[Elecraft] k2/100 + rtty

[VR2BrettGraham]

G4ILO suggested:

>I presume you're referring to an analog RTTY modem such as I recall using
>back in the late 80s? I forget what frequency tones it used. You need a
>computer anyway, so why not just use a sound card program, which isn't
>fussy what the tone frequency is, then you can use a filter center
>frequency that's optimized for the K2? The K2 doesn't support FSK, so
>you've got to use audio in for transmit in any case. I would also have
>thought that modern DSP techniques would do a better job of picking a weak
>signal out of the noise than an analog TU.

Unfortunately, the computer is already doing something else (logging/contest
software).  Other rigs in use do support FSK, are not easily moved & there
is also more than one old-fashioned RTTY box involved.

Those old boxes work pretty well - I'm not having too much difficulty printing
what are probably soundcard-program-dipole/vertical-barefoot guys when
running in contests.  I find it's others hearing me that's more of a problem.

I have yet to do real SO2R in a RTTY contest with the old RTTY boxes, but
I have tried soundcard-program combination for search-&-pouncing multipliers
on sub-RX/2nd rig & in comparing that against the old box they've been
pretty much equal in what they copy.

I would have thought that with all the older stuff that is out there & 
especially
in NA, some of it must have been used with K2s by now.  The higher tones
traditionally used in NA shouldn't be that much of a stretch.  I thought my
BFO had the range in the right place, but better look again.

Oh, yes - the second computer in the shack is tied up recording what comes
out of the receivers & running a very nifty program called HFProp.  Appreciate
the suggestion but I really need the K2 to line up both ways with narrower
filter bandwidths.

73, VR2BrettGraham
(sadly never had an AMT-1, which was set for EU lower tones - I'm ex-AEA &
am somewhat attached to these old boxes ;^)