diff --git a/doc/user_guide/en/images/FreqCal.png b/doc/user_guide/en/images/FreqCal.png new file mode 100644 index 000000000..46901fe71 Binary files /dev/null and b/doc/user_guide/en/images/FreqCal.png differ diff --git a/doc/user_guide/en/images/FreqCal_Graph.png b/doc/user_guide/en/images/FreqCal_Graph.png new file mode 100644 index 000000000..8f8c59172 Binary files /dev/null and b/doc/user_guide/en/images/FreqCal_Graph.png differ diff --git a/doc/user_guide/en/measurement_tools.adoc b/doc/user_guide/en/measurement_tools.adoc index 757ba9634..7163fb996 100644 --- a/doc/user_guide/en/measurement_tools.adoc +++ b/doc/user_guide/en/measurement_tools.adoc @@ -1,14 +1,74 @@ -=== Calibrating Your Radio +=== Frequency Calibration - [ ... TBD ... ] +Many _WSJT-X_ capabilities depend on signal-detection bandwidths no +more than a few Hz. Frequency accuracy and stability are therefore +unusually important. We provide tools to enable accurate frequency +calibration of your radio, as well as precise frequency measurement of +on-the-air signals. The calibration procedure works by automatically +cycling your CAT-controlled radio through a series of preset +frequencies of carrier-based signals at reliably known frequencies, +measuring the error in dial frequency for each signal. + +You will probably find it convenient to define and use a special +<> dedicated to frequency calibration. +Then complete the following steps, as appropriate for your system. + +- Switch to FreqCal mode + +- In the _Working Frequencies_ box on the *Settings -> Frequencies* +tab, delete any default frequencies for *FreqCal* mode that are not +relevant for your location. You may want to replace some of them with +reliably known frequencies receivable at your location. + +TIP: We find major-city AM broadcast stations generally serve well as +frequency calibrators at the low frequency end of the spectrum. In +North America we also use the standard time-and-frequency broadcasts +of WWV at 2.500, 5.000, 10.000, 15.000, and 20.000 MHz, and CHU at +3.330, 7.850, and 14.670 MHz. Similar shortwave signals are available +in other parts of the world. + +- During the calibration procedure, the radio's USB dial frequency is +offset 1500 Hz below each *FreqCal* entry in the default frequencies +list. As shown in the ecreen shot below, detected signal carriers +therefore appear at about 1500 Hz in the WSJT-X waterfall. + +image::FreqCal.png[align="left",alt="FreqCal"] + +With modern synthesized radios, small measured offsets from 1500 Hz +will exhibit a straight-line dependence on frequency. You can +approximate the calibration of your radio by simply dividing the +measured frequency offset (in Hz) at the highest reliable frequency by +the nominal frequency itself (in MHz). For example, the 20 MHz +measurement for WWV shown above produced a measured tone offset of +24.6 Hz, displayed in the _WSJT-X_ decoded text window. The resulting +calibration constant is 24.6/20=1.23 parts per million. This number +may be entered as *Slope* on the *settings -> Frequencies* tab. + +A more precise calibration can be effected by fitting the intercept +and slope of a straight line to the whole sequence of calibration +measurements, as shown for these measurements in the graph plotted +below. Software tools for completing this task are included with the +_WSJT-X_ installation, and detailed instructions for their use are +available at https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/FMT_User.pdf. +Using these tools and no specialized hardware beyond your +CAT-interfaced radio, you can calibrate the radio to better than 1 Hz +and compete very effectively in the ARRL's periodic Frequency +Measuring Tests. + +image::FreqCal_Graph.png[align="left",alt="FreqCal_Graph"] === Reference Spectrum WSJT-X provides a tool that can be used to determine the detailed shape of your receiver's passband. Disconnect your antenna or tune to a quiet frequency with no signals. With WSJT-X running in one of the -slow modes, select *Measure reference spectrum* from the *File* menu. +slow modes, select *Measure reference spectrum* from the *Tools* menu. Wait for about a minute and then hit the *Stop* button. A file named -`refspec.dat` should appear in your log directory. +`refspec.dat` will appear in your log directory. + + [ ... TBD ... ] + +=== Equalization + + [ ... TBD ... ] - [ ... more to come ...]