[Elecraft] Diversity mode preamp

[Tom W8JI]

> Single Tap A>B writes frequency only to B...Double Tap A>B writes 
> everything
> including PRE/ATT settings.

Exactly, which is a real "operating mess" when someone only wants to turn 
the preamp on or off. This is unsutable for contest work, and barely useful 
for normal split operation.

I can't think of many cases where, when in diversity on two RX antennas, 
changes in the preamps or attenuators (and all other controls) would not 
track. I can understand not tracking amplifier changes when a TX antenna is 
used with an RX antenna, but not with similar systems on both receivers.

I think this is a needed firmware change. When the receivers are in 
diversity and not on the TX antenna, attenuators or preamps should track. 
It would much more often be the case, with a good system, that they should 
track.

> Regarding ganging ATT/PRE in Diversity, I like it the way it is.  I often
> switch from an RX antenna on Main to my TX antenna.  I then set ATT on 
> Main
> only so Gain stays balanced with the other RX antenna on Sub (normally no
> ATT).

Well, it is a disappointing deal breaker for me. I either have to build a 
box with two preamps and two attenuators in it for two K3's, or use a 
different system.

I cannot see a reason why, when the two external RX ports are selected, the 
receiver functions would not fully track in diversity. The case I can think 
of where they should not track is when the TX antenna is used for an RX 
channel. In that case there should a fixed attenuation offset to equalize 
the TX down to the RX antenna level, or the station builder should have 
amplified the RX up to the level of the TX antenna.

A good system would have the noise floor of the two channels equalized, and 
any gain changes for condition changes would then track.

I don't know why anyone would want to write the RX frequency into the TX, 
just so they can turn a preamp off or on when noise levels change or a 
strong station gets close. That might fly in single frequency operation, or 
casual operation, but not in a contest or during a pile up!

I'd like to find a work around, other than building two boxes with two 
preamps and two attenuators in each one. Rewriting the TX frequency every 
time the preamp or attenuator is changed is unacceptable.

73 Tom