[Elecraft] K2 operating tip: Fine RIT

[Wayne Burdick]

One of the features in the revision 2 K2 firmware that often gets overlooked is
Fine RIT. We added this tuning mode primarily for PSK31 operators, providing a
way to dial in one filter to within a few Hz of another in receive mode. This
allows the use of one wide and one narrow filter setting in data modes,
preventing the loss of characters when switching between them.

But Fine RIT is also very useful in CW mode and when tuning AM broadcast
stations. 

CW:  I frequently use Fine RIT when I've selected a narrow CW filter, either FL4
or AF2 (KAF2) or both. Once the narrow filter is selected, just turn on Fine RIT
by holding RIT and XFIL together. The RIT/XIT offset control can then be used to
adjust the received pitch in 1 to 3 Hz increments, depending on the band.
Tapping XFIL will toggle between FL1 and the narrow filter, bypassing the
others. Fine RIT can be turned off by holding RIT + XFIL again.

AM:  If you like listening to shortwave broadcast stations or, like me, DXing in
the high end of the AM band (with the 160 m adapter installed), Fine RIT is a
big help. It's especially useful when listening to music or with strong
stations, since a mis-tuned carrier can greatly impact the quality of the
demodulated signal. With Fine RIT, you can zero-beat signals precisely. (Without
it, you have only 10-Hz steps, which may leave you with a fluttering 5 Hz or so
"beat note" modulating the carrier.) 

To use Fine RIT for tuning in AM signals, make sure you have both FL1 and FL2
set up for OP1 (the crystal filter on the SSB adapter). We recommend optimizing
the BFO for FL2 in receive mode and the BFO for FL1 in transmit mode--this is
explained in the KSB2 manual. Once you have FL2 selected and have the AM station
tuned in as closely as possible, turn on Fine RIT (RIT + XFIL), then fine-tune
the carrier frequency using the RIT/XIT offset control.

73,
Wayne