[Elecraft] Re: Why no IF shift?

[zl1aih at ihug.co.nz]

Jim N2EY wrote :-

>Most "other" rigs implement IF shift by an extra 
conversion step after
the first fixed IF. This means there's a lot of gain and 
stages
between the antenna and the sharp selectivity 
"knothole". No thanks.

IMHO, IF shift is of limited use in a CW receiver ...>

More so in a contest situation.
Our CW contest club (ZM1A) presently uses an 
ICOM 781 and a K2 in a Multi-One or Multi-Two 
category in many contests.   These are rigs of choice 
because of problems with other rigs in the shack - 
phase noise etc.
   
As the host I get to pass the sandwiches, pizza 
wedges and pour the drinks, so I have the 
opportunity to closely observe class operators like 
Jacky F3CW (ZL3CW) and Aki ZL1GO (JA4EKO) in 
action when they are running at 200+ per hour.
They seldom touch the transceivers - very 
occasionally adjust the RIT and very seldom reduce 
the filter width, only because there is some adjacent 
and temporary QRM.   
The 781 has IF Shift - unused.   Our K2s have KAF2 
filters (sometimes used) .   These ops have filters in 
their ears.<G>

73, Ken ZL1AIH