When you're tuning the band in S&P, you can see in advance when coming to a
frequency that the cq'ing station is momentarily listening and you know to
pause on the frequency for a second and listen for the station to resume
cq'ing rather than possibly tune right by him.
73, Barry N1EU
On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 9:29 AM, Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP <Rick@dj0ip.de> wrote:
> I separated this out from the "Future Radio" thread.
> Both of these features are here already today.
>
> I AM STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE BANDSCOPE (or Pan-Adaptor) WILL
> HELP
> "ME" in "my way" of working DX contests.
> I know it helps for other things, but how will it improve my contest score?
>
> For this thread, I hope you guys will focus on my specific problem (which
> may very well be my slowness to understand), rather than try to sell me the
> general benefits of using a Pan-Adapter for all sorts of other
> applications.
>
> First, I understand that people have different interests and we all like to
> play with technology. I understand how it is fun and helpful to others.
> But for my needs?
>
> My main interest in operating are:
>
> .1.Working DX Contests (and only those Contests),
>
> .2.Working DX-peditions (especially the ones I sponsor),
>
> .3.And rag chewing on 80 in SSB.
>
> PLEASE FOCUS ONLY ON #1 FOR THIS THREAD. TNX.
>
>
> I am still trying to understand how a pan-adaptor or bandscope would help
> me
> in a DX contest. that is, help enough that it would warrant the time,
> effort
> and cost necessary to add this feature to my Eagle. It will take some
> hardware modification to "my" Eagle to do that. I have an original
> version.
>
> Remember, every second spent watching that device (or anything else) is one
> less second I could be making a QSO, and a QSO usually takes just 5
> seconds.
>
> So far nothing I have read has convinced me that it would be worth the
> effort (with reference to improving DX Contest scores).
>
> Clearly it would be a big aid in chasing the DX-peditions.
> I understand that.
> It might even be an aid in my 80m rag chewing because it would help me
> identify who is splattering up and down the band.
>
> BUT WHERE IS THE BENEFIT IN DX CONTESTING ?
> (since I am already making full use of the BandMap with external spots and
> skimmer)?
>
> The only thing anyone has suggested so far which I fully accept is, when
> you
> decide it's time to stop S&P and call CQ, it helps locate a clear
> frequency.
>
> In a 48 hour CW contest, I might pause S&P and call CQ for a while, but I
> only do that 2 or 3 times each night.
> I don't do it in an SSB contest at all.
>
> I don't call CQ during the day because my signal is not strong enough to
> hold a frequency. I have never needed longer than one minute to find a
> frequency (160/80/40) and begin working.
>
>
> FIRST THE BANDMAP:
>
> When I am operating S&P, my BandMap which is fed by packet posts and
> skimmers, shows me:
>
> .1.Call Sign and frequency of "Run" stations who are calling CQ
>
> .2. Whether or not I have already worked the stn.
>
> .3. If the station is a new Country, new Zone, or Both
>
> .4. All stations, including those that I cannot even hear because
> propagation is not favorable to my QTH
>
> Of course #4 is the "gotcha" here with using the BandMap. Room for
> improvement.
>
> But my gut feeling is, less than 25 of the posts I see are for stations
> which I cannot hear.
> And even if they are, a few hours later propagation changes enough that
> they
> now become "live" for me.
> So even though I can't hear (i.e. K3LR), I know not to call CQ on that
> frequency.
>
> The BandMap is totally free for me, because my contest logging software
> incorporates this feature.
> My score has sky-rocketed upwards since I began using the BandMap in
> contests.
> This helped far more than using manual packet spots.
>
>
> SECOND THE BANDSCOPE:
>
> Question: is there a difference between a bandscope and a pan-adaptor?
>
> BENEFITS:
>
> .1. Helps identify clear spots when I'm looking for a frequency to call CQ.
>
> GOOD POINT.
> But weak point for my type of operation because I rarely do this.
> I don't think anyone does it a lot. If you are strong enough to hold a
> frequency, you just stay there. Otherwise you do S&P.
>
> .2. Lets me know what is going on around my frequency.
> Why should I care? My radio has excellent filters and in a contest, I must
> go to cluttered frequency to work the rare multipliers, regardless of
> what's
> going on around it.
>
> When working S&P, I usually don't stay on one frequency longer than 15 or
> 20
> seconds, then I move on.
>
> If I'm calling CQ, I still don't care. If people are calling me and I can
> work them, I'm on a good frequency.
> The entire band is full of signals. Otherwise I'm on another band.
>
> If I happened to settle down on the frequency of a rare DX station, plenty
> of people will let me know; I send a "SRI" and QSY.
>
> Besides, the Band-Scope won't tell me that I have settled on a DX station's
> frequency, but the BandMap will!
>
> .3.I can see when other bands are open.
> GOOD POINT. Actually EXCELLENT POINT.
>
> The packet spots show me this too, to some extent. Certainly not as well
> as
> the band-scope would.
> For stations who have full automation, and can double-click to change
> bands,
> this might be a lot more benefit.
> I need too long to change bands because I have a manually tuned amp, and
> manual antenna switch, and manual matchbox.
> The up side to "manual" is, it usually doesn't break.
> After each major contest, our BCC reflector is full of people complaining
> about automated stuff that broke.
>
> My work-around: I change bands and use the second VFO to scan the band at
> a
> rapid rate in 1kHz steps. I just listen to bursts (without stopping). If
> the band is full, I consider changing. It takes a few minutes for the
> BandMap to populate, so it is not any help for this operation. This
> process
> costs me about 60 to 90 seconds.
>
> .4. I don't know any others. Other than it might be fun; but fun doesn't
> improve my contest score.
> HELP ME OUT HERE PLEASE: _______________________
>
> DOWNSIDE OF BANDSCOPE FOR ME:
>
> .1.Cost. I would not only incur the cost for whatever hardware is needed,
> I
> would have to purchase a new computer. It was suggested not to use a
> laptop. This means I would need a computer, keyboard, and monitor. However
> my shack is tiny and already over-crowded, which is one of the reasons I
> use
> a laptop.
>
> Doing this is not out of the question, but at the end of the day, is it
> really going to improve my score significantly? I can't see how.
>
> It's also very difficult to find a good US-English keyboard over here. I'd
> probably have to pay shipping from the states.
> Perhaps Scott (W4PA) could bring me one when he comes to visit next summer.
>
> .2..Labor: My early model Eagle motherboard does not have the connection
> to
> run the IF out. I don't mean the jack on the back, I mean the connection
> on
> the printed circuit board. I would have to take a soldering iron to it. I
> am technically competent, but with poor eyesight. If I do this, there is
> some risk that I might break something. A round trip back to the factory
> costs $300.
>
> Again, please keep this thread focused on "how a Band-Scope can help in
> DX-Contesting", and not break out in a general discussion of the benefits
> of
> a band-scope. I understand that there are benefits in other aspects of the
> hobby.
>
> THANK YOU.
>
> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
> (Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
>
>
>
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