[SECC] So2R assistance

[RJ Hubbard]

thanks for the replies - especially the clarification on the band switching
rules, guess I misread that - certainly makes SO2R make more sense.

On Tue, Jul 23, 2019 at 1:13 PM Bill Coleman <aa4lr at arrl.net> wrote:

> I’m not an expert in SO2R operation, having only dabbled. But, I have some
> comments:
>
> > On Jul 23, 2019, at 10:55 AM, RJ Hubbard <rj.wf4w at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > I've begun to notice that many of the reported scores on 3830 have the
> SO2R checked so it seems to be an earmark of the top scorers. My operating
> time is often limited so the only way to get that score higher is to work
> more Q's and get more Multis. . . SO2R seems to be the way to do that.
>
> Spending more time in the chair operating is probably easier. SO2R might
> add 10-20% to your score, depending on the contest. Spending twice as much
> time might add 30-50% to your score….
>
> > I currently have a 7610, ALS-600, 6BTV, & OCF Dipole. I use n1mm for
> contesting. My assumption is that I will buy another Icom due to
> familiarity, ease of integration into N1MM, and  I already have RSBA-1 so I
> can control both rigs from the desktop. I also assume I'll need to buy a
> couple bandpass filters and perhaps some switches. I also have another 6BTV
> I could install... I'm not too concerned about the hardware & software side
> of it. . .
>
> Having good antenna choices is key to quality SO2R operation. That’s
> difficult to do with your typical city lot amateur installation.
>
> > My lack of knowledge is around SO2R operation... let's take last
> weekend's NAQP RTTY contest as an example...  I assume SO2R ops are on a
> run freq. on Rig1 Band A and using Rig2 Band B to S&P. Given spotting is
> not permitted in SO category.  the proper way to do that is decode and only
> work needed multipliers?
>
> RTTY is kind of a special case when it comes to SO2R. Because you don’t
> actually have to be paying attention to a RTTY signal to decode it, like
> you do with Phone or CW. Because of this, there are some SO2R and even SO3R
> operators.
>
> There’s no prohibition on working non-multipliers on the second rig. If
> Rig1 is calling CQ and getting few callers, you can work anyone on Rig2.
> The key is to only have one transmitted signal at any one time.
>
> > What about in contests , like the IARU HF Championships, where you can
> only change bands every 10 mins or so? I assume that negates SO2R operation
> (aside from monitoring 2nd band)?
>
> That rule ONLY applies to multi-operator stations. Single-operator
> stations can change bands as many times as they like.
>
> > So help me out here... help me understand the benefit of SO2R, how best
> to use it, and WHEN to use it. Perhaps my assumptions are wrong?
>
> The key advantage of SO2R is you can keep CQing on one band while S & Ping
> on another band. When the call rate goes up when CQing, you’re not going to
> have a lot of time to use the second radio.
>
> The challenge of SO2R is 1) having an interference-free installation that
> permits you to transmit on one band while receiving on another and 2) being
> able to effectively interleave the operation of both radios.
>
> I’ve done SO2R in the ARRL 160m contest, where I CQed on one radio, and
> used the second radio with an RX-only antenna to populate the band map.
> When I would take a break from CQing, I’d run through my “spots” and work
> them. This at least kept me from wondering if there was something else
> going on on the band I was missing when the Q rate was slow.
>
>
> Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
> Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com
> Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
>             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901
>
>
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