[NLRS] CW Operation question

[W0ZQ at aol.com]

Its radio dependent (unfortunately).   There is no standard.  On most "older" 
radios, CW uses the LSB filters.   If you listen to a CW signal in LSB, 
switch to CW mode, and if the pitch does not change, your radio is using LSB for 
CW.    This design makes USB-to-CW crossmode contacts difficult when you are the 
CW station.

Some of the "newer" radios allow you to set which sideband is CW (USB or 
LSB), or they have CW and CW-R (cw reverse).   CW-R is simply the opposite 
sideband from CW.    Being able to listen to USB while in CW mode is an advantage for 
crossmode contacts.

Regarding which way to tune when you switch modes, don't get to wrapped up 
about it.   This is not a precise science and it is expected that you will do 
some slight retuning when changing modes.    My advice is to change modes and 
start calling (or listening and tuning) .... that is what that big knob on the 
front of the radio is for and any adjustment will be slight.   Very few VHFers 
are using narrow front ends (CW filters) and/or know enough to either tune 
and/or switch to a wider filter to find someone.   

73, Jon
W0ZQ