[Elecraft] Elecraft KX3: Dual Watch or Split - newbie Dave needs help!

[Don Wilhelm]

Dave,

I don't know how you are hearing both VFO frequencies at the same time 
with only SPLIT engaged (unless you have Dual Watch turned on at the 
same time).

With split (and not Dual Watch), you have VFO A in both ears.  If you 
use the REV button, you can hear on the VFO B frequency (again in both 
ears).  You do not hear both at once.  You can swap the VFOs with the 
A/B button.
Without SPLIT, transmit will be on VFO A, but with SPLIT turned on, 
transmit will be on VFO B - observe the direction the arrow is pointing 
on the display to see which VFO will be used for transmit.

If you turn on Dual Watch, you will hear both VFOs as long as they are 
not separated by more than +/- 15 kHz.  You may or may not want to use 
SPLIT in conjunction with Dual Watch - usually you would want to use 
SPLIT, but not necessarily - say you want to use VFO B to scour around 
the band area while carrying on a non-split QSO on the VFO A frequency.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/22/2014 2:02 PM, Esquer Dave wrote:
> Hello folks,
> Newbie Dave, K6WDE/KH6 with my Elecraft KX3.
>
> Question: Dual Watch versus Split Mode, which is best? Is is personal preference? Yes, I did read the Elecraft Operating Note - Working a Pile-Up using the Dual Watch feature on the KX3 article. I am still confused though.
>
> As I understand it, for:
> SPLIT
> Split has a wider range of frequencies to utilize beyond the +/- 15kHz limitation of Dual Watch.
> VFO A (DX station) on the left and VFO B (calling station, me) on the right headphone.
>
> DUAL WATCH
> VFO A (DX station) on the right and VFO B (me) on the left headphone.
> Easier to tune up and down with the big tuning knob as I try to catch the DX station (instead of the little tuning knob).
>
> I must be missing something. I’ve used Split quite successfully and tried Dual Watch but they just seem to be the reverse of each other. When running a KX3, I need all the help when attempting to break through the pileups (especially here on the island)!
>
>