[RTTY] Need advice

[Ed Muns]

SO2R is simpler with RTTY than CW or SSB because no switching (RX audio,
key, microphone, etc.) is needed.  Thus, the DX Doubler or other SO2R box
offers little value and is not needed.  If you already have an SO2R box for
CW/SSB, then it is convenient to configure for stereo receive audio with one
radio in each ear.  But, this can be achieved with standard Radio Shack
audio adapters and cables.

The most important thing in setting up SO2R is minimizing RFI from one
radio's transmitter into the other radio's receiver.  Band Pass Filters
(Dunestar, ICE, W3NQN, FilterMax, etc for low power and 4O3A for high power)
are a good start, but stubs may also help to reduce harmonic RFI.

A Triplexer (INRAD makes a nice low power one; 4O3A makes a great high power
one) is handy so that the two radios can share the A3S, using different
bands.  Otherwise, SO2R will be mainly 40/80 or 40/20.  You wouldn't be able
to do 10/15 or 10/20 or 15/20 which are important during the day.

A choice point is whether to use one logging PC with the two radios or to
use two networked PCs, one dedicated to each radio.  As you might imagine,
there are advantages of each configuration.  The basic difference is that
with one PC you must do some keystrokes to switch transmission between the
two radios.  With two PCs you physically move between two
keyboards/displays/mice.  Like politics and religion, some people will argue
vehemently that one is better than the other.   I believe it is simply
personal preference.

Stick with the logger you mostly use with RTTY now.  No reason to complicate
a new learning curve by unnecessarily changing loggers.  N1MM Logger and
WriteLog are equally great for the whole range of RTTY contesting from
beginner to expert.  Like the one PC vs. two PC choice above, it is only a
matter of preference.  So, don't make SO2R more difficult by changing
loggers from what you are most familiar with on RTTY.

Most internal and add-on soundcards are stereo, which allows you to connect
the receive audio from each radio into either the left or right channel.
You will need a RTTY interface for each radio and each can range from
generic audio cables (plus a FSK/PTT keying cable for FSK) to commercial
interfaces.  Whatever you use for RTTY with each radio in SO1R will be fine
for SO2R.

The RTTY mode is the best way to learn SO2R and your skills can then be
moved to CW/SSB.  This is primarily because with RTTY the decoding/encoding
is done by the PC, not your brain.  Thus, there are more "brain cycles"
available to learn SO2R skills.

Ed - W0YK



Dick, W0RAA, wrote:
> 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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