[Elecraft] K2 Side tone level Setting

[Nigel]

Am Seeking some advice from the experienced operators relating to how you
set and use the side tone volume.   I have an urban QTH and a vertical so
the noise level can be s5-7 or higher.  

Being new on air I found that the receiver noise threw/thru me when it
popped up between characters when sending so I have set my t-r to 0.2sec
which seems to mute the receiver between characters and un-mute it between
words (15wpm).  (This latter noise is a good reminder to me not to run my
words together)

I find, although not easy for me, that when I put the Spot tone on I can
match the received tone to it If the sound levels are about the same.  Now
here's the problem.   I use headphones and only need to set the side tone
level to 004 for it to be as loud as I want it when sending with the
receiver muted.   However at this level it is just not discernable with the
noise at s5-7 and the level needs to be more like 012 to 018.   This is just
too loud for my ears when sending.   It would be nice to be able to fix the
muted side tone level at a lower level and then be able to adjust the Spot
tone level as necessary to accommodate the signal being spotted.

Ideas, suggestions?

The other quick way of zero beating/spotting I use is to leave the filter at
1.5 or 0.7, turn AF2 on and tune smartly across the signal stopping at the
loudest tone.   This usually gets me within 50Hz.   Then toggling CW and
CWrev with a fine adjustment gets it closer


73s,  Nigel ZL2DF