[RTTY] Cheat Sheet for RTTY Spots

[Dick Kriss, AA5VU]

With the regard to the frequency for cluster spots (dial vs. mark),  I used
to mentally adjust the dial frequency to post the mark frequency; however,
my brain cannot seem to consistently deal with adding and subtraction of
2125 Hz from the TS-570 frequency display so I created a cheat sheet.

As a test or experiment while operating RTTY, I have an Excel worksheet
running in the background that is my cheat sheet for frequency conversions.
It is just an extra sheet in my RTTY DXCC worksheet with two conversion
lookup tables and a hot spot.  The hot spot is a CELL where all I have to do
is type in my dial freq and it does the conversion and even rounds off to
one decimal point to give the MARK freq for cluster postings. Yes, I know
many logging programs do this for you. I still use the old ARRL Spiral Log
Book.

The two columns on the cheat sheet are labeled as follows with only two
examples shown:

  Receive Frequency LSB-FSK            Calling Frequency LSB-FSK
VFO Reads           Mark @                Mark Freq.           Set VFO @
------------      -------------           -------------       ------------
14,086.00         14083.875              14,086.00         14,088.125
14,085.50         14083.375              14,085.50         14,087.625

I use the first column for when I see a spot on the cluster and it tells me
where to set my lame Kenwood VFO to start the tuning. If someone spotted a
station at 14083.4, I would set my VFO to 14,085.50 and start tuning.  The
second column is used if I want to start calling CQ on a specific Mark freq.
In the second example, if I wanted to call CQ on 14.085 MHz, I would set the
VFO at 14,087.63.

I used the HOT SPOT this morning when I worked and spotted YB0JIM on the
AB5K-2 AR-Cluster

> 14080.3  YB0JIM  15-Aug-2004 1300Z  RTTY from Jakarta City  YB <AA5VU>

I had YB0JIM tuned near perfect in W7AY's cocoaModem (the crossed banana FSK
Scope looked perfect and I had solid print).  The frequency display on the
TS-570D(G) in LSB/FSK mode was reading 14,082.43 and the hot spot told me to
post it at 14080.3 or (14,082.43 - 2125 Hz = 14080.305 that rounds to
14080.3 for use on the AB5K-2 AR-Cluster.

The cheat sheet I am playing with may be lame but it has helped compensate
for the lack of dial conversion in the Kenwood TS-570. If you want a copy of
the simple Excel worksheet, drop me a note and hack it to suit your
operating habits. I have changed the labels several times.

As noted in my earlier posting I do not understand the obsession with
posting the MARK frequency; however, I have conformed to the current
accepted procedures for spotting the MARK rather than the dial frequency.  I
still tune the VFO to print and do not really care about the specific
frequency. The ARRL DXCC Desk only wants the band and the FCC requires us to
stay in the allocated bands.

Now if we could get two rigs to agree on a specific frequency, it would y be
easy.  HiHi

73 de Dick, AA5VU