[Skimmertalk] Monitored Frequencies vs. Displayed Frequencies

[Jeff Maass]

G'day Pete:

Thanks for the reply!

My comments and clarification are in my reply below.

I plan to write up a more detailed description of our use of Skimmer at PJ2T for this
contest. I recorded about 16 hours of the 25.5 dark hours of the contest. 

We are convinced that we need to add this capability permenantly, and are starting to
define how we will do it to best advantage. 


73,  Jeff  K8ND

 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pete Smith [mailto:n4zr at contesting.com] 
> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 9:38 AM
> To: jmaass at k8nd.com; skimmertalk at contesting.com
> Cc: Alex, VE3NEA
> Subject: Re: [Skimmertalk] Monitored Frequencies vs. 
> Displayed Frequencies
> 
> >I would like be able to set the center frequency independent of the 
> >frequency range I am viewing or the frequency I am listening to.
> >
> >Is this possible? Has anyone proposed this to Alex, or am I just 
> >completely off-base in my understanding of CW Skimmer and the SDR-IQ 
> >receiver?
> 
> 
> Here's the rub (Alex, do I have this right?).  Every time you 
> change the Tune At frequency, the decoding by *all* of the 
> decoders currently active is upset for a second or two.  If 
> you actively tune the band, you can significantly degrade 
> Skimmer's ability to decode and spot all the signals on the 
> band that you're *not* listening to.
> 

Understood.

My preference would be to have a fixed setting of
the center frequency (which in a contest you'd almost
never change except when changing bands) and a separate
"Tuning Frequency" storage, which would specify the
specific frequency that we are listening to. 

You should be able to slide the frequency scale up or
down to view activity anywhere in the 92-odd KHz of 
monitored band segment without either 1) changing
the limits of the band segment; 2) changing the
specific frequency you might be listening to through
the speaker; or 3) resetting the decoders.

If you change the center frequency, then I can see that
the decoders would need to be reset and restarted. No
problem there! Once again, in a contest you wouldn't 
change that except when changing bands.

Frankly, I almost *never* actually listen to a station
on the Skimmer during a contest, but I am *always*
interested in where the activity is up and down the band,
and want to be able to visually see that without changing
the limits of the band segment being monitored.

73,  Jeff  K8ND