[TenTec] CW Tuning Indicators for those with far less than absolute pitch hearing!

[Jerry Volpe]

I have a similar problem determining when I am on zero beat. I can press 
the SPOT button on my Orion and tune back and forth for ever and it 
seems my ear says "sounds good to me" regardless of how close I am. :) 
So to get myself quickly on the real zero beat I have adopted two 
different solutions.... one hardware, one software.

My hardware solution was the "Son of Zero Beat" kit by Jackson Harbor 
Press. I now have two of these inexpensive but very flexible tuning 
accessories... one on each station at my QTH. Two aspects of the SOZB 
should be noted. First, it has 8 LEDs so it won't lend itself easily to 
an add on mod within an existing piece of equipment. However the 
additional LEDs are far more useful as you tune through a signal as you 
easily know if you are to high or to low. The second aspect that I 
really like is how easy it is to recalibrate it to a different sidetone 
offset. No screwdrivers needed. Just hit your rig's sidetone and press a 
button and its microprocessor (yes, it has a PIC processor) stores the 
new offset. If you are like me I often change my offsets to minimize 
listening fatigue.

My software solution is to use Spectran. This free software is a 
powerful audio spectrum display and DSP filtering application all on its 
own, but it can be easily configured for a minimum audio spectrum 
display with a frequency scale across the top. I resize mine down to 
about 3/4"x1" rectangle that will show me the audio range of about 300Hz 
to about 1kHz. This visual display is incredibly easy to use. I just 
tuck it on a not so used corner of the computer display. It is important 
that you set its sensitivity to where the background noise is just 
producing a lightening of the display's background... much like you do 
when you properly setup a PSK waterfall.

Those are my suggestions.

73,
Jerry, KG6TT

-- 

Ralph Jerald "Jerry" Volpe
Amateur Radio Operator KG6TT
788 Chestnut Drive
Fairfield, CA 94533

kg6tt at arrl.net

510 325-7724
707 399-8838 FAX