It's ironic that Dick would pose these questions when I just completed my
column
for the March/April issue of NCJ on RTTY SO2R operation (Part I).
Since I know Dick is a subscriber to this reflector, I will address him as well
as the other subscribers as I believe it's important others know.
You do NOT need a DX Doubler or any other type of SO2R interface to run RTTY
SO2R. I have been running RTTY SO2R for nearly 20 years now with no such
complicated interface.
RTTY SO2R is simply two RTTY stations combined with band filters, antenna
switching and headphones to listen to both radios at the same time. No special
SO2R box is required unless you absolutely feel you need automated filter and
headphone switching. With RTTY, you certainly don't need headphone switching.
Filters can be switched manually as I have done since day one. Save your money
and spend it on a good set of band filters from ICE, Dunestar pr a good set of
stubs.
Many years ago I wrote a webpage on RTTY SO2R at
http://www.rttycontesting.com/so2r.htm which I need to update. It gives a lot
of information that will help the future RTTY SO2R operator. More information
will be found in the 2011 March/April NCJ RTTY Contesting column and well as
the
2011 May/June edition which will include Part II of my SO2R column. If you
don't subscribe to the National Contest Journal (NCJ) and you consider yourself
a serious contester, then you should.
Hopefully this will not spark the very blase subject of SO1R vs SO2R. The fact
is, if you are a serious RTTY contester and do not run SO2R, you are missing
out
of the unimagineable fun of being on two bands at the same time and filling all
that void time between CQs with something as productive as CQing on another
band
or S&P for additional mults. All the while, you are being busy and productive
and having a friggin' good time.
RTTY SO2R is not for everyone. But if you have a passion for RTTY contesting,
get off your butt and do something other than watch TV and read your e-mail
while you are pressing the F2 key.
Don AA5AU
----- Original Message ----
From: "Bill, W6WRT" <dezrat1242@yahoo.com>
To: rtty@contesting.com
Sent: Fri, January 14, 2011 9:31:08 PM
Subject: [RTTY] Forwarded message
Subject: DXDoubler Question
From: "DickT-W0RAA" <dickt@w0raa.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:19:16 -0700
I hope I can get some help with my question. I have several questions
and
it would probably be best if the context was taken off the reflectors,
unless you felt it could benefit other members. If you would like to
get a
dialogue started and help me, you can e-mail me at w0raa[at]arrl.net.
That being said, I have the following questions to ask (And probably
more):
I have a Yaesu FT-950 and a Yaesu FT-857D. The 950 is my main radio,
and
the 857D is a backup.
My antennas consist of a Butternut HF-9V ground mounted vertical and
soon
(to replace a beam & tower that succumbed to 90 MPH winds) a Cushcraft
A3S
beam on a Rohn 25G as a replacement. I will also be putting back up a
Van
Gordon Engineering 80 meter shortened dipole.
I would like to set up a SO2R contest setup and have been looking at the
DXDoubler as a means of doing so. At present I have to switch one radio
out
of service to listen on another band for activity, and that can be
confusing, not to mention a time waster. A DXDoubler looks like it
might be
a solution to my needs. Will it be a simple setup? What cables would I
need? Etc, etc.
So, is anybody using a similar setup to mine (950, 857D, antennas, etc)
that
can offer me some guidance on how I should proceed and not break the
bank,
which would keep the XYL happy. I know none of you guys have ever had
that
problem before, so I mention it as a possible hindrance. :)
Any help or somebody saying I just don't have enough antennas to do it
would
be appreciated. I live in an upscale mobile home retirement community
here
in Colorado Springs and they tolerate beams, verticals and such. I try
to
stay as low key as possible even with their permission.
SO if you care to help I would be appreciative.
73 & Tnx,
Dick
W0RAA
w0raa[at]arrl.net or dickt[at]w0raa.com
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