Not so "Quick Split" please

[john lawrence-3]

Well I'm guess I now qualify as an old timer with an analog mind that works well unless there's too many tap dances during the feeding frenzy of a DX pile up.  Split operation when searching to spot the QSO with the DX station can give me a red face after I call on the DX's frequency.  Not so cool!  As a new K3 user I find there are two paths to follow when in this mode of operation.

Split with RIT/XIT on VFO A
This approach makes it easy with only VFO A set on the DX station and spotting by tapping RIT, finding the station working the DX, down or up, when found then a tap on XIT button followed by an RIT button tap gets me back to the DX station with TX split on the last QSO and ready to roll.  Sounds simple and quick?  Not so safe!  Sometimes I find myself transmitting on the DX frequency in the frenzy.  There are too many taps in this dance step for me and it brings on the over zealous self appointed police with all their powers to send  .._ / ._ _.  and/or ._.. /  .. /  _..  Oh my! sorry.  The RIT/XIT combo dance is too complicated.  I'm going to go sit down.

Split RX on VFO A, TX on VFO B  Alternative
I've decided this alternative is safer and reduces the posibility of sending cw on the DX frequency.  Spoting the QSO before sending requires two taps on the A/B button.  But quick taps in the Split mode may also result in sending on the WRONG VFO or on the DX operation frequency.  

Thus my first suggestion after two months with my sweet K3.  May I suggest to the Elecraft staff that a Human engineering change be offered for the >60 yo as a reward for being licensed over half a century.  This special feature requires a K3 with a frequency TX inhibit feature that can be set for the DX operation frequency before the tap dance begins.  Or should it be called "Safe Split" rather than "Quick Split"?    Get it?  Don't get me wrong I love the radio but I have too many quick controls <:-(  

73,
John, W1QS, ex N6JL (76-08), K1KTH (59-76)
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[Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy]

JOHN LAWRENCE <[hidden email]> wrote on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 2:32 AM

>  May I suggest to the Elecraft staff that a Human engineering change be
> offered for the >60 yo as a reward for being licensed over half a century.
> This special feature requires a K3 with a frequency
>  TX inhibit feature that can be set for the DX operation frequency before
> the tap dance begins.  Or should it be called "Safe Split" rather than
> "Quick Split"?

John,

A true version of  multiple frequency transmitter offset, or "Quick Split",
can have this feature and usually did.  The problem as I see it is that when
the manufacturers of ham equipment got to hear about "Quick Split", they
came up with this strange idea that transmitting "up one or up five" , and
not at any other "up" frequency is the way to work DX.

The original version of what we now call "Quick Split" for use in
non-amateur equipment was in effect a form of bandspread to fine tune the
transmitter to some frequency close to but not on the receive frequency,
hence the name multiple frequency Tx offset. Back in the early 1950's, VFOs
were difficult to tune to an exact frequency, and two VFOs in one rig was
not typical. Commercial systems tended to use crystal control.

By using a front panel mounted toggle switch to switch between "Normal" i.e.
no split and "Tx Offset" i.e. Split, and a knob to fine tune the transmit
frequency over a range that did *not* include the receive frequency but
close to it, when in the "Tx Offset" mode, the idea of true "Quick Split"
was born for use in the commercial systems market. These days with good and
easy to tune VFOs available, there are other ways to achieve the same result
as people on the list have suggested.

73,
Geoff
GM4ESD  (VQ8AK 1946  etc)

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