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Re: [TenTec] Eagle and Zero Beating

To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Eagle and Zero Beating
From: Bwana Bob <wb2vuf@verizon.net>
Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2015 20:32:42 -0400
List-post: <tentec@contesting.com">mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
100 Hz? Heck, my vintage Heathkit HW-100 probably drifts that much per hour, after warmup, of course. Too many curmudgeonly purists, too quick to criticize. Your signal isn't chirpy, wide, making key clicks or backwave (remember backwave?), so you're clean. Maybe he has a TX/RX offset error of 100 Hz at his end. Or, maybe you're 50 Hz high and he is 50 Hz low. See how silly his argument is.

Now, there are a couple of technical solutions. I'm not familiar with the Eagle (my newest T-T is a Paragon) but if all oscillators are derived from one master, it's doubtful that there is anything wrong with your rig. The older gear used separate crystals for the BFO/carrier oscillators and these require tweaking sometimes, due to crystal aging. A good frequency counter will set that right.

As for zero beating technique, every rig design is a little different, and few people are blessed with perfect pitch. The older Ten Tecs used an audio oscillator set to the same frequency as the BFO offset of 750 Hz. Push the button and tune the radio so that the tone of the incoming signal is zero beat with the spotting oscillator. Works best with headphones. You can fab up such an audio oscillator or I'm sure that there are kits available. If your ears aren't good at matching the two tones, you can feed the two audio signals into the X and Y inputs on an inexpensive 'scope and watch the Lissajous pattern and zero beat that way: http://www.jmargolin.com/mtest/LJfigs.htm There are also some simple zero beating circuits in the literature. You can use a 567 PLL chip set to decode the desired frequency and light an LED when you're tuned in. Some circuits have multiple LEDs like a little bar graph.

There is one final option that I have used many times on 2 meter repeaters, when dealing with annoying egocentric blowhards. It's called "Click". Just rotate the volume control counterclockwise until an audible click is heard and the annoying person is gone. Life is short. Don't give an annoyance permission to live in your head.

                    73,

                    Bob WB2VUF


On 7/23/2015 11:33 AM, Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP wrote:
Well if that were the case, how would he know I'm 100 Hz off when he can't
even hear me?  (hi)

I run contests with 100 Hz filtering, but I don't run it like that in daily
work.
Again, the world we live in allows and has thousands of hams without this
expensive technology.
Everyone is free to do what they like and there is no right or wrong way,
but in the case sited, he appeared to be scolding the QSO partner for not
being able to adjust his radio properly . . . probably before he even knew
what kind of radio the other guy had.

73 - Rick, DJ0IP
(Nr. Frankfurt am Main)


-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Barry N1EU
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2015 5:25 PM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Eagle and Zero Beating

Another issue is that it's more likely that guys are running dsp brick wall
narrow filtering today than in years past and they might need you to be on
their frequency to hear you.

Barry N1EU

On Thu, Jul 23, 2015 at 11:14 AM, Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP <Rick@dj0ip.de>
wrote:

Absolutely, Al!

Just imagine the audacity of some lid running his store-bought radio,
then telling a young lad that has built his own analog cw transceiver
that he is
100 Hz off frequency!

There are still thousands of analog radios on the air.
Especially for a mode like CW which people choose to operate for the
fun factor, you can expect to find lots of analog radios.  I would
expect more consideration.

I have no idea how accurately I zero beat when running my Scout.  I'm
sure I am more accurate with my Eagle.  But you know what?  I don't
care.  The Scout is simple and fun.

What has happened to our wonderful hobby?
Who let the dogs out and the Lids in?  (hi)

73 - Rick, DJ0IP
(Nr. Frankfurt am Main)


-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Al
Gulseth
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2015 4:30 PM
To: tentec@contesting.com
Cc: Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Eagle and Zero Beating

That's where us "stick in the mud" types with our _old_ TT rigs have
an
advantage: "VY SRI fer being off freq OM, rig HR is analog" HI HI!!

73, Al

On Thu July 23 2015 8:56:30 am Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP wrote:

It's a very sad world indeed if we have to watch a couple of
software programs just to make a CW contact!  If that's what one
enjoys doing, then fine, but having to do that to get zero beat is
simply BS.
Adjust your radio properly as I described in my previous post and if
the other guy doesn't like it, tell him to take a hike!

My 2c worth.

73 - Rick, DJ0IP
(Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
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