[SCCC] N6VI RTTY Roundup

[Marty Woll]

I was announcing current and upcoming operating events on several public-service nets this morning as usual and decided I should try to make a few QSos in the RTTY Roundup.  I've never done digital at all, and there's no computer in the shack.  After I figured out that the K3 has to be in FSK-D mode to be able to transmit, I engaged the built-in reader and grabbed the cw paddle (the K3 converts cw to Baudot or PSK31).

I answered a CQ and got him!  OK, try another.  With a few breaks for more nets, I ended up putting in four hours, all S&P, watching the tiny "B VFO" readout and reading calls & reports as they whizzed past.  Net result: 53 contacts in 30 states, 1 province and 5 countries for a massive (not!) score of 1,908 points using 100w and low dipoles on 80 & 20m.

Having recently added the P3 scope, I set it to a narrow span (plus / minus 1 KHz) and found it a useful tuning aid along with my ears..  This was really fun.  A short time on MS Notepad turned my hand log into a Cabrillo file, and in it went.

I know there's some good software out there, but nothing wrong with "going commando" (radio, pencil and paper) once in a while; besides, I needed some sending practice anyway.

73,

Marty N6VI