K2 Side tone level Setting

[Nigel-14]

Am Seeking some advice from the experienced operators relating to how you
set and use the side tone volume.   I have an urban QTH and a vertical so
the noise level can be s5-7 or higher.  

Being new on air I found that the receiver noise threw/thru me when it
popped up between characters when sending so I have set my t-r to 0.2sec
which seems to mute the receiver between characters and un-mute it between
words (15wpm).  (This latter noise is a good reminder to me not to run my
words together)

I find, although not easy for me, that when I put the Spot tone on I can
match the received tone to it If the sound levels are about the same.  Now
here's the problem.   I use headphones and only need to set the side tone
level to 004 for it to be as loud as I want it when sending with the
receiver muted.   However at this level it is just not discernable with the
noise at s5-7 and the level needs to be more like 012 to 018.   This is just
too loud for my ears when sending.   It would be nice to be able to fix the
muted side tone level at a lower level and then be able to adjust the Spot
tone level as necessary to accommodate the signal being spotted.

Ideas, suggestions?

The other quick way of zero beating/spotting I use is to leave the filter at
1.5 or 0.7, turn AF2 on and tune smartly across the signal stopping at the
loudest tone.   This usually gets me within 50Hz.   Then toggling CW and
CWrev with a fine adjustment gets it closer


73s,  Nigel ZL2DF

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[Tom Hammond-3]

Hi Nigel:

>Am Seeking some advice from the experienced operators relating to how you
>set and use the side tone volume.   I have an urban QTH and a vertical so
>the noise level can be s5-7 or higher.

Sounds all too familiar.

>Being new on air I found that the receiver noise threw/thru me when it
>popped up between characters when sending so I have set my t-r to 0.2sec
>which seems to mute the receiver between characters and un-mute it between
>words (15wpm).  (This latter noise is a good reminder to me not to run my
>words together)

Being a bit 'bothered' by received signals (and noise) between characters
and character elements is not terribly unusual, especially for newbies to
full break-in operation. It sometimes takes a bit of 'getting used to' in
order to not let the interspersed noises/signals get in your way. Though,
with continued use of full QSK, you'll learn to just tune it right out...
guaranteed.

>I find, although not easy for me, that when I put the Spot tone on I can
>match the received tone to it If the sound levels are about the same.  Now
>here's the problem. I use headphones and only need to set the side tone
>level to 004 for it to be as loud as I want it when sending with the
>receiver muted. However at this level it is just not discernable with the
>noise at s5-7 and the level needs to be more like 012 to 018. This is just
>too loud for my ears when sending. It would be nice to be able to fix the
>muted side tone level at a lower level and then be able to adjust the Spot
>tone level as necessary to accommodate the signal being spotted.
>
>Ideas, suggestions?

Your ears are MUCH more sensitive than mine... I run the ST L at about
20-25 all the time...

I can appreciate your dilemma, and unfortunately, I'm not certain I can
offer a really good solution. I know of no way to have two different
sidetone levels, one for operating and the other for spotting. And your
rather lower then normal (I think) operating sidetone level just
exacerbates the problem...

>The other quick way of zero beating/spotting I use is to leave the filter
>at 1.5 or 0.7, turn AF2 on and tune smartly across the signal stopping at
>the loudest tone. This usually gets me within 50Hz. Then toggling CW and
>CWrev with a fine adjustment gets it closer

This might be your best bet for now. NOTE that, when you are tuning in the
CW signal, there will be a point at which the received signal will appear
to 'disappear' within (or behind) the SPOT tone. That's the point of zero
beat, and although it is best to attempt to match the two tones in level,
the 'disappearing' act can usually be accomplished even when there's a
pretty significant disparity between the two levels.

Finally, there are two different circuits available which will aid you in
achieving an acceptable zero beat on an incoming station without having to
use the spot tone. They were developed for those who feel they are tone
deaf, and for those who just like to add bells 'n whistles to their rigs.
Regardless of the reason, they DO work... and better than I'd expected. I'd
always been a skeptic, but this new design has made a believer out of me as
well.

If you do to my web site:  http://www.n0ss.net  and click on the QuikLinks
for either the KR5L or the K6XX CW Tuning Indicator, you will find circuits
which will blink an LED when the signal being tuned is within 20-30 Hz of
the desired zero beat tone frequency.

The KR5L design was first published here (on the reflector) about 4 years
ago. It originally used a tiny LED installed inside the VFO LOCK button on
the K2. Since that time builders have determined how to use the 10th LED of
the K2's S-meter as the zero beat indicating element, so no cutting or hay
wiring is now necessary to install the circuit.

The circuit is not difficult to assemble. It can be easily built using any
of the more commonly used assembly methods (dead bug, Manhattan, wire-wrap,
PC board, etc.).  I've offered thru-hole PC boards for the KR5L design even
since it was first published. And more recently I've been offering
thru-hole PC boards for the K6XX design, which I personally feel is a bit
superior to the KR5L design. And I am in the process of kitting 39 kits for
an SMD version of the K6XX CW Tuning Indicator. I hope the have them
offered by this time next week. They'll quite easily fit in the space
between the K2's Front Panel and Control PC boards. Price for the thru-hole
PC boards is $5 (US) postpaid within the US. DX price is $5 (US) plus the
actual additional postage (to be determined on a case by case basis).
Pricing for the SMD kits is yet to be determined, but will be less than $20
(US) ppd stateside.

Thru-hole components for either the KR5L or K6XX designs are fairly readily
available from most electronic supply houses. The SMD parts are a bit more
difficult to locate, but they are still readily available.

As I said, there's NO reason you couldn't build one of these tuning
indicators using readily available components, and NO PC board. But if you
are interested in a {C board, I will have them available. And if you want
to make your own PC board, I'll gladly supply the artwork (no charge) for
you to start with.

73,

Tom Hammond   N0SS

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