[RTTY] FW: ARLB027 ARRL 2005 Frequency Measuring Test set for November 17 UTC

[Dick Kriss, AA5VU]

How about using the 17-Nov ARRL FMT to check your RTTY/PSK setup for
frequency accuracy?  Just tune the test tone and record where you would spot
the tone if it was a rare DX station on the cluster.  The tone should be no
different than a PSK31 signal.  I did it last year and I was close but not
right on the money.  It was a good way for me to get a feel for the
frequency stability (or lack thereof) of my rig, the computer sound card and
the software.   All you have to do is put your rig on the ARRL specified
dial frequency and record the offset of the test tone. If you enter, the
ARRL will send you a report on how close you came.

I hope to do better this year.  The hard part for me will be remembering to
look for the tone on 17-Nov at 0245z.  It may be interesting to note the
deviation in cluster spots of the ARRL FMT test tone.

73, Dick AA5VU


------ Forwarded Message
From: ARRL Web site <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2005 17:08:21 -0500

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB027
ARLB027 ARRL 2005 Frequency Measuring Test set for November 17 UTC

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

------ End of Forwarded Message