K2 and the CW SS

[Wolfgang, Larry, WR1B]

There were several interesting posts about operating in the Sweepstakes
contest this past weekend. Like many of those who commented, I consider
myself a "casual contester." It's been a number of years since I put in
as much time at SS as I did this weekend. I usually need some "help" to
copy the 30+ wpm contest exchanges. I often spend several minutes trying
to copy a station's exchange before sending my call in answer to their
CQs.

This year I tried a few different ideas. In the past I've sometimes used
a program called "CW Get" to copy the CW. With a cable from the speaker
output to the soundcard input, this program does a good job of copying
the perfect machine sent code, and even does a reasonable job on the
good CW from a keyer and paddle. I also downloaded a logging program
(N1MM Logger) on Saturday morning and installed that on my computer.
After "a bit" of time trying to learn how to use the logger, I had it
mostly configured, and even talking to my K2. This was pretty neat! I
positioned various logger windows around my display so I could also see
the copy window on CW Get. Maybe a similar arrangement would be helpful
to others who like to "Search and Pounce." I even ventured to answer
quite a few stations that were calling CQ before I copied their
exchange.

I also noticed something that surprised me quite a bit. I narrowed my K2
filters to 400 and 200 Hz. Most of the time I just tuned up the band,
one station at a time, and seldom had interference from another station
to contend with. (No, that didn't surprise me!) What did surprise me was
the number of stations answering a CQ "way" off frequency. I'd barely
hear them over the speaker, and would see a "spike" on the CW Get
frequency display that was 100 Hz or more off the CQing station. Maybe
it was just the heat of the competition, but I thought most CW operators
would be better able to tune to zero beat. It would be interesting to
know what rigs the other operators were using. I wonder if many of those
who were tuned to zero beat were Elecrafters.

73, Larry Wolfgang, WR1B

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

[Brett Gazdzinski]

I wonder, could a computer just run the thing while you are out
raking leaves.
Most rigs can be software controlled, computers can beat people
at chess, why not just have the computer do the contest?

SSB is no problem, thiose robot voice response things are getting
quite good, and its hard to tell on ssb anyway...

Or has all this been done already?

Brett
N2DTS


----- Original Message -----
From: "Wolfgang, Larry, WR1B" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 2:21 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] K2 and the CW SS


There were several interesting posts about operating in the Sweepstakes
contest this past weekend. Like many of those who commented, I consider
myself a "casual contester." It's been a number of years since I put in
as much time at SS as I did this weekend. I usually need some "help" to
copy the 30+ wpm contest exchanges. I often spend several minutes trying
to copy a station's exchange before sending my call in answer to their
CQs.

This year I tried a few different ideas. In the past I've sometimes used
a program called "CW Get" to copy the CW. With a cable from the speaker
output to the soundcard input, this program does a good job of copying
the perfect machine sent code, and even does a reasonable job on the
good CW from a keyer and paddle. I also downloaded a logging program
(N1MM Logger) on Saturday morning and installed that on my computer.
After "a bit" of time trying to learn how to use the logger, I had it
mostly configured, and even talking to my K2. This was pretty neat! I
positioned various logger windows around my display so I could also see
the copy window on CW Get. Maybe a similar arrangement would be helpful
to others who like to "Search and Pounce." I even ventured to answer
quite a few stations that were calling CQ before I copied their
exchange.

I also noticed something that surprised me quite a bit. I narrowed my K2
filters to 400 and 200 Hz. Most of the time I just tuned up the band,
one station at a time, and seldom had interference from another station
to contend with. (No, that didn't surprise me!) What did surprise me was
the number of stations answering a CQ "way" off frequency. I'd barely
hear them over the speaker, and would see a "spike" on the CW Get
frequency display that was 100 Hz or more off the CQing station. Maybe
it was just the heat of the competition, but I thought most CW operators
would be better able to tune to zero beat. It would be interesting to
know what rigs the other operators were using. I wonder if many of those
who were tuned to zero beat were Elecrafters.

73, Larry Wolfgang, WR1B

_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

[N2EY]

In a message dated 11/5/07 7:22:31 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[hidden email] writes:


> I wonder, could a computer just run the thing while you are out
> raking leaves.
> Most rigs can be software controlled, computers can beat people
> at chess, why not just have the computer do the contest?

Because a computer cannot beat a trained operator at contesting. Yet. Chess
is logic, there is nothing left to skill or chance. Contesting is a lot more
complex.

And because contesting is essentially radiosport. A moped could win the Tour
de France, and a rollerblader could win the Olympic marathon in world-record
time, but that wouldn't be sporting.

> Or has all this been done already?
>
The idea is not new.

W3FQB (SK) wrote a story called "The Man Who Broke The Bank" about a
techno-ham who built a fully automated SS station and proceeded to make an incredible
score. The computer did everything, he just sat and watched it and
occasionally keyed it manually just to have something to do.

The article was in QST. May, 1953.

73 de Jim, N2EY



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com
_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com

[Mark J. Schreiner]

>
>> I wonder, could a computer just run the thing while you are out
>> raking leaves.

How about getting the computer to go out and rake the leaves (or mow the lawn) so I can spend more time operating the radio with less distractions?  I'd be happy to just go out occasionally to fill up the gas tank just to "have something to do".  

Or better  yet, how about finding a neighbor kid to mow the lawn instead.  Seems like they don't want to be bothered with such "chores" anymore, not like when I was a kid!  Can't get them interested in earning a few bucks or playing radio, where are we headed?

Mark, NK8Q
_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [hidden email]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   

Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com