[Elecraft] Wha'ts Wrong With Our Radios (WAS:NewProducts, Building

[N2EY at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/27/06 10:25:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
btippett at alum.mit.edu writes:


> I agree.  I've never understood what problem XIT is
> intended to solve. 

It's meant to solve the problem where you want to intentionally not transmit 
on the listening frequency, and want the minimum of control operations to get 
there.

Yes, that's a rare situation.


 Both RIT/XIT are completely unnecessary
> 
> in a rig with split and I detest using that tiny knob in
> lieu of the Main VFO knob.
> 

I disagree! Here's why:

Suppose I call CQ and someone answers me slightly off frequency. I simply tap 
RIT and tune them in, without moving my transmit frequency. In a contest, not 
everyone zeroes perfectly.

Or suppose I answer a CQ and the station I call moves slightly, for whatever 
reason. I can follow the other station for a kHz or two without moving my 
transmit frequency.

Now of course all those functions can be done with SPLIT. The problem is that 
it takes more operations to do so, and I have to be aware of what VFO is 
doing what.

On top of that, in a contest I use the two VFOs for a different purpose:

With QRP and simple antennas, I usually get best results by hunt and pounce, 
not calling CQ and trying to hold a frequency. The problem in a contest like 
SS is that the exchange is long and it may take a while to work a rare section.

So what I do is to sweep through the band on VFO A, calling and working 
stations as I come across them. If I don't work someone on the first or second 
call, particularly if it's a needed section, I tap A=B and keep tuning through the 
band on VFO A. Every so often, I switch to VFO B (one tap) and see what the 
rare one is doing. If the time is right, I give the rare one a call and maybe 
work him/her. One more tap and I'm back on VFO A, right back where I was 
sweeping the band.

SPLIT ties up both VFO A and VFO B, so the above technique cannot be used. Of 
course the memories could be used to store the rare one's frequencies, but 
that takes more button pushes on a K2. There are only 10 memories in the K2, and 
I tend to use those to speed up bandswitching (RCL 8 and the rig is on 80 
meters at the bottom of the band, RCL 4 and it's on 40, etc.) 

Those who use computer control for contesting will, of course, find the above 
rather primitive. To each his/her own.

73 de Jim, N2EY