.022 -0.415 5.88E-08 7054480.677 7054480.49 -0.187 2.65E-08 v
AF9A IN EM69wv 7054463.437 7054463.542 0.105 1.49E-08 7054480.677 7054480.881 0.204 2.89E-08 h
K7TT WWA CN87wp 7054463.437 7054462.956 -0.481 6.82E-08 7054480.677 7054480.313 -0.364 5.16E-08 v
W6OQI LAX DM04vf 7054463.437 7054463.168 -0.269 3.81E-08 7054480.677 7054480.298 -0.379 5.37E-08 h
K5XL NTX EM12kp 7054463.437 7054463.243 -0.194 2.75E-08 7054480.677 7054481.067 0.390 5.53E-08 h
KG0HY NE EN20 7054463.437 7054463.2 -0.237 3.36E-08 7054480.677 7054480.25 -0.427 6.05E-08 h
N5DM STX EL29fs 7054463.437 7054463.75 0.313 4.44E-08 7054480.677 7054481.25 0.573 8.12E-08 h
N2GL OR CN85kp 7054463.437 7054463 -0.437 6.19E-08 7054480.677 7054480 -0.677 9.60E-08 h
ku4py AL EM62wj 7054463.437 7054463.375 -0.062 8.79E-09 7054480.677 7054579.37 98.693 1.40E-05
K9KK OK EM15 7054463.437 7055536.538 1073.101 1.52E-04 7054480.677 7055519.512 1038.835 1.47E-04
KK4KAZ/2 SNJ FM29ln 7054463.437 7055954 1490.563 2.11E-04 7054480.677 7055954 1473.323 2.09E-04

 


 

W6OQI 20 Meter run

Call Section Grid TX Frequency Measured Freq Error in Hz Error in PPX
K5CM OK EM25 14121132.234 14121132.240 0.006 4.25E-10
N2GL OR CN85kp 14121132.234 14121132.200 -0.034 2.41E-09
K5XL NTX EM12kp 14121132.234 14121132.193 -0.041 2.90E-09
K7TT WWA CN87wp 14121132.234 14121131.944 -0.290 2.05E-08
K9KK OK EM15 14121132.234 14121131.933 -0.301 2.13E-08
K8CT MI EN83ce 14121132.234 14121131.892 -0.342 2.42E-08
W3JW VA FM17tn 14121132.234 14121131.809 -0.425 3.01E-08
AF9A IN EM69wv 14121132.234 14121131.732 -0.502 3.55E-08
AB4RS VA FM18hw 14121132.234 14121131.619 -0.615 4.36E-08
VE3OAT ON FN25eg 14121132.234 14121131.592 -0.642 4.55E-08
KM6QX EB CM87 14121132.234 14121132.921 0.687 4.87E-08
K5RKS OK EM15 14121132.234 14121131.518 -0.716 5.07E-08
W9ZB IN EM69xp 14121132.234 14121131.250 -0.984 6.97E-08
N5DM STX EL29fs 14121132.234 14121133.300 1.066 7.55E-08
KG0HY NE EN20 14121132.234 14121130.950 -1.284 9.09E-08
ku4py AL EM62wj 14121132.234 14121130.736 -1.498 1.06E-07
KK4KAZ/2 SNJ FM29ln 14121132.234 14121134.900 2.666 1.89E-07

 

 


 

 

 

Transmitting equipment used by K5CM for this FMT:

A HP Z3801 GPS frequency source clocks a HP-3336B. The output is feed to a 10 db transistor amp which drives a 12BY7 / pair 6146. The output power was set to 50 watts for the dipole and 200 watts for the vertical.  There are no mixers or any device in the chain of amplifiers that might impact the accuracy of the GPS frequency source.  As a reality check,  I periodically log the frequency source against WWV and other GPS referenced sources.  I monitor each transmission with a completely separate receive system to look for any instability or short term drift. 

I typically see considerably less than 1 mHz difference at 10 Mhz when comparing  two Z3801's or a Z3801 and a Thunderbolt, over a 10 to 10,000 second period. 

 

Antennas:

160 - Vertical

 80 - New Sloping dipole. Sloping down from 140'. (favors West, North, East)

 40 - Standard Dipole hanging between two 80 foot towers. (favors East, West)

 40 - 18 foot Vertical mounted on the roof with two tuned 1/4 wave elevated radials.

 20 - 4el SteppIR at 70'

 

Current W6OQI FMT transmitting equipment for this FMT:

 

 

My Transmitting setup consists of a HP Z3801 clocking a HP 3336B which drives a Johnson Viking I transmitter, the output of which is attenuated by a 6 db attenuator, to then drive an Icom PW-1 amplifier to about 500 watts. The antenna is a 3 element tribander .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: Because I put the results up quickly, there will be mistakes, so don't hesitate to point them out quickly. 

 

73,

Connie

K5CM

 

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