Al wondered:
> I'm curious. Now that we can achieve absolute frequency
> accuracy to within plus or minus one hertz, of what benefit
> is that to day-to-day ham operating?
I have three answers:
1) Accurate time of day distributed across my local area network for the
contest logging computers. (I use Tardis/K9 software for
the distribution of time of day.) Since the station that I use is not
connected to the internet, I can't get time of day off the
internet.
2) During contests I sometimes find it useful to be able to place a CW signal
close to the band edge. In this situation I want to
be SURE that my signal is where I want it (including keying sidebands).
3) This is a hobby. It's fun to be able to measure accurately with modest
investment of money and effort these days. The GPS unit
replaces a surplus Western Electric (that will give its age away!) double-oven
10 MHz crystal standard for which my father
home-brewed a WWVB receiver. With a chart recorder, we were able to track the
daily aging of the crystal as well as maintain an
accuracy of far less than 1 Hz across the HF spectrum. My dad and I learned a
lot building and debugging the VLF receiver and
comparator system, and observing the changes in VLF propagation (especially
when the terminator lay between our house and WWVB).
While I'm a bit nostalgic for that big old rack-mounted system, the new little
package is compact, cute, and more reliable.
-- Eric K3NA
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