[RTTY] The more RTTY I do, the more fun I have...

[Michael Rapp]

Hi all,

Taking a break from the XE contest for a bit.  Love this mode.  :)

It seems every contest I'm making more contacts per operating time, which
is very cool. My biggest surprise in this contest are how few XE stations
I've been able to hear.  Even though Mexico is next door (I'm in Houston),
my main antenna is a wire V-Beam pointing towards Canada -- the wrong
direction!

Unlike the past RoundUp, I was able to add 40 meters capability to my
station for this contest.  I was perplexed that I heard no RTTY 80 kHz up
on 40, where I was expecting it...where is everyone?  It wasn't until I
spun the dial that I suddenly found everything down 50-60 kHz up from the
bottom of the band.  Dancing around the CW signals was unexpected, but is a
fun challenge.

I've also been playing with my AGC.  On JT65, if I turn my AGC off and
control the signal level manually with my RF gain, I think -- although I am
not completely certain -- that I am able to pull in fainter signals.

On RTTY, I seem to do equally well with AGC on vs trying to do it
manually.  It certainly is a lot easier to just let the radio do it, but I
wonder if I'm harming my capability to decode fainter signals.  As I live
in an HOA, I'm trying to do anything I can to improve my receive.

Also looking forward to next weekend...

73,
-- 
/*/-=[Michael / KT5MR]-=/*/