Wha'ts Wrong With Our Radios (WAS:NewProducts, Building

[Bill W4ZV]

Hi Jim,

N2EY (preceded by**):

 > I agree.  I've never understood what problem XIT is
 > intended to solve.

**It's meant to solve the problem where you want to intentionally not transmit
on the listening frequency, and want the minimum of control operations to get
there.

**Yes, that's a rare situation.

         I don't understand how that's better
than split.  Using only XIT you have no idea
if you are transmitting where the station is
actually listening, which seems like a fundamental
disadvantage to me.  You may save one button push
but I would much rather precisely position my
signal in a pileup.  This should result in working
the station much faster than blindly hoping your
XIT offset is where he happens to be listening.


 > Both RIT/XIT are completely unnecessary
 > in a rig with split and I detest using that tiny knob in
 > lieu of the Main VFO knob.

**I disagree! Here's why:

**Suppose I call CQ and someone answers me slightly off frequency. I
simply tap
RIT and tune them in, without moving my transmit frequency. In a contest, not
everyone zeroes perfectly.

**Or suppose I answer a CQ and the station I call moves slightly, for whatever
reason. I can follow the other station for a kHz or two without moving my
transmit frequency.

**Now of course all those functions can be done with SPLIT. The
problem is that
it takes more operations to do so, and I have to be aware of what VFO is
doing what.

         It takes one more button push.  Split mode and A=B.
The benefit is that you can then use the BIG VFO knob
instead of the tiny RIT knob.  If you are running for LONG
periods of time, this is MUCH less tiring than using the
tiny RIT knob.  Using Orion's remote encoder, you can get
around this by assigning RIT to it.  PIEXX's implementation
on the TS-930S allows you to use the VFO knob for RX when
you activate Dial Lock in split mode (TX is locked and RX
is controlled by the VFO).  Since the K2 has both Lock and
Split, it could be programmed the same way.  I've never
understood why more manufacturers don't allow an easy way
to use the large VFO knob instead of forcing us to use that
tiny RIT knob so it must have to do with the size of JA
hands versus mine!


**On top of that, in a contest I use the two VFOs for a different purpose:

**With QRP and simple antennas, I usually get best results by hunt and pounce,
not calling CQ and trying to hold a frequency. The problem in a contest like
SS is that the exchange is long and it may take a while to work a rare section.

**So what I do is to sweep through the band on VFO A, calling and working
stations as I come across them. If I don't work someone on the first or second
call, particularly if it's a needed section, I tap A=B and keep
tuning through the
band on VFO A. Every so often, I switch to VFO B (one tap) and see what the
rare one is doing. If the time is right, I give the rare one a call and maybe
work him/her. One more tap and I'm back on VFO A, right back where I was
sweeping the band.

         I alternate VFOs the same way when S&P but then
split and A=B when I need to accurately place my signal
in a pileup.  Unless the pileup is huge, it may not
even be necessary to go into split mode, but if the
pileup is large, your are much better off accurately
placing your TX signal using split.


**SPLIT ties up both VFO A and VFO B, so the above technique cannot
be used. Of
course the memories could be used to store the rare one's frequencies, but
that takes more button pushes on a K2. There are only 10 memories in
the K2, and
I tend to use those to speed up bandswitching (RCL 8 and the rig is on 80
meters at the bottom of the band, RCL 4 and it's on 40, etc.)

**Those who use computer control for contesting will, of course, find
the above
rather primitive. To each his/her own.

         I agree with your last statement.  We must each
find what works best for us.  All I can say is that
I've been fairly successful doing it "my way".  I won
USA single op in 19 of the 21 contests below and
consistently beat the average of the top 3 multi-multis
who all use dual operators/rigs and larger antennas.

http://users.vnet.net/btippett/new_page_6.htm

                                         73,  Bill  W4ZV

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