[time-nuts] Misuse of word "decimate" (was Re: Short term 10MHz source)

[John Ackermann. N8UR]

And just to clarify the subject matter -- the TICC data output contains 12 decimal places, i.e., 1 ps precision.  The actual resolution is about 55 ps, so the last digit is pure noise, and the penultimate digit should really be either 5 or 0.  

To eliminate the distraction of the noise, It's under consideration to zero the last decimal place, and *maybe* to round to 50 ps.  I think the last digit is a no-brainer, but am more hesitant about the rounding.

Coming soon to a git near you...

On Jan 10, 2019, 7:13 AM, at 7:13 AM, Adrian Godwin <artgodwin at gmail.com> wrote:
>Truncate, to me at least, means to shorten : ie to remove some
>precision by
>rounding off lower bits.
>
>I agree that the source of the word 'decimate' is unclear, but I think,
>within the field of DSP, it has a reasonably precise definition whether
>or
>not that corresponds with wider usage or derivation.
>
>
>
>On Thu, Jan 10, 2019 at 12:02 PM Peter Vince <petervince1952 at gmail.com>
>wrote:
>
>> In his comment below, Mark has used the word "decimate".  There is
>much
>> debate about what this word means (presently, and/or in the past),
>but
>> common explanations refer back to Roman times when they apparently
>killed
>> one person in ten as a punishment, and similarly "tithes" - or taxes,
>where
>> one in ten was taken.  Now OK, you can argue this until the cows come
>home,
>> but the result is that the meaning isn't crystal clear, and
>particularly on
>> a technical forum where precision is paramount, and the entire reason
>we
>> are here, I believe accuracy and clarity of expression is also
>important.
>> In this instance, I believe "truncate" would be a better word.
>>
>> </rant>  :-)
>>
>>      Regards,
>>
>>           Peter Vince
>>
>> On Wed, 9 Jan 2019 at 23:56, Mark Sims <holrum at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> > ...
>> > And as far as decimating the TICC output values in firmware...
>please
>> don't.   Let the user decimate the values if they want to.
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