[Elecraft] K3 Coarse Tuning

[David Gilbert]

I was going to mention this a few days ago but forgot until now.  Per 
the discussion on coarse tuning to move quickly across the band, it's 
worth noting that the better logging programs include a bandmap feature 
that can display spotted (if you're connected to a cluster) and 
previously worked callsigns on a frequency scale in a separate window.  
Assuming you have your K3 communicating with your logging program via 
RS-232, all you have to do is click on a point on the frequency scale 
and your rig will jump to the new frequency (no callsign needed ... you 
click on the line).  It's literally point/click QSY, and much quicker 
than spinning a knob no matter what granularity you have the K3 firmware 
set for.

I use N1MM for contesting and Logger32 for my general log.  Both are 
excellent, both are free, and both include bandmaps.  N1MM will actually 
give you two bandmaps, one for each VFO.   As best I can determine, 
Logger32 only gives you one bandmap but it follows the A/B button when 
you switch VFOs.

Both programs allow you to add an almost infinite number of callsigns to 
the bandmap without actually logging them, so you can even set them for 
specific frequencies for better accuracy, like 14196.8 KHz.  You have to 
trick the logger into thinking it's a callsign, though ... K196?8 works 
for N1MM and K196_8 works for Logger32.   Tune to your desired 
frequency, type in the pseudo-callsign representing that frequency, and 
send it to the bandmap.  You do that by clicking "Store" in N1MM, and in 
Logger32 you right-click the callsign entry window to select "Bookmark 
callsign".

73,
Dave   AB7E