[CQ-Contest] SO2R Again

[Mike Fatchett, W0MU]

I just completed my first SO2R contest and I can say that It could be
improved.  The second station with low power is  not fun.  I got trounced
and trounced. It might be fine for finding mults and moving the big stuff to
actually work it.

I would have been very nice to be able to switch the 40m beam to the 2nd
station while the main rig was on 75.  Run separate feed lines to your
antennas and figure out  a way to share them safely.  

Dave's other comments are dead on.  Having everything auto switch on its own
would be great.  I had to manual change the band pass filters and tune the
amp each time.  Auto tune amps are a tad pricey but they would sure be nice.

So would a 2nd 200 ft tower!  

I found the 2nd radio to be greatly distracting.  I got better as time went
on but am nowhere need competent at 2 radio operation.  

Mike
W0MU

-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of David Hachadorian
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 8:38 PM
To: cq-contest reflector
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] SO2R Again


----- Original Message -----
From: <Cqtestk4xs at aol.com>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2004 5:42 PM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] SO2R Again


> The cost of a SO2R is minimal.
>
> My first attempts at this back in the 80s consisted
of my main xcvr and an
> old beat up analog TS 820...with no amp on the 820.
>
> A second xcvr can be borrowed for a weekend and
several A/B switches picked
> up for a few bucks at a hamfest or borrowed for a
weekend.  Or, one can
> splurge and spend maybe three hundred for an old TS
930. Filters? Go to K1TTT  and
> build 'em out of scrap coax.  I did.
>
> No, the setup will not be optimal.  It will not be
automatic like the  WX0B s
> ix pack and you will not have stacks for both radios.
However,  it will give
> you SO2R capability.  And most importantly, you will
pick up  the ability to
> become proficient in SO2R.  It's been a long time,
and I am  still learning how
> to do it.
------------------------------

This is like deja vu all over again. Bill made a
similar posting in January of 2003, and my comments at
the time were:

I think Bill understates the cost requirement. If you
are considering
a jump to SO2R, you probably have already come a long
way in building
your SO1R station. If your going to do SO2R, you may as
well do it
correctly right off the bat. Sooner or later, you are
going to end
up with an equipment configuration that looks like
this:

2nd Radio. It should be the same model as your first
radio,
but let's say you can get by with a used TS-850. -
$800

2nd Amplifier. It should have 160, and be reliable. You
won't
be happy for long doing S&P at low power, getting beat
by
the high power boys. Let's assume you can find an amp
for $1000.

Antenna Switch. You need an antenna switch that will
distribute
several antennas to two radios. You won't often find
these used.
Assume a new WX0B Six-Pak, or equiv. at $400.

Bandpass Filters. Unless you have a large amount of
real estate,
with widely separated antennas, you are going to need
bandpass
filters for each radio. You won't be happy switching
individual
band filters every time you switch bands, so you really
do need
two six-band boxes, such as the Dunestar 600's, or
equiv. - $678 for two.

Band decoders. You won't be happy for long, switching
the Bandpass
Filters manually, so you need two band decoders, such
as the Top Ten
units, or equiv. $250 for two.

Two radio controller. You can build one yourself, but
it is a pain
in the neck, and won't look as good as a commercial
unit. It may
not work as well either. Bite the bullet, and buy a
commercial one,
such as the WX0B unit, or equiv. - $362
(2004 update - Top Ten unit - less expensive I think?)
More antennas. Chances are you will need more antennas
to be able to
S&P and CQ on any combination of bands. Figure at least
another small
tower, tribander, and rotor. Estate sale price - $1000.

The total of the above items is $4490.

Now, if you are an astute shopper, you may be able to
beat those
prices, but not by much. That takes care of the major
items. There
may be more, such as stubs and stub switching, if
further RFI problems
surface. You may need a couple more comm or LPT ports,
ten zillion
cables, etc. Small stuff, financially.

I'm an ex-yankee from New England. I tried to do it on
the cheap, but
dragged myself, kicking and screaming into the above
configuration,
except for the controller, and band decoders which are
homebrew.

I don't want to enter the argument over whether SO2R
ought to
be a separate category. I just want to point out that
the investment
is sizeable. What does it buy you? In certain contests,
such as
SSCW, and the NAQP CW and SSB, it is very significant.
In RTTY contests,
the advantage of SO2R is overwhelming.Dave Hachadorian,
K6LLYuma, AZ

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