[CQ-Contest] Need advice

[K4RO Kirk Pickering]

Hi Dick,

If it's just RTTY SO2R that you are interested in, then you probably 
don't need a
DX Doubler. Depending on the software you use, you can probably accomplish
what you want with just a couple of serial ports and a simple interface 
on each
port. AA5AU's RTTY contesting site and the N1MM user manual should give you
a lot of ideas. A serial port can handle PTT and FSK keying (one port 
for each radio.)
All you need for receive is a stereo sound card with a line input, and 
the appropriate
cabling to your radios. You may need a simple resistor pad if your 
radios don't
have a line level output and you have to use the headphone output instead.

73, Kirk K4RO


On 8/31/2012 8:29 PM, Dick-W0RAA wrote:
> Hi guys & gals,
>
> I would like to get some advice as regards SO2R operating.  My station is not a super contest station by any stretch of the imagination.  So that you have an idea of what I have let me give a brief breakdown:
>
> Yaesu FT-950
> Yaesu FT-857D
> Ameritron AL-811A Amp (not used in contests)
> Palstar Tuner (Not auto-tune)
> Cushcraft A3S @ 34' on a Rohn 25 Tower with a Hazer 2 unit for raising & lowering the beam
> Butternut HF-9V ground mounted w/radials
> 80 Meter shortened dipole at 30'
> I also have a SignaLink USB that is hooked up to my FT-950.
>
> As you can see, a modest setup but it all works pretty well.  I live in an upscale mobile home retirement community, that, thankfully, allows beams and other antennas.
>
> I'd like to setup a modest SO2R operation for RTTY contesting.  I don't know if my station is equipped well enough to do that.  I am considering getting a DX-Doubler unit and if anybody on the contesting reflectors is using a DX-Doubler, I'd certainly like to communicate with you about the abilities of the unit and whether or not it will be all that I need.  Or maybe something I shouldn't even consider.
>
> I have some questions but not really sure what they should be, thus my need for help from some folks who are using a similar setup.  My main contesting program is Writelog and I also use N1MM.  Mainly though, Writelog.  I have had success with both programs and keep them up to date.
>
> I hope to run into some of you during the COQP (Colorado QSO Party) tomorrow (Sat., Sept. 1).
>
> 73,
>
> Dick W0RAA
>
> Sent from my iPad 2
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