Topband: Narrow Filtering

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> The real solution is for everyone to learn how to tune their 
> radios to the right frequency.

Unfortunately, for some who are afflicted by what the musicians 
call a "tin ear" +/- 200 Hz may well be "the right frequency" - 
at least as well as they can tell it.  Tuning to the right 
frequency gets to be a bigger challenge with quick transmissions, 
weak signals, QRN, QSB, and a lot of strong close by stations 
with their clicks and phase noise. 

73, 

   ... Joe, W4TV 
  



> -----Original Message-----
> From: topband-bounces at contesting.com 
> [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Rick Karlquist
> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 5:38 PM
> To: Steve Miller
> Cc: topband at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: Topband: Narrow Filtering
> 
> 
> Steve Miller wrote:
> > In a contest (particularly in a contest),  it doesn't make sense to
> > have filters any narrower than 500Hz.   Why should other stations
> > have to work like crazy to get into YOUR notch?  We all 
> have ears.  Is 
> > it that difficult to use the human filter that's between them? Steve
> 
> Here is what is wrong with this oft quoted "wisdom":
> 
> When there is a run station every 300 Hz, it becomes 
> difficult to distinguish between a station calling me 
> off-frequency vs a station calling my "neighbor" 
> on-frequency.  If a station seems to be calling me 
> off-frequency, based on his time relative to my CQ, I have a 
> strict rule to send "?" and wait to geta second call before 
> responding.  Often that second call never comes and I know 
> he's working my neighbor, and the timing was coincidence.
> 
> During the recent contest, I was trying to work a station in 
> Europe that was about 200 Hz below an east coast big gun. The 
> big gun come back to me several times before realizing I 
> wasn't calling him.  What is even worse is when BOTH stations 
> come back to me at once.
> 
> Yes, I know the solution to that is to send both his call and 
> my call.  But many people calling me only send their only 
> call. I can't make them send my call.
> 
> The real solution is for everyone to learn how to tune their 
> radios to the right frequency.
> 
> Rick N6RK
> 
> _______________________________________________
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK