[Boatanchors] A matter of sidetone (or "to tone or not to tone tht is the question)

[Philip Atchley]

Hi.
I have a Yaesu FRG-100 receiver that I'm setting up to use with a VIKING
RANGER (the original not the II) transmitter, primarily in the CW mode.  The
Ranger will probably be running 40-50 Watts into a Dow coax relay to switch
the antenna, the other side of which will go to the receiver.  (all this is
already hooked up).

The problem as I see it is this.  IF I use a pair of the relay contacts to
"mute" the receiver I won't have any sidetone of my transmitted signal for
monitoring.  I'm used to hearing my transmitted signal or "sidetone" when
transmitting.

Is there any way to set up the Yaesu FRG-100 to have a "monitoring" function
rather than a complete mute?  A JVC NRD-525 I had could be set this way as
could some other receivers I had.  Rather than muting completely the key
line would put the receiver in "monitor" mode, reducing the RF gain etc.

THINGS I'VE CONSIDERED:
1.  I've mulled over such ideas as building a small circuit board with
sidetone oscillator, reed relay for the transmitter and a mixing circuit to
combine the receiver audio and sidetone into small audio IC to drive the
headset.

2.  Just don't connect the receiver mute line and listen to my signal
through the receiver, though that will probably be a VERY potent signal.

Any other ideas?  IF I were using a BA receiver I can think of all sorts of
ideas to reduce the gain of the set for monitoring.

73 from the "Beaconeers Lair".
Phil, KO6BB

DX begins at the noise floor!
beaconeer@elite.net
Merced, Central California
37.18N  120.29W  CM97sh