Hello, Fred! I know better now what you mean. I've been doing a lot of PC host work for the P3 but haven't used it much in contest operation.
I was at K5RC this weekend for the WPX Contest (we used KS7AA) and I found that the P3 made it much easier to locate relatively clear frequencies to CQ in. If the waterfall below is clear for a while... As I was tuning in S&P mode and found a spot that was currently silent but had a bit of waterfall below, I found that I could tune so that the cursor was just to the right of the width of the SSB signal in the waterfall and when he next spoke his CQ message, I was tuned in closely enough that I got the call the first time. Made S&P much quicker. And of course in a pileup on CW (I found a JY on 15 meters before the contest), it's so much easier to find the current "winner" and more quickly detect the DX station's tuning pattern. I know your "banned" comment was tongue in cheek, but there have been a good number of developments in the history of the DX and contesting sub-hobbies that were initially viewed as an unfair advantage. They became a "best practice" as their value became evident to more and more. CW memory keyers, computer logging, multiple spotting receivers, SO2R, etc. Some didn't make the leap into the sun (e.g. octopuses), some are still debated, some were embraced within appropriate categories. We were multi-single, and these days that means "use packet spotting". As I was working my way through a bandmap filled with new multipliers pressing ctrl down arrow to move from unworked station to station it occurred to me that we've come a long way in the last dozen or so years. In WPX one new prefix is as good as another, so rate makes all the difference in the world. You can't get stuck in pileups for that rare station in Africa when another European with a new prefix has the same QSO point and multiplier value. This is the appeal of competitive amateur radio; we're always experimenting with ways to be more effective and efficient at making a lot of contacts in less time. A lot of our station automation is for that reason. I'll get a bigger SVGA display for more waterfall. It'll make it more evident where a "clear" frequency is. 73 de Dick, K6KR -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Cady, Fred Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 7:40 AM To: Richard Fjeld; elecraft posting Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Soliticing Comments on the P3 I think the P3 should be banned. It makes working DX way too easy! Well, and skimmers too. Actually, the P3 probably has a positive effect on pile ups. All the K3/P3 owners will be getting in and out of the pile up early thus reducing the size for everybody else. The P3 is wonderful. Fred Cady "The Elecraft K3: Design, Configuration and Operation" www.ke7x.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
