P3, APF and diversity in CQ 160 contest

[Ignacy]

P3 and APF were an excellent in the contest for S&P. P3 set up for BW of 2 KHz would show weak DX, and APF would pick it up. The position of P3 next to K3 beats a panadapter window on a computer. I worked tons of DX without ever looking at the cluster. Just look at weak signals on P3, tune and work.  Signals not showing on P3 were generally too weak to copy.    

APF was different story for RUN. Turning on APF was too slow. Having an option to switch XFIL and APF for CW only would be great. I guess software APF toggle change via PF key may be good enough.  

P3 was very helpful for finding a "clear" frequency and also adjusting it, with a  twist. That is, the "free" frequency could be used by a DX that was too weak to hear (without APF) but visible on P3.

Some gremlins got into N1MM here. Every so often, written callsigns would disappear,  SPLIT would show up, and work frequency would change from 1820 to 18200. Reloading CONFIG would cure it. Not sure whether it was KUSB, RF or Vista.

Ignacy, NO9E

[Bill W4ZV]

NO9E wrote:

> APF was different story for RUN. Turning on APF was too slow. Having an option to switch XFIL and APF for CW only would be great. I guess software APF toggle change via PF key may be good enough.  

I never used APF in the CQ 160 (who has time to tune in 5 Hz steps using SHIFT or 1 Hz steps using VFO?) but here's a good tip for casual operating from Wayne N6KR:

Use Preset I and II to toggle APF On and Off more quickly.  You can also set different XFILs using the Presets.

> Some gremlins got into N1MM here. Every so often, written callsigns would disappear,  SPLIT would show up, and work frequency would change from 1820 to 18200. Reloading CONFIG would cure it. Not sure whether it was KUSB, RF or Vista.

I had a few problems like that but not sure it was N1MM.  I normally operate SPLIT on my run frequency so I can use the BIG VFO A knob to tune RX (leaving my TX fixed on VFO B).  Occasionally I noticed VFO B was not on my run frequency!  Could be I touched the VFO B knob (which is a good reminder to always LOCK VFO B when operating like this).  

If I was suddenly calling CQ on top of someone else, my apologies!

73,  Bill

[Ignacy]

I never used APF in the CQ 160 (who has time to tune in 5 Hz steps using SHIFT or 1 Hz steps using VFO?) but here's a good tip for casual operating from Wayne N6KR:

Use Preset I and II to toggle APF On and Off more quickly.  You can also set different XFILs using the Presets.

 

 Preset takes some time to change but it may be better than pressing APF.

With APF I was able to copy many weak stations on K9AY when running. Notably KH6 and KL7, plus a few WI stations, I guess,  running 5W with mobile antennas.  But if it takes 1 sec to turn on APF, and an average station calls once, one cycle is lost. After a weak station repeats a few times, other stations decide to use the same frequency for RUN.   

I find RIT good enough for APF, and faster. 

Ignacy, NO9E