Great questions Jamie!
You have had already great answers.But, from the lower standpoint of
my small experience I would just add something, as I would also like
to have answers from the group here.
Hope not to be annoying for anybody. Even if those written aren't real
advices. That's just "some" of my personal thoughts.
About the attempt to use MMVARI as a the main window, it's a nightmare.
You need to have something to transmit - FSK or AFSK - MMVARI IS AFSK
if standalone (memory?), EXTFSK is not an viable option - and set the
whole thing shifting forth and back, looking at the lines ticketing
call and noise. MMVARI will not run in a secondary DI window. Also
MMVARY ticketing screen mean that you have to use a large filter in
RX. How to maintain a decent AGC signals suppression and still having
large bandwidth? Maybe using no AGC or ultra fast AGC. The first
method require to use RF gain. The second may not get the point,
anyway.
In any case you must get acquainted to the whole configuration well
before the event, isn't?
About the use of more demodulators: what's the target?
Do you think you would have to deal weak and evanescent signals at most?
Do you think that different demodulators may give you a decent
advantage over AFC engagement, signals shredding and so on? (Oh, yes.)
Do you have enough screen real estate to open and look at two or more
DI windows on yours screen? (3 is better for any weak to strong kind
of signals). I agree with the Ed's idea about different filters on
different 2Tone DI windows, that's the way. All things must be showing
all automatically and you made the choice on the fly.
About call stacking.
I would use it - just in case, I wish to be prepared to use - with the
Band Map stacking method for N1MM Logger. Changing the F4 "TU NOW"
ESM macro as the normal answer macro, whatever it is. Not to loose
time sending the NW now, but still having a double
line in any answer from the manually stored - program automated GRAB
from the Band Map. Hum, two lines, this will be shown on air.
(CFLF)
TU IW1AYD(Space-CRLF)
IZ1TNL IZ1TNL 599 IZ1TNL(Space)
This will motivate people observing the pile up to come on other and
call all together, I would not use call stacking this way.
Maybe you could do it separating line leaving a strict close, but this
in turn - a two stroke stack retrieval is almost unusable. It will cut
the calling time and you will not have the time to listen who is
coming back.
But I'd never seen the two line answer in a DX pile up. So I would
forget about. But anything new could be tested why not ....
BTW 599 is not an interesting thing to be repeated, the answered call
is the most important. That's for you and all other, you dont want
that IZ1TNL usually coming back late from her calling routine miss her
call sing in the answer, That's is the worse relenting example, a good
one, but shortest is: (CRLF)IZ1TNL 599 IZ1TNL(Space). Keep up with a
late incoming call sign, I had always seen it as the better DX answer
in a pile up.
The GRAB routines may alter the sense of any callsign and introduce
errors in between I see the QSO end, a valid grabbed call, and I click
the GAB macro.
The Band Map manual stacking is much more usable.
K3 + P3.
So manually search in the pile up via the P3, O yes, if the pile up is
not that largely spread you could easy move the P3 cursor off centre,
left maybe, and have a small span, let me say 6 KHz for the whole
screen.
By doing this you would see who is calling and, with the right
combination of the two VFO or the second receiver. So being on a rock
steady on the TX QRG and look around driving the knob you could use,
main or secondary, depending on the configuration you are able to use
inside the K3. Have a tight filter is quite a must. The 250 Hz set up
to 300 Hz or the 400 Hz also set up to 300 Hz with the filter menu of
the K3.
By doing al this and getting acquainted you should be able to maintain
a good rate looking the P3, moving the know on relevant tracks or just
on the next, receiving the incoming call and answer that lucky one.
All, the P3 and the whole on screen decoders windows must be in focus,
better not to shift eyes that much or, worse, lay around the head.
Your focus must be on the screen, there is the actions. Your left hand
on the RX QRG knob, your right hand on the mouse. Get acquainted, it's
like to play a big musical instrument.
Some more macro ... have UP at the end of each QSO close is the must.
Another one to say SPREAD UP X-Y quite also. Then remember to say
whatever you will do, QRX, QRT, QSY and so on via any macro. there is
plenty of space into N1MM Logger to place macros you would need. Do it
also on the run, it's easy after all making correction on the fly, if
you think that the plot you are living may require it a second time.
Also some CAT commands may be needed, i.e. filters switching to RTTY
audio tones on/off for desperate cases of weak signals.
Don't hesitate to use CALL JA1?? CALL or ONLY JA1??? ONLY, have a
macro for it an write JA1?? onto the input filed manually. that's in
case of elusive signals or in a ferocious pile up where signals are
shredding each one anyone other and there is no way to say SPREAD UP.
Or in some other cases.
You would need to get acquainted with it all before, any solution that
you will pursue also on air, as to use it all with a sense of
persistent and clever timings in between repeated actions. This would
control the pile up much better than words.
Well, sorry for the long and noisy rants, but this is what I may
suggest and even more, a lot, could be done I am pretty sure. I write
here to the list just to have some more advices and suggestions. Also
for myself. TU in advance.
Last but not least, Jamie, by any mean: have fun and delight yourself
and us. Any show is the right way to understand how to be there.
Enjoy.
73 de iw1ayd Salvo
PS I'd never was on P49, but I was there from my side attempting to
and it was a pleasure. Often well operated pile up are a great time to
learn how to do it. Well, also not so well operated pile up, just to
understand differences, isn't? Not any place, not any time, not any
operator is the same. that's part of ours pleasure with the hobby.
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