[Boatanchors] Zero beat boatanchor on CW

[Glen Zook]

Put your signal exactly on the same frequency as the
other station.  If you tune for "tone" you might just
be on the opposite sideband and be "way off" in
frequency.

Tune the receiver until the tone from the other
station cannot be heard but you can tune to either
side and get a tone.  Then use the "spot" function and
adjust your transmit frequency until there is no tone
but you can tune to either side and get a tone.

Now, you are "zero-beat".  You can then tune your
receiver for whatever frequency tone that you like to
hear without affecting the frequency of the
transmitter.

On AM operation you can just use the "spot" function
and tune across the other station.  You will hear a
tone as you get near the frequency, then it will go to
zero and then increase in frequency (the tone).  Go
back to where the frequency is zero.

Also, on AM you can watch your "S" meter.  When you
can no longer hear the tone you will notice that the
meter will start vibrating.  As you get nearer and
near to the "exact" frequency of the other station the
needle will slow down, moving very slowly.  When you
get within a Hz, or so, the meter will be going back
and forth even slower even taking several seconds to
move.  When that point is reached you are within 1 Hz
of the frequency of the other station (plenty close
enough for "Government Work").

On the 75A4 you will notice that the BFO is actually
marked "passband tuning".  The dial drag should be
adjusted so that when this knob is turned that the KHz
(actually Kcs on the 75A4) does not move.  The PTO is
actually moved on its axis but the dial doesn't move
when properly adjusted.  Move the knob until the
entire white band (not the line in the center) lines
up with the center mark on the front panel.  This will
make the receiver seem more like a "rice box".  Also,
you really need to do this when receiving SSB.

Remember that 160 meters tunes backwards and the
sidebands are reversed.  That is, what is USB on 80
through 10 is LSB of 160 and what is LSB on 80 through
10 meters is USB on 160 meters.

Glen, K9STH


--- Artmouton <k5fnq at cox.net> wrote:

If he is calling CQ do I zero beat on the receiver
exactly or do I try and match the tone of my VFO (on
tune) with his signal?  Also, with the A-4, one hears
both sides of the signal, not just a selectable
sideband as with the ricebox. 


Glen, K9STH

Web sites

http://home.comcast.net/~k9sth
http://home.comcast.net/~zcomco

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