There's some thinking everyone considers the SO2R route needs to ask
themselves before they start down this shining path...for SO2R can be
seductive. Maybe even sexy, if you can call sitting in a chair for endless
hours trying to work as many people as you can on a radio sexy.
First of all, how good are you on one radio? How are you managing band
changes, pileups, your tuning rate with S&P? If you're running, do you S&P
at all? Remember, if everyone is running all the time, there's no way you'll
work them if you're running too. How well do you know your radio, and it's
quirks, and do you have it dialed in? There's a lot of DSP and filtering
going into gear these days, but if you don't have it set up right, all
you're going to hear is crud in the receiver. In addition, as radios come
with smaller buttons and extended menus, you need to have them down pat, or
you'll change bands at 3 AM and find yourself trying to work Radio Free
Keplachistan. Rigghhht.
There are plenty of top ops out there who can beat you with one radio just
as easily as they can with two. Going with a second radio just because
you're trying to compete with them, when they may have better skills, more
experience, a better location, bigger antennas, is just going to leave you
with less money and perhaps more frustration.
If you've put up as much antenna as you can as high as you can, and as run
as much power as you can manage,and find that your scores and positions from
year to year are relatively stagnant, then maybe that's a good argument.
"Everyone else is going this way" is not a good argument.
But when's the last time you looked at your station for what it is? Are you
set up ergonomically? Is everything in a good position? Are you well
grounded? Getting any feedback on any bands? (happens with me on QSK all the
time) Are the cables all hooked up correctly, and organized so you can get
to the right one quickly when something happens? Take care of this with one
radio before you add the second, because the problems simply multiply.
Second, what kind of a contester are you? How much time are you spending on
the air in contests? Is that worth this kind of investment, not only of your
money, but of your time? Are you finding you're getting close to the top
scores in your region, or are you one of those who just get on to make some
contacts or help out the club? Is the operating you're doing worth this kind
of investment, not only of your money, but of your time?For some of us, the
answer is an unqualified yes! Many, though, jump into the water without
checking to see how deep it is (or looking for sharks).
For me, the great thing about a second radio is that I've got something I
can switch over too, fast, when the radio I'm using starts acting up. Yes,
anyone running SO2R has the *ability* to make a few more QSOs on that second
radio. The question you must ask first, though, is if it's worth the effort
you lose by not concentrating on your main radio, or the time, effort, and
$$$ it takes to make it work semi-decently.
With malice towards none, es 73--
Warren, NF1J/6
_______________________________________________
CQ-Contest mailing list
CQ-Contest@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
|