[Elecraft] OT: foot switch - why?

[Bill W5WVO]

All good reasons. My #1 reason, though, is that I've never used a VOX that 
didn't suck. The VOX in my TS-2000 sucks big-time. In fact, the VOX gain is so 
limited, you can't even turn it up high enough so it works with a standard 
Heil HC-4/5 mic element -- though the mic gain through the transmitter's 
speech amplifier has plenty of reserve range. (Go figure. Brilliant design.)

 If VOX worked the way it is supposed to work -- trips instantly on the first 
hint of sound from the speaker's mouth, stays engaged through normal 
conversational speech, drops off cleanly when the speaker stops talking -- I'd 
probably be using it, though even then, not during a contest, either phone or 
CW. (You need precise T/R control.)

I'm waiting to see if the K3's VOX is as cool as everybody has said it is!

My ideal T/R for casual operating: a perfectly-located (and easily 
relocatable) touch pad/button with a toggle-on/off function, large enough not 
be missed, and with a green/red backlight for Receive/Transmit states. I'd 
probably stick it on the keyboard for most modes, since I use computer logging 
100% of the time for all my operating. I would still use a footswitch for 
contesting, though.

Bill W5WVO


Jim Wiley wrote:
> Well. I  can think of a few reasons:
>
>
> Keeps the family dog from becoming a radio personality when the mail
> carrier or some other delivery person comes up to the door
>
>
> I like the positive control  - a foot switch lets me make sure the PTT
> is closed when I want the transmitter on, and open when I want the
> transmitter to be off//
>
>
> VOX sometimes activates, or fails to activate, at inopportune times -
> and you have to keep fiddling with it
>
>
> A foot switch is a lot easier to use, in my opinion, than a microphone
> mounted switch or "press bar"
>
>
> I could probably think of a few others, but I'll let others take over
> now.
>
> 73
>
>
> _ Jim,  KL7CC
>
> Registered Fuddy-Duddy
>
>
>
>
>
> DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL wrote:
>>
>> Which begs the question...why do folks use a foot switch from home if
>> they are the only one in the room?  I use vox.
>>
>>
>>
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