Re: [CQ-Contest] SO2R boxes

["David A. Pruett" <k8cc@comcast.net>]

Lee Hier's note reinforces an observation I've made with regards to the 
current SO2R frenzy.

I see people buying SO2R boxes simply because it's the latest HOT 
thing.  They get the box, then don't know what to do with it.

From my observations, the best SO2Rers sit down and figure out HOW they 
need to do to manipulate two radios, then figure out WHAT they need to 
operate in that manner.  Many of them build their own SO2R switchboxes and 
do SO2R THEIR WAY.  Eventually they may buy one of the logging programs 
with particular SO2R features, if it supports THEIR SO2R method.

I'm not saying that someone can't just buy an SO2R setup and figure it 
out.  But I would argue that an understanding of SO2R needs to come first, 
like what Lee did.

I won't pretend to be the SO2R expert, but I've been doing SO2R since 1981, 
back before it was cool...

73,

Dave/K8CC

At 09:27 PM 9/3/03 -0400, Lee Hiers wrote:
> On 3 Sep 2003 at 5:30, Larry Schimelpfenig wrote:
>
> > The commercially produced SO2R boxes all look great, but if price is an
> > object and you don't need all the function, I have to agree that 
> duplicating
> > the box in the "NA" manual is the way to go. It doesn't have to be
> > expensive, especially if one has a fair junk box as a source for 
> connectors.
> > The heart of the thing is some small low voltage relays available from the
> > local Radio Shack for around five bucks a pop.
>
> I don't know what the NA box does, but for a long time I got by just fine 
> using a
> homemade RX switcher made from a guitar switch (nice big handle) that 
> allowed Left only,
> Right only, or Both in my headphones.  The TX switching was done 
> automagically in TR,
> using 2 LPT port keying interfaces.  Worked great.
>
> The only reason I'm using the DX Doubler now is that I got a good deal on 
> one used
> (including two cables that matched my radios!).  It's got a little more 
> flexibility as
> far as switching the 2nd rig into both ears while XMITing - which lets me 
> leave my
> sidetones turned up for non-contest operating.  More importantly, it's got 
> built-in
> microphone audio switching, which I would had to have worked out on my own 
> otherwise.
>
> Oddly, the guy I purchased the DXD from was getting rid of it because he'd 
> gotten a new
> WX0B box...
>
> 73 de Lee
>
> --
> Lee Hiers, AA4GA
> Cornelia, Georgia
>
>
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---------------------------------------------------------------
   The world's top contesters battle it out in Finland!
THE OFFICIAL FILM of WRTC 2002 now on professional DVD and VHS!
      http://home1.pacific.net.sg/~jamesb/
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