[CQ-Contest] SS CW Secrets - Weekend Edition - #5

[Tree]

This will be a short secret - since it is the weekend.

This has to do with how to find those rare mults (like VY1JA or that VO1 
station).  This typically isn't an issue if you are "cheating" and using 
packet.  

Put your receiver in as wide of an IF bandwidth as you can.  Then, slowly
tune around listening for a pileup.  

This is very effective on Sunday, when typically all you hear on the band
is people calling endless CQs.  The pileup will stick out and then you can
zero in on the needle in the haystack.

Look for those stations above, or below, the main activity.  Don't stop
tuning just because you stop hearing people calling CQ.  Due to packet,
it is possible for a rare station to sustain high rates well up the band.

The other quick topic to cover is knowing how your radio works with CW 
offsets.  If you are going to be calling stations off frequency, you might
not be heard.  Even if you are, your signal might be getting QRMed from
the stations "next door".  Furthurmore, it can create confusion where 
a different station things you are calling them, and they put you in their
log.  

Most of the modern radios are pretty good about matching up their monitor
tone to the frequency that you should tune stations into in order to work
them.  However, it is a really good idea to manually check it and be super
confident.

If you have two radios setup, this is an easy process.  Tune in any kind
of signal that you can use as a standard (loud station on the band).  Set
the TX power of your transmit rig as low as possible.  Tune in the same
station at the tone you think is zero beat.  Send a few dits and see if
the tones match in the other receiver.  If not, then you need to work on
either readjusting your offset, or the tone you are tuning people into.

Once you have checked one radio, reverse the process and check the other.

Some people find that setting their two radios up to different frequencies
helps their brain sort out which radio is which when listening in stereo.

Getting this right becomes even more important if you are one of the 
weaker signals on the band.

73 Tree N6TR
tree at kkn.net