Elecraft

[K3] SO2V?

Classic

List

Threaded

7 messages Options

Jim AB3CV

[K3] SO2V?

I've been looking at the N1MM docs on SO2V wrt the K3. Anyone here contest
in that fashion? FWIW, I'm mostly interested in CW and assisted with RBN
spots.

Any hot tips?

jim
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Richard Ferch

[K3] SO2V?

Jim,

I use SO2V in contests with my K3, both unassisted and assisted. My "hot
tip" would be to familiarize yourself with the actions of the ` key and
Ctrl+Shift+Up/Down arrow keys in N1MM Logger.

My comments on using SO2V with N1MM Logger are at
<http://n1mm.hamdocs.com/tiki-index.php?page=SO2V#More_advice_on_using_SO2V_-_from_VE3KI>.
Also, look at
<http://n1mm.hamdocs.com/tiki-index.php?page=Supported+Radios#K3> for
keystrokes and other information specific to the K3. If you are
operating assisted (with the RBN, for example), the Available Mults and
Qs window
(<http://n1mm.hamdocs.com/tiki-index.php?page=Available+Mults+and+Qs+Window&structure=N1MM+Logger+Documentation>)
is useful. There are some mouse-click options in this window that are
specific to SO2V, and even without the mouse this window is important
for making decisions like when to use the second RX on the current band
vs. switching to a new band.

73,
Rich VE3KI

Jim Miller wrote:

> I've been looking at the N1MM docs on SO2V wrt the K3. Anyone here contest
> in that fashion? FWIW, I'm mostly interested in CW and assisted with RBN
> spots.
>
> Any hot tips?
>
> jim

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

John K3TN

Re: [K3] SO2V?

In reply to this post by Jim AB3CV

Hi, Jim - I do SO2V with my K3 and subRX, with N1MM and RBN spots quite often. My station is not competitive - single wire, KPA500. So, my strategies are to maximize my rate and a big part of that is avoiding calling when louder stations will likely beat me. The rates are pretty amazing - it is more like running but instead of hitting F1 you are clicking on spots.

Here are some ideas:

1. I use VE7CC's AR software to create filters for RBN spots that limit what I see to nearby skimmers. In my case that means only those in MD, PA, VA and WV. That keeps my bandmap full without overloading things with spots I won't likely hear.

2. I created a macro to swap VFOA and VFOB, but you can also use ALT F10.

3. Learn how to use the `, \ and PAUSE keys - look here.

4. Learn how to use the Available Mult/Q window - look here. Set that window to only show spots appropriate for the Contest Mode.

Now, you are ready to go. I usually have 2 modes of operation:

A. Left click on the first spot in the Available Mult/Q window. If that spot is ready to be worked, work it. If not, right click on the second spot in that window to fill VFO B - then work whichever one is ready first by using your favorite way in (2) or (3) to switch N1MM focus or swap VFOs.

B. Left click on a bandmap spot. If that spot is ready to be worked, work it. If not, right click on some other spot in that window - then work whichever one is ready first. I like to either hop around the bandmap, or start from the highest freq and work down the band because most people seem to go the other way and I want to avoid getting in synch with someone else.

(A) can be a killer strategy, it is amazing how often you get there before the CQ has even ended. But the big multis or the top Assisted stations are often using this strategy - so I sometimes switch to the 2nd spot in that window vs. the first. But if you are totally focused on that window you can often beat W3LPL, K3LR, AA3B, etc to the spot. That is almost worth the price of admission right there...

On dead bands, or later in the day on Sunday, there is a feeding frenzy on new mults. Then I actually do a lot of old fashioned dial twisting on VFO B while listening to a spot pileup on VFO A - I can usually find a few new calls to work while either throwing my call into some poor "fresh meat" guy's unruly pileup, or just waiting for it to die down.

Always stay around to hear the spotted station send his call - the RBN is pretty accurate, but not 100%. Especially on the 2nd day of a contest, there are always busted calls.

The RBN will usually crash at least once in the big contests. Either have a backup cluster connection ready in the Packet/Telnet window, or use K1TTT's WinTelnetX software to mix RBN feeds with other cluster feeds. I used to do that, but the RBN reliability has gone way up - I haven't felt the need to do so recently.

Hope that helps - 73, John K3TN

Carl Clawson-3

Re: [K3] SO2V?

Great tips, John and Rich! I've used SO2V quite a bit but can't add
anything to what you said, except:

The one thing that would make it PERFECT would be for the P3 to have a VFO
B tracking mode. Because sometimes there's life in between the spots, and
even if not it's good to know what the neighborhood's like.

Swapping VFOs to run on B and S+P on A makes the audio come out wrong --
you can't quickly cut your S+P audio and put the run frequency in both
ears, which you need when a weak one calls you. Unless there's a trick I've
missed.

73, Carl WS7L
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Igor Sokolov-2

Re: [K3] SO2V?

In reply to this post by John K3TN

> The RBN will usually crash at least once in the big contests. Either have
> a
> backup cluster connection ready in the Packet/Telnet window, or use
> K1TTT's
> WinTelnetX software to mix RBN feeds with other cluster feeds. I used to
> do
> that, but the RBN reliability has gone way up - I haven't felt the need to
> do so recently.
>
> Hope that helps - 73, John K3TN

John, I do not understand why do you need WinTelnetX while VE7CC inself
easily combine as many clusters as one may need.

73, Igor UA9CDC

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

John K3TN

Re: [K3] SO2V?

Yes, Igor - good point. You really don't need WinTelnetX anymore unless you have other streams to consolidate.

73 John K3TN.

-----Original Message-----
From: Igor Sokolov <[hidden email]>
To: John K3TN <[hidden email]>; elecraft <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tue, Dec 18, 2012 12:56 pm
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] SO2V?

The RBN will usually crash at least once in the big contests. Either have
a
backup cluster connection ready in the Packet/Telnet window, or use
K1TTT's
WinTelnetX software to mix RBN feeds with other cluster feeds. I used to
do
that, but the RBN reliability has gone way up - I haven't felt the need to
do so recently.

Hope that helps - 73, John K3TN
John, I do not understand why do you need WinTelnetX while VE7CC inself
asily combine as many clusters as one may need.
73, Igor UA9CDC

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Igor Sokolov-2

Re: [K3] SO2V?

Jonh,
VE7CC can consolidate as many streams as you wish. You can start several instances of VE7CC with different filter connected to different clusters and all the streams will be combined in the main window (and also fed to your logging program).
IMHO VE7CC is much more versatile in many respects and has got excellent user interface. I always use in with my K3 and KX3 in and out of contests.

73, Igor UA9CDC
----- Original Message -----
From: [hidden email]
To: [hidden email] ; [hidden email]
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 12:11 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] SO2V?

Yes, Igor - good point. You really don't need WinTelnetX anymore unless you have other streams to consolidate.

73 John K3TN.

-----Original Message-----
From: Igor Sokolov <[hidden email]>
To: John K3TN <[hidden email]>; elecraft <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tue, Dec 18, 2012 12:56 pm
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] SO2V?