[CQ-Contest] two radios in the 80s

[PaulKB8N@aol.com]

In a message dated 11/12/2005 7:44:02 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
Cqtestk4xs at aol.com writes:

was  using a crude two radio setup in 84 and 85.  I wasn't making many top  
tens back then but it did help the score.



Bill,
 
I had a pretty elaborate setup for SO2R in the late 80s and early  90s.  I 
had an Omni A and a Corsair.  They both shared the same VFO  design, and there 
was sufficient output out of either VFO to operate both radios  at one time.  I 
had a switching arrangement where I could control the  radios independently 
with their internal VFO, or could simultaneously tune two  different bands off 
of the same VFO from either radio.
 
I did "dual S&P" on separate bands very effectively when I was in  Europe.  
The only trick was having to manually keep track of my band  changes, as 
neither radio was computer controlled.  It did make a huge  difference in my score, 
especially when I ran QRP, as it effectively doubled the  size of the playing 
field for S&P QSOs.
 
I had also automated my antenna switching and matching so my antennas were  
1:1 on every band instantly.  (I used dipoles fed with ladder line.)   I had an 
early edge in the Sprints after returning to the states, but that edge  has 
eroded due to my limited participation in recent years.
 
Paul, K5AF