K3 - Use of Sub RX in split

[Craig Smith]

Just installed a sub RX in my K3, mainly for the purpose of making things
easier when working DX with split - finding the calling station's frequency
and moving my TX freq there.

Before getting the sub RX I did this by holding REV while adjusting VFO A
knob to center the calling station in the CWT display.  This worked well,
even though it did require a lot of button pressing as I chased the action
on the split frequency.

I thought things would be easier with the sub RX since I could be listening
to the calling activity continuously.  That part is nice, but when it comes
to zero beating the last calling station, it seems just as difficult since
the CWT display isn't active for the sub RX unless BSET is activated which
requires two button touches - one to activate BSET and another to get out of
it in order to transmit.  The net result is that so far using the sub RX
seems about equally cumbersome to not having one.

There is a distinct possibility that I am missing something and not using
the K3 to the best of its ability.  Can you more experienced DX chasers
share how you use the sub RX when chasing DX in split?

If there are no better techniques, it would seem to be useful for the CWT
display to be linked to the sub RX VFO when using SUB in split.  This would
allow zero beating to a new Xmit frequency without any button pushes.  Are
there others who think this would be useful?

     73   Craig   AC0DS

______________________________________________________________
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

[Cookie]

Craig, the technique that I use is to tune looking for the DX station with the main receiver and knob.  When I have found him, I then press the A>B button and put the sub receiver on his frequency and then tap sub.  Then I tune the main VFO to the frequency that I want to transmit and I don't use split at all.  I usually have the audio gain a good bit higher on the sub than the main so I can always hear the DX.  If I can hear the other callers, I will look for the worked station if it is a major DXpedition and lots of people are calling, but I don't use CWT and I don't try to zero beat another station exactly.  If you do then the listener can't copy either one of you unless one is a lot stronger than the other.  I hate it when two or more stations call me that are exactly zero beat with me and each other.  All you can hear is a solid noise when anyone has his key closed.

YMMV, but that is my method and I am sticking to it!
 Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
K5EWJ




________________________________
From: Craig D. Smith <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Mon, June 21, 2010 9:48:47 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - Use of Sub RX in split

Just installed a sub RX in my K3, mainly for the purpose of making things
easier when working DX with split - finding the calling station's frequency
and moving my TX freq there.

Before getting the sub RX I did this by holding REV while adjusting VFO A
knob to center the calling station in the CWT display.  This worked well,
even though it did require a lot of button pressing as I chased the action
on the split frequency.

I thought things would be easier with the sub RX since I could be listening
to the calling activity continuously.  That part is nice, but when it comes
to zero beating the last calling station, it seems just as difficult since
the CWT display isn't active for the sub RX unless BSET is activated which
requires two button touches - one to activate BSET and another to get out of
it in order to transmit.  The net result is that so far using the sub RX
seems about equally cumbersome to not having one.

There is a distinct possibility that I am missing something and not using
the K3 to the best of its ability.  Can you more experienced DX chasers
share how you use the sub RX when chasing DX in split?

If there are no better techniques, it would seem to be useful for the CWT
display to be linked to the sub RX VFO when using SUB in split.  This would
allow zero beating to a new Xmit frequency without any button pushes.  Are
there others who think this would be useful?

    73  Craig  AC0DS

______________________________________________________________
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



     
______________________________________________________________
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

[Craig Smith]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestion (and variations thereon) of not using
split at all and listening to the DX on the SUB while tuning the callers and
transmitting on VFO A.  I like this solution, and it seems obvious in
retrospect, but I was so locked into my old habits that it didn't occur to
me.

My only correct instinct was that the answer(s) would reside with the
experienced and helpful people on this list  ;>)

          73  Craig  AC0DS


______________________________________________________________
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