[Elecraft] further details on KX1 scanning

[wayne burdick]

The KX1 doesn't have the ability to observe on-air signals when the AF 
output is muted, since it uses audio-derived AGC. This means that the 
scanning function has to be "live" -- that is, not muted, and 
continuously scanning from memory 1 to memory 2. (The K2 has a 
live-scan mode as well, in addition to the muted "smart" scan, which 
only un-mutes when a signal appears.) Live-scanning has a big 
advantage: you can hear even very weak signals as the VFO scans across 
them. This is particularly effective on quiet bands. Muted scanning 
only stops on reasonably strong signals.

Scanning is started on the KX1 by a long hold of the RIT/CLR button (2 
seconds). It only functions when RIT is turned off. The long hold is 
necessary to prevent accidental scan start when all you really wanted 
to do was turn on RIT or clear the offset. In practice, it's very easy 
to use. The VFO shows the scanned frequency continuously, and can 
proceed at one of two rates.

To stop scanning, you tap any switch, turn the encoder either 
direction, or hit the key. When scanning is resumed, it picks up right 
where it left off.

One motivation for adding the SCAN feature was to allow me to test the 
80 meter band (with the addition of the KXB3080). By scanning 80 meters 
while doing other work, I discovered that there was a lot of activity 
that I hadn't noticed when tuning manually for brief periods. Scanning 
lead to many of the first KX1 80-m QSOs, and I highly recommend this 
for times when you thought a band was "dead." Not!

73,
Wayne
N6KR


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