I just finished some testing on the AFC. Indeed, the signal does not appear to
"lock"
when the AFC box is unchecked. It seems as if the AFC still is working despite
the
fact that the AFC box is not checked. I can move my the incoming signal around
and
WriteLog still copies as along as I stay within my receiver's passband. The
little red
boxes follow the signal.
Now I am confused. I am sure I tested this in a previous version and the
little red
boxes on the bottom of the WriteLog RTTY Receiver locked in one place until the
entry window was cleared either by logging the contact or with ALT-W.
I'm going to play around with it some more this week, but it appears that AFC
is still
working despite it being unchecked. This might be a good thing or it might be
broke.
Only Wayne can tell us for sure.
More on this subject later (I hope).
73, Don AA5AU
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Crossland" <bcross@bellatlantic.net>
To: <writelog@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2001 9:01 PM
Subject: Re: [WriteLog] AFC question
>
> Thanks Don and Jeff for such quick responses. I also will send this response
> to the
> entire group as it appears others may have interest.
>
> Don I have a feeling that in my case Writelog is not "freezing" where it last
> heard the
> calling station as I almost always had to re-tune (RIT) those stations that
> called me
> off frequency in the first place. Maybe I have something set wrong?
>
> Thanks again.
>
> Bob, N3FR
>
> Don Hill wrote:
>
> > Hi Bob,
> >
> > I thought I would respond to the entire group because there is a little bit
> > of misconception on how the AFC works with RTTYrite and the WriteLog
> > RTTY Receiver.
> >
> > First off I'd like to say that the WriteLog RTTY Receiver indicator is the
> > best I've ever used and use it exclusively in RTTY contesting to tune
> > signals
> > in quickly and accurately.
> >
> > Secondly, I think I nice addition to the RTTY Receiver would be the option
> > of leaving the AFC on all the time but that is not how it is designed to
> > operate
> > at present and here's why...
> >
> > When calling CQ and a station answers you and is slightly off frequency, the
> > AFC function "tunes" in the signal, when you go to transmit by either using
> > the
> > Insert key or the function key you have designated for the exchange, the box
> > becomes unchecked and the WriteLog receiver freezes where it "heard" the
> > calling station. Therefore, when the calling stations come back to send
> > his/her
> > report, the WriteLog RTTY receiver is already on the spot where it received
> > the signal in the first place.
> >
> > After the contact is logged, you will notice that the box becomes checked
> > automatically again and the AFC is fully operational. All this is by
> > design.
> >
> > I have tested WriteLog using a sound card for receive and transmitting FSK
> > from a COM port, but have not used it in an actual contest so I can't say
> > for
> > sure if having the AFC function work this way is a big advantage or an
> > actual
> > disadvantage. I know a lot of folks don't like it. I see that Jeff, K1AM,
> > doesn't
> > like it either.
> >
> > However, I personally would like to see the AFC box have the option of being
> > "on" all the time. I use it this way as a 2nd RTTY receiver in a 2nd RTTY
> > window in
> > my present configuration (in other words I use it for receive only and do
> > not
> > transmit from this RTTY window - I transmit using either a PK232 or DXP-38).
> > I have found that the AFC function of the WriteLog RTTY Receiver is way fast
> > enough to retune any signal within my 250 hz filter. If the station I am
> > receiving
> > drifts or changes frequency (this does not happen very often but still
> > happens)
> > and the AFC is locked onto a different frequency then you have to reclick
> > AFC
> > on or retune it in with your RIT.
> >
> > Some folks say it should be turned "off" when in the S&P mode. I disagree.
> > I
> > think it is much faster to tune with it turned on. That way you can use
> > the two
> > lines on the display, line them up and go. I have found that using this
> > display is
> > the fastest way to tune RTTY signals in a contest. But what's even nice
> > about it
> > is the accuracy. You know when you like up the two vertical bars on the
> > left and
> > the right, that you are dead on frequency.
> >
> > One of the biggest complaints from people in RTTY contests today is that so
> > many people call off frequency. Wayne has given us a way to be spot on
> > every
> > time and quickly too.
> >
> > Wayne... give us the option of leaving the AFC turned on all the time in
> > the RTTY
> > Receiver window.
> >
> > I'm interested to hear what others say on this subject. I now have FSK
> > setup on a
> > COM port and am in the process of being able to set up WriteLog so I can not
> > only receive in 2 RTTY windows with the same radio, but also transmit to
> > the same
> > radio using either of the 2 windows. What is the advantage of this? Well,
> > not much
> > really, but say you have a DXP-38 and a sound card working on the same
> > radio.
> > A station calls you but is garbled in the DXP-38 window but comes out clean
> > and
> > highlights in the sound card window. You can then click and go from the
> > sound card
> > window instead of having to type in the call manually in the DXP-38's entry
> > window
> > if that is the one used for transmit or vice versa with the sound card.
> >
> > 73, Don AA5AU
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Bob Crossland" <bcross@bellatlantic.net>
> > To: <writelog@contesting.com>
> > Sent: Monday, January 15, 2001 7:48 PM
> > Subject: [WriteLog] AFC question
> >
> > >
> > > Hello all,
> > >
> > > During the past RTTY Roundup I noticed a rather annoying thing happening
> > > to the AFC function.
> > >
> > > Let me start by saying when I call CQ I turn AFC on by checking the box
> > > in the tuning window.
> > > Here's the scenario that follows.
> > >
> > > I call CQ and someone answers. I respond with the "Insert" key. After
> > > my response is sent and the radio unkeys, the AFC is no longer checked.
> > > Now if the calling station is off frequency when they respond with their
> > > exchange (and I would assume if they were off freq with their initial
> > > response they'll be off freq with the exchange), I have to use my RIT to
> > > tune them in. I then QSL their info, send QRZ and magically the AFC box
> > > is checked again and is active. Am I doing something wrong to make the
> > > AFC become unchecked during the exchange?
> > >
> > > The only thing I could find in the documentation is relative to one of
> > > the release notes. I believe it is Version 10.09 where the AFC was made
> > > to turn off if there is an entry in the exchange field. Why?
> > >
> > > I'd appreciate any assistance in getting me "tuned back in". This is a
> > > great product and I simply need to understand it better I'm sure.
> > >
> > > Thanks folks.
> > >
> > > Bob, N3FR (ex N3IXR)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > WWW: http://www.writelog.com/
> > > Submissions: writelog@contesting.com
> > > Administrative requests: writelog-REQUEST@contesting.com
> > > Problems: owner-writelog@contesting.com
> > >
> > >
>
>
> --
> WWW: http://www.writelog.com/
> Submissions: writelog@contesting.com
> Administrative requests: writelog-REQUEST@contesting.com
> Problems: owner-writelog@contesting.com
>
>
--
WWW: http://www.writelog.com/
Submissions: writelog@contesting.com
Administrative requests: writelog-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-writelog@contesting.com
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