[RTTY] Understanding the N1MM plus dueling CQ function in RTTY So2r

[Jeff AC0C]

I am interested to see if any of the board members runs N1MM plus in So2r and frequently uses the dueling CQ function?

I use it a lot but it’s implementation in the Plus version of N1MM does not make sense to me.  There is no documentation on this feature in the context of RTTY contesting.  And given the popularity of N1MM in the RTTY community I am hoping that one of the power users on the RTTY board may have some use experience with it and can point out what I’m doing wrong.

Here’s the specific scenario. --------

1. Start run dueling CQ in So2r until I get a reply on one rig.  

2. Press escape (stops the CQ) or pause (stops the CQ after it completes the current running transmission) - depending on which radio I hear the guy on.  ESC and PAUSE does NOT turn off the dueling CQ function in N1MM plus (it did in N1MM classic).

3. Load the callsign into N1MM and send the first reply.

4. As soon as that’s done, I resume CQ on the idle 2nd rig hoping to catch another guy on that while I’m working the first one.

5. BUT (here’s the trouble) I must remember to turn off the dueling CQ at some point at steps 2/3/4.  Because if you don’t, then N1MM will start calling CQ on the first radio – right on top of the ongoing QSO even if you have a call entered in that session.

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This behavior makes no sense to me.  Dueling CQ is a valuable tool but having to manually turn it off is cumbersome – especially on the back end of a long single op contest run.  It seems that the behavior pressing ESC as it ran in the N1MM classic was more optimal (the repeating CQ on a single rig was not disabled (if it was active), but dueling CQ was set to off).  

I’m assuming that with 80% of the RTTY contest guys using N1MM now, I am just missing out on an operation technique that the big boys understand - but that I have overlooked.  The N1MM guys have cleared up all the big problems with the program (the worst was the PTT trouble) but this one really eludes me.  

Appreciate any comments on it’s use.   

73/jeff/ac0c
www.ac0c.com
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