Working Split with a K1

[Michael Babineau-2]

Anyone who owns a K1 and has tried to work DX with it quickly realizes that this radio, unlike the K2/K3/KX3, doesn’t have multiple VFOs.
All that you have at your disposal is RIT and XIT.  The most obvious method when tuning a DX station working SPLIT is to engage the XIT to
move your Transmit frequency somewhere into the range (usually 1 to 2 Khz up) where the DX station is listening.

Last night I was tuning around on 30m and encountered a TG9 station working SPLIT UP 2.  When I went to engage the XIT on my K1
I realized that at some point I had overridden the front panel XIT with a PFn function for spotting. A quick trip through the menus didn’t reveal
how to enable XIT.   What I then did was to note the DX stations TX frequency, tuned up about 2KHZ to a clear spot then I enabled RIT and moved
my RX frequency back to listen to the TG9 using the RIT offset.  A couple of calls later and  he was in the log … not a bad catch for 5 watts.

It occurred to me after that there is one big advantage of using RIT in this scenario; you can actually hear the frequency you are transmitting on by
temporarily disabling RIT.  Anyone who DXes at QRP power levels knows how important that this is as the DX station is not going to hear your measly
5W unless you are totally in the clear.  In this case the RIT button acts like an A/B button, allowing you to switch between listening to your
RX and TX frequencies. Using XIT doesn’t give you this capability.  The one obvious negative side-effect of using RIT over XIT in this sort of scenario
is that the RIT offset is referenced off of your VFO frequency. This means if you move the VFO to change your TX frequency you have to
readjust the RIT as well or you will lose the DX station. Presumably if you are trying to work DX at 5W, you have picked a station that is reasonably strong
(otherwise your are likely wasting your time) so finding him again shouldn’t be a big issue.  

The moral of the story is, as the old saying goes, “There is more than one way to skin a cat”.

Michael VE3WMB / VA2NB
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[Michael Byrd]

I have also used my K1 for DXing and know the offset is limiting at times. I had one occasion that pushed my K1 beyond the normal limit. I was trying to work N8S on Swain Island on 17 meters. They were working up 5 khz well beyond the RIT. I made a note of the exact frequency they were transmitting on then moved up about 5 khz and called. Fortunately there was little traffic as it was near the end of the DXpedition. After several tries I finally heard my call then flipped back to my transmitting frequency and gave the report then tried to get back to N8S's frequency. The contact was almost blind for me as I was not sure N8S heard my report. Later I checked the online log and found my call listed. Everything required a great deal of luck and timing. I was amazed at my good luck. This is one of those "Don't try this at home" ideas.

Mike, AC4UR
http://sunbyrdpress.blogspot.com
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[Brian Hunt]

A while back I found a writeup that Wayne did on using the K1 RIT/XIT. It mimics the A/B switching of two VFOs.

1. With RIT & XIT off, tune in the DX station.

2. Tap RIT and using the RIT knob, tune to a clear spot in the pileup.

3. Hold XIT.

Now you are listening to the DX and transmitting in your clear spot - just like a A/B VFO swap.

Slick!

72,
Brian, K0DTJ
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[Michael Babineau-2]

Brian :

That is a very good point .. on the K1 both RIT and XIT both use the same offset control.
So once the offset is set .. then toggling between XIT and RIT will allow you to
listen to your TX frequency.  Brilliant.

Thanks for sharing .. this is very useful … I will try this next time, now that I have finally managed to
figure out how to re-enable XIT ;-)

Michael VE3WMB / VA2NB

>From: Brian Hunt <[hidden email]>
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Working Split with a K1
>Date: January 18, 2015 at 12:19:54 PM EST
>To: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>


>A while back I found a writeup that Wayne did on using the K1 RIT/XIT. It mimics the A/B switching of two VFOs.

>1. With RIT & XIT off, tune in the DX station.

>2. Tap RIT and using the RIT knob, tune to a clear spot in the pileup.

>3. Hold XIT.

>Now you are listening to the DX and transmitting in your clear spot - just like a A/B VFO swap.

>Slick!

>72,
>Brian, K0DTJ
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