[Elecraft] Fw: K3 and CW Skimmer

[Bill W4ZV]

I think it would work without the KRX3 if you don't mind not simultaneously
monitoring the pileup and your TX frequency.  However I've not tried that
myself since I already had the KRX3.  But as I said before, it is possible
to only use the Skimmer display to place your TX on the last station worked
without even listening to the pileup, so it should work without a KRX3 if
you're comfortable with that idea.

The key is that, without any K3 hardware or OmniRig INI modifications, the
K3's IF OUT tracks VFO A and OmniRig controls VFO A.  Therefore, if you want
Skimmer's 24 kHz span centered on the pileup and want OmniRIg to control
your TX, you must always transmit on VFO A and receive the DX station on VFO
B.  I'm not sure I understood your "my way" comment below but hopefully this
clarifies my poor wording previously. 

BTW N2QT has documented both a hardware mod to add an IF OUT to the KRX3 as
well as modifying OmniRig's INI file to control the KRX3.  This is in the
files section of the K3 Yahoo Group's files section below but you may need
to join the group to view it:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Elecraft_K3/files/KRX3_IF_Out/

73,  Bill


KQ5S wrote
> 
> Thanks Bill.  Seems like we have the same operating style.  Is the
> second receiver necessary?  Why not listen to the DX station on VFO B
> and follow the pile up on VFO A.  I guess if you do it my way you will
> be able to see 12 khz above the DX station?
> 
> Tom
> 
> On Mon, Feb 20, 2012 at 9:38 PM, Bill W4ZV <btippett at .mit> wrote:
>>
>> KQ5S wrote
>>>
>>> I looked at this.  The reason I want to use SKIMMER is to help locate
>>> where an OP is listening.  By having my own SKIMMER I am able to see
>>> 599 or a call sign almost instantly and can click on the call or 599
>>> and QSY to where it OP is listening (a little RIT helps to move off
>>> the exact frequency).  The RBN only shows calls and there is the
>>> obvious internet latency.  I am not sure this would work for my
>>> intended purposes.
>>>
>>
>> That's exactly how I use Skimmer for pileup busting.  You need the
>> following:
>>
>> 1.  K3 with KXV3 and KRX3.
>> 2.  LP-PAN  ~$200...probably don't need the preamp option.
>> 3.  LP-Bridge free...allows running Skimmer and N1MM simultaneously
>> 3.  CW Skimmer software $75
>> 4.  A decent soundcard $100...see
>> http://www.telepostinc.com/soundcards.html
>> 5.  P4 2.5 GHz computer...mine cost $90 on eBay.
>>
>> You do NOT need:
>>
>> HamRadioDeluxe
>> PowerSDR
>> NaP3 (I haven't tried it but it's not necessary for what you described)
>>
>> CW Skimmer includes OmniRig which is all that's needed to drive the K3
>> directly (none of the above is needed).
>>
>> The only limitation is that you're limited to 24 kHz bandwidth, which is
>> a
>> limit Alex VE3NEA imposes on the "Softrock on IF" mode.  However I
>> haven't
>> found any pileups wider than 24 kHz!  You do need to set the Sub RX on
>> the
>> DX station because Skimmer only sees IF OUT for Main and because the K3
>> always transmits on Main (VFO A).  The procedure is:
>>
>> 1.  Tune in the DX station.  If you prefer using the Main knob, double
>> tap
>> A>B to copy everything to the Sub RX.  If you want to listen to the
>> pileup
>> and the DX station simultaneously you can set L-R MIX audio options in
>> CONFIG.  I use a Pileup Buster Macro to set everything up with a single
>> button press.
>> 2.  Next set Main (VFO A) to the approximate center of the pileup.
>>  Skimmer
>> will then see +/- 12 kHz around VFO A.
>> 3.  Listen to the DX station.  When he answers N6KR, look for the "N6KR
>> 599"
>> decoder dot on the display.
>> 4.  Click the dot and you're ready to transmit.  I usually crank in ~50
>> Hz
>> XIT so I'm not dead zero beat with others doing the same thing.  :-)
>>
>> Believe it or not, I've actually busted some huge pileups without even
>> listening to them.  One I recall vividly was the ST0R pileup on 160 in
>> August.
>>
>> 73,  Bill
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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