K3 Coarse Tuning

[David Gilbert]

I was going to mention this a few days ago but forgot until now.  Per
the discussion on coarse tuning to move quickly across the band, it's
worth noting that the better logging programs include a bandmap feature
that can display spotted (if you're connected to a cluster) and
previously worked callsigns on a frequency scale in a separate window.  
Assuming you have your K3 communicating with your logging program via
RS-232, all you have to do is click on a point on the frequency scale
and your rig will jump to the new frequency (no callsign needed ... you
click on the line).  It's literally point/click QSY, and much quicker
than spinning a knob no matter what granularity you have the K3 firmware
set for.

I use N1MM for contesting and Logger32 for my general log.  Both are
excellent, both are free, and both include bandmaps.  N1MM will actually
give you two bandmaps, one for each VFO.   As best I can determine,
Logger32 only gives you one bandmap but it follows the A/B button when
you switch VFOs.

Both programs allow you to add an almost infinite number of callsigns to
the bandmap without actually logging them, so you can even set them for
specific frequencies for better accuracy, like 14196.8 KHz.  You have to
trick the logger into thinking it's a callsign, though ... K196?8 works
for N1MM and K196_8 works for Logger32.   Tune to your desired
frequency, type in the pseudo-callsign representing that frequency, and
send it to the bandmap.  You do that by clicking "Store" in N1MM, and in
Logger32 you right-click the callsign entry window to select "Bookmark
callsign".

73,
Dave   AB7E





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[Julian, G4ILO]

David Gilbert wrote

I use N1MM for contesting and Logger32 for my general log.  Both are
excellent, both are free, and both include bandmaps.  N1MM will actually
give you two bandmaps, one for each VFO.   As best I can determine,
Logger32 only gives you one bandmap but it follows the A/B button when
you switch VFOs.

Both programs allow you to add an almost infinite number of callsigns to
the bandmap without actually logging them, so you can even set them for
specific frequencies for better accuracy, like 14196.8 KHz.  You have to
trick the logger into thinking it's a callsign, though ... K196?8 works
for N1MM and K196_8 works for Logger32.   Tune to your desired
frequency, type in the pseudo-callsign representing that frequency, and
send it to the bandmap.  You do that by clicking "Store" in N1MM, and in
Logger32 you right-click the callsign entry window to select "Bookmark
callsign".

This is going OT a little, but I was reading an article in the latest CQ to arrive here about how some contest logs are being disqualified for using assistance (e.g. DX Cluster or CW Skimmer) in an unassisted category. The article appeared to be saying: "don't try to do this, we can tell." Which made me wonder: "how?"

If contest adjudicators can spot undeclared use of the cluster because a log contains sudden jumps of frequency to work a DX station, isn't there a risk that use of a bandmap by an unassisted station could be wrongly detected as use of the cluster and result in disqualification?

[David Gilbert]

It isn't the frequency hopping that flags the log checkers.  It's
frequency hopping that matches the timing and frequencies of spots
showing up on the clusters, or matching the timing of new stations on
the band such as would be displayed by CW Skimmer.  You'd be pretty
unlikely to match any of those patterns by simply changing frequency on
your own no matter how often you did it.

73,
Dave   AB7E



Julian, G4ILO wrote:

> This is going OT a little, but I was reading an article in the latest CQ to
> arrive here about how some contest logs are being disqualified for using
> assistance (e.g. DX Cluster or CW Skimmer) in an unassisted category. The
> article appeared to be saying: "don't try to do this, we can tell." Which
> made me wonder: "how?"
>
> If contest adjudicators can spot undeclared use of the cluster because a log
> contains sudden jumps of frequency to work a DX station, isn't there a risk
> that use of a bandmap by an unassisted station could be wrongly detected as
> use of the cluster and result in disqualification?
>
>  

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