[Elecraft] To zero beat or not to zero beat

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

Most of my CW work is on nets.   Otherwise, pse QNZ.   If one is not on 
frequency, one is not heard.

73

Bob, K4TAX



On 2/21/2019 6:54 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> On 2/21/2019 4:04 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
>> And in a pileup the RX bandwidth is narrower.  At 50 Hz BW any 12 to 
>> 15 Hz away aren't heard.
>
> Not really, and for several reasons. First, many skilled CW ops use a 
> fairly wide bandwidth in a pileup so that they hear off-frequency 
> callers. Second, even at the 200 Hz IF setting and 250Hz roofing 
> filter I routinely use, the -6dB bandwidth is on the order of 250 Hz 
> (it's generally well known that the 250 Hz filter is closer to 350 
> Hz). Given that 6 dB is roughly one S-unit, the practical RX bandwidth 
> is more like 250 Hz for reasonably strong signals, and reasonably 
> strong signals farther off frequency are going to be heard. Third, in 
> a pileup, the WORST place to be is zero-beat, because that's where 
> most stations call, and everyone's TX blends into a big mush.
>
> You DO want to zero-beat the CQer if you're weak and there are no 
> other callers.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
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