[Elecraft] k2 - cw vs ssb question

[Don Wilhelm]

Ed,

Unlike your Kenwood, the K2 WILL change pitch going from CW to SSB - in
fact, the pitch change should be equal to your sidetone pitch.

OK - now to explain what is going on --- for SSB, there is no offset, the
displayed frequency is simply the VFO - BFO, and what is displayed is the
frequency of the supressed carrier.  On CW, the K2 displays the frequency
that will be transmitted - but in order to hear a signal at that frequency,
the K2 must be tuned to (VFO - BFO) +/- sidetone pitch - the + or - depends
on CW or CWr.

CW is similar to LSB, and CWr is similar to USB (on the bands 17 meters and
below), you can check quickly by tuning the CW a bit - if the pitch
increases with an increase in frequency, the BFO is on the 'LSB' side. (It
is opposite for 15 meters and above.)

If you have only set your BFOs and filters 'per the manual', you have a good
starting point, but the frequencies may not be optimum.  I recommend a
wideband noise generator and Spectrogram (or similar) to set up the
BFO/filter relationships.  See my website www.qsl.net/w3fpr article on Dial
Calibration - Step 3 for how to set things up with CAL FIL.

73,
Don W3FPR

----- Original Message ----- 

I have a pretty much "stock" k2.  I use it as an IF for vhf/uhf.  I have
used it for 1 quick sprint contest and had trouble switching between ssb and
cw.

My old Kenwood 820 had the same pitch for cw when I went from SSB to CW.  I
would like to do the same with my k2.

I guess I am missing the point on the whole BFO subject, and should get a
grip on this!  After a "by the manual" bfo calibration, is the k2 favouring
LSB/CW or USB/CW or neither????

I guess I should figure out the math!