[UK-CONTEST] Run Freq on 40m
Douglas Maxwell
douglas.maxwell at virgin.net
Sat Dec 3 04:59:28 EST 2005
Hi Paul,
Thanks for the detailed response. I wonder what you mean about the MkV
having "moments", I've had mine for 2 years and completed numerous contests
during that time including CCWW SSB and CQWW CW and never had any problems.
I've never heard the Orion so was really interested in your comments
especially with the Orion II on the way. I normally wait a few years after
the launch so that I can read a few reviews before taking the plunge.
I fitted the Inrad roofing filter to the MkV quite early on for contesting
purposes and so never really got the feel of the radio without it. Needless
to say I noticed no difference in the radio from my home QTH using a
doublet.
I always found the MkV quite hard to operate properly as there are so many
features. The shift and width controls require an imaginary picture of the
appropriate sideband skirts and remembering which direction of rotation does
what with which skirt and of course both controls are opposite. I have
watched a number of different operators on my MP and most hardly touch these
controls. That isn't to say they don't work it's just hard to operate them
correctly first time (during a contest). I wonder how the orion compares in
simplicity of operation?
The MkV contesting ergonomics are definitely second to none for SO2R, I
recently had a go on the revered FT1000D during a contest and soon
appreciated the MPs layout in this respect, anyone that's had a go of one
will know what I mean.
As for the 250Hz filters, I would say they are indispensable for serious
contesting and will give anyone with them a definite edge. I certainly can
concentrate better (bearing in mind sleep deprivation) when I can only hear
the intended station coming back! There are some who will say that your ears
are the best filters but we are not all superhuman!
Another comment was on attenuation when the 250Hz filters are in line, of
course there will be some amount of attenuation when using filters, but the
all important S/N ratio is so much improved that I have found that signals
that just weren't there with the 500Hz filters suddenly 'appear' out the
noise ('Busy' 40m CQWW CW this year)!
The 'lock up' problem with the Orion is certainly worrying and with Murphy
being on the loose (during contests especially) I think I'll stick to the
MkV until things stabilise.
Thanks again
Doug GM0ELP/GM0B
----- Original Message -----
From: "paul" <paul at prolectric.co.uk>
To: "Douglas Maxwell" <dcmaxwell at iee.org>; "UK Contest Reflector"
<uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 10:15 AM
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Run Freq on 40m
> Hi Doug and all, well the Orion has locked up from time to time but more
> so when it was new and I did,nt really know what I was doing, It's
usually
> pretty bomb proof but even the MP has its moments too.! We use the Orion
as
> our run rig and the mk5 MP to mult with. In CQWW cw it performed fb and
> G4DRS commented favourably on the rx performance V his MP. The Orion takes
> some getting used to at first, in comparison to the MP. Listening to the
> same signal on the same aerial without QRM there,s not much difference
> although if you're on 160 with a weak signal the Orion wins if you play
with
> the adjustable agc.Where the Orion scores heavilly v the MP is when there
> is Qrm, you can hang in there and keep your frequency even when bullyboy
> tactics are used against you to make you move because we have a good
> frequency and they want it. We know this because on 40 these guys tried to
> stay in there but couldn't handle the Qrm from us!! we're still running
!!.
> Simon M0CLW commented on this very fact, I think his words summed it up
> pretty well as "there goes another big gun who tried to nick our frequeny"
> Ofcourse there are limits but you are generally better off with the Orion.
> The MP here by the way is fully loaded with Inrad filters. I do think
> however the Orion is better on CW than SSB! and to work splits etc is
> easier on the MP.We did joke before the contest that the transmitted CW on
> the Orion was too good compared to the MP and that the lack of "key
clicks"
> might "dissadvantage" us because people might get too close!!. I know this
> is a subjective assessment but I think a fair one after about two years of
> contesting with it. 73 Paul G6PZ.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Douglas Maxwell" <douglas.maxwell at virgin.net>
> To: "paul" <paul at prolectric.co.uk>; "UK Contest Reflector"
> <uk-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 10:44 PM
> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Run Freq on 40m
>
>
> > Hi Paul,
> > Have you ever experienced any lock ups with the Orion? I see from
yo
> ur
> > web site you have a MkV, how do they compare on cw?
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Doug
> > GM0ELP
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "paul" <paul at prolectric.co.uk>
> > To: "Douglas Maxwell" <dcmaxwell at iee.org>; "G3SJJ"
> <g3sjj at btinternet.com>;
> > "UK Contest Reflector" <uk-contest at contesting.com>
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 10:37 PM
> > Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Run Freq on 40m
> >
> >
> > > Hi Chris, you could always buy a Ten Tec Orion !! 73 Paul G6PZ (I
> have a
> > MP
> > > too!)
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Douglas Maxwell" <douglas.maxwell at virgin.net>
> > > To: "G3SJJ" <g3sjj at btinternet.com>; "UK Contest Reflector"
> > > <uk-contest at contesting.com>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 10:22 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Run Freq on 40m
> > >
> > >
> > > > Hi Chris,
> > > > For S&P we used 2nd and 3rd IF 250Hz filters, clear
frequencies
> were
> > > > found using 2nd and 3rd IF 500Hz filters. When running we tried to
> last
> > as
> > > > long as possible with 500Hz. We found ourselves occasionally being
> > > squeezed
> > > > down to 250Hz on our running frequency and had to switch back out
to
> > 500Hz
> > > > on no replies just to check. I'm sure we missed a lot of contacts
> this
> > > way,
> > > > but ear strain was very much reduced! Even with the 250Hz filters
in
> > line
> > > we
> > > > had adjacent stations starting up who broke through, on these
> occasions
> > a
> > > > slight touch of the width or shift control nulled most of the
> chatter.
> > We
> > > > didn't use the APF facility on the MkV as the previously mentioned
> > > controls
> > > > were usually enough to carry on.
> > > >
> > > > Doug
> > > > GM0ELP/GM0B
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "G3SJJ" <g3sjj at btinternet.com>
> > > > To: "UK Contest Reflector" <uk-contest at contesting.com>
> > > > Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 9:46 PM
> > > > Subject: [UK-CONTEST] Run Freq on 40m
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > I was disappointed with our 40m QSO total at G8D in CQWW given
the
> > > > excellent
> > > > > results that the antenna was producing. We spent a lot of time
> trawlin
> > g
> > > > the
> > > > > band for a clear spot whilst S&Ping at the same time. On
> reflection I
> > am
> > > > now
> > > > > convinced that the two standard 500Hz filters in the MP are just
> not
> > up
> > > to
> > > > > it for CQWW. Furthermore since I don't normally need to adjust
the
> > width
> > > > > control or bring in EDSP, except maybe for marginal DX such as
LP
> W6/7
> > > on
> > > > > 80m, it just didn't occur to me to switch those in on this
> occasion.
> > > > Stupid
> > > > > really. It was just possible to find a slot above 7060 but I
felt
> > > > > uncomfortable this high up in the band.
> > > > >
> > > > > The purpose of this posting is to gather comments on how people
> coped
> > > and
> > > > > what kind of filtering and settings were used, please.
> > > > >
> > > > > Chris G3SJJ
> > > > >
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > UK-Contest mailing list
> > > > > UK-Contest at contesting.com
> > > > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/uk-contest
> > > > >
> > > > >
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